UPDATE ON MS.WIGGLES

[LaraP]

Just came up from the barn. We are trying to share the feedings so I slept some today and David did all the feeding.. Now its my turn, it seems if we wait just abit longer between the feedings she is more hungry and gets up. We are feeding her with a 12cc syringe. Don't have to push on the plunger she can suck it down. We have been milking the mare and giving it to her fresh. I was refigerating the colostrom since its so precious. We have to fill the syringe 6 times now and she drinks all of that. When she is full she starts to spit it out. We do need to take the braces off her little legs and I will get some pics of them for Lil Bit. they need to be readjusted anyway, and want to make sure she isnt getting sores on her little legs. I have her on some TMZ's right now. Its fairly broad spectrum. But will talk to Dr Kimmons about alittle Naxel too.

Thanks all for your help

I love the poem you have on your post Lucky C.. its just beautiful.. I will go out again around 3AM.. I hope all have a good nite..

Lara

 

[RobinRTrueJoy]

Aww, Lara, God Bless You and Ms Wiggles. YOu are doing your best for her and she knows it. Stay strong Hon!!

You will know what and when it needs to be done. You have been giving her your best shot really. I applaud you.

Robin

 

[qtrrae]

Lara,

I am hoping and praying for Ms Wiggles - she sounds like she does have a strong desire to live.

It sounds like you have a wonderful vet that will help to guide you, that along with your knowledge and knowing what is the right thing to do - will help you get through all of this.

I feel God had a purpose in giving Ms Wiggles to you, even if it is to be for only a short time - I know also the sorrow of having to let a son go, it certainly puts other heartaches and losses much more minimal.

Hugs and prayers for David, for you, and for that precious Ms Wiggles!

 

[Dona]

Lara.....my heart just sank when I read the title to this thread.

I want you to know that you have my support no matter what you eventually decide would be best for Ms. Wiggles. We can all advise what we would do...but we are not there, and we are not the ones dealing with it. You have to do what YOU feel is best. You've been thru terrible loss in your family...so I know you don't take this responsibility lightly. I will continue to send prayers for little Ms Wiggles...and for YOU & David to give you strength.

 

[ChrystalPaths]

Sending my prayers also for a positive outcome.

 

[Rebecca]

Lara, I've been reading all about ms wiggles here, following all of it. I hope for the best for her, she seems like such a sweety.

: Hugs and prayers your way,

Rebecca

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

Lara every feeding Ok perhaps not the middle of the night ones offer her some milk in a bowl if it were me in the next day or so I would get some milk replacer I think it will be easier on all involved there is foal lac however I have found that mares match mixes better and was prefered but if she doesnt have a choice she wont know that

young foals can and do drink some water at a couple of days old so she should be able to do that pretty soon.

I think she will be able to go a bit longer between feedings that way and once she is drinking good you can poor the bottle of milk replacer into her bowl and go back to bed.

She of course should aspirate alot less that way as well

of course i am not a vet just what I learned from my own experience- hang in there

 

[miniwhinny]

Oh Lara,

I just want to wrap you and David in (((((HUGS)))) I'm so sorry for the loss of your son and for the struggle you are going through now.

I'm so proud of how strong you are. You will do the right thing...whatever it may be. You already have. Hugs and prayers.

:

:

 

[Sandy S.]

:aktion033: SO GLAD SHE IS DOING BETTER. IF AND WHEN THE TIME COMES YOU DEFINETLY WILL KNOW. EVEN THOUGH OUR LITTLE ZOEY HAD A TUBE IN HER, FROM DAY ONE SHE WAS UP AND TRYING TO NURSE, HER LITTLE TONGUE STUCK OUT THE SIDE AND SHE COULDN'T LATCH ON, BUT SHE WASN'T GOING TO QUIT TRYING. WE FED HER THE FIRST 36 HOURS ABOUT 2 HOURS APART AND THEN SHE FIGURED OUT MOST OF THE TIME HOW TO STAND TO GET LATCHED ON WITH THAT LITTLE TONGUE. SHE HAD TO STAND ON A CERTAIN SIDE AND A CERTAIN WAY. WE KEPT HER TUBE IN JUST TO FEED A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE SURE SHE WAS GETTING ENOUGH, AND ONCE THAT HAPPENED WE TOOK IT OUT AND SHE DIDN'T BACKSLIDE. IT'S A LOT OF WORK AND PATIENCE BUT IF THEY HAVE THE HEART AND STRENGTH TO MAKE IT THEY SEEM TO LOVE A LOT MORE, THEY ARE SO SPECIAL. HAD WE HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE WE WOULD HAVE AND EVEN AFTER 3 YEARS WE STILL MIGHT HAVE TO. AT ABOUT 3 YEARS OLD OF COURSE THEY STOP GROWING, THERE INTERNAL ORGANS MAY NOT, SO WE ARE FACING ANOTHER QUESTIONABLE TIME WITH ZOEY AND THE TWO WE ADOPTED. SO FAR SO GOOD, EXCEPT FOR SOME TEETH PROBLEMS WITH GETTING ADULT TEETH ALSO AT THIS TIME AND THEIR LITTLE BITTY MOUTHS SOMETIMES DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH ROOM.

I WISH YOU THE BEST WITH MS WIGGLES.

 

[LaraP]

Well, I have done the last 4 feedings and am totally exhausted. David went and got a sippy cup with a nipple on the end of it.. She said "whatever" I am not putting that in my mouth. David will be getting up soon, and had gotten a shallow dish of course had to buy her a new one.. We have tons of Tupperware etc in our cabinets, but no that wasn't good enough, I am surprised he didn't have her name put on it.

Lisa, I do give her 12cc's of water just to more or less clean her mouth out, put she does swallow it.

As long as her Mama still has plenty of milk, does the formula have something in it that is better for her than Mama's milk? I would like to try and keep her on Mama's milk for as long as she has plenty of milk. The mare is a hoot, when you lean down to milk her she stands perfectly still, and when she thinks you have taken all the milk out of that teat, she will turn herself around so you can do the other side. So, she is making it easy on us. But to be honest, she prefers David over me, she bites me, and has tired to kick me several times not just lately tho but she does still try to bite just me.. Or course not David. I have even thought about bringing her in the house and putting her in our bathroom too, but we can't take her in and out of air conditioning.

I'll be real honest, I know that I can not keep this up for 4 months.I know that sounds terrible.

We arent even done foaling this year, its hard for two people to foal out close to 40 mares.

We were exhausted before Ms Wiggles was even born. Its hard for two people to try and foal out close to 40 mares. TOO MUCH. We had every intention of selling mares and foals this yr. and we are pulling our stallions out on the 15th of July, what is bred is bred what isn't isn't.

But she is eating good, bright eyed and bushy tailed right now.

Thanks all

Lara

 

[Miniv]

It was nice reading the good news, Lara.

Yes, your mare's milk is much better than a formula. And for your own sanity (and sleep!) I hope you can get Ms. Wiggles to drink from a dish!

MA

 

[Dona]

Lara.....I know how much you & David love your little girl

: .....BUT, if you find that this all eventually gets to be too much, and you are overwelmed.....I know there are some who are experienced with Dwarfs who "may" be willing to "adopt" Ms Wiggles & take over her care. I think if I were in your position, I would consider that before putting her down....if it gets to be too much for you. It's an overwhelming job...I know...even if she were the ONLY one you had to worry about. You have a lot on your plate, so don't feel bad if you eventually need to ask for help in that way. Of course, God has put her in YOUR hands, so it will always be your call.

: No one will criticize you either way.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Lara this is YOUR road, you must travel it whichever way you want to, but.... as Dona says if it does get too much there would be other ways out, that you could still control and work with.

As said, no criticism either way intended, whatever works best for you.

I would try the bowl- apart form anything else it will make it easier to feed- just milk into the bowl and give to the foal!!- It even rhymes

:

You do know this will not go on for four months anyway??

If things go on getting better she will be on "proper" food by a month and feeding herself by two months, with just supplementary feeding, so it will get better, believe me.

Our hearts are with you and our prayers- and we would REALLY like some new pictures!!!!

 

[Little Bit]

Lara I was tickled to hear that Ms Wiggles is doing well today! :aktion033:

I fed Little Bit every 1 1/2 hours for 4 months, then every 3 hours for the next 4 months. He lived in the house with us, and slept next to me on the floor on a thereputic dog bed. He would wake up every 1 1/2 hours, so that's when he was fed for the first 4 months, then it was every other time he woke up for the next 4 months. At the time I only had one other dwarf, Tessa, and a minimal dwarf, Dusty, who were and still are very self sufficient. At 8 months of age his hip broke when he was getting up in the middle of the night (the vets at TAMU figured it was just a weak spot) so I started giving him his Mare's Match once again, as I figured he needed all the nutrients and calcium, for another 3 months. That was 7 years ago when I was in my late 40's...now in my mid 50's I don't know that I could do those 3 years again or not, but I guess we just never know until we HAVE to do something! I have turned down a couple dwarf babies since, that would have been very much like Little Bit, as my husband has been dealing with cancer, and my elderly folks are soon going to be needing my full attention.

If Ms Wiggles gets to be just too much for you and David to handle Lara, please let me help you find her a very good, loving, forever home...not only do I help these special little horses with the corrective shoes, I have a little adoption program as well.

After Little Bit passed away, I think he was the one that found me, little Inky, Strawberry, Smidgen and Fairy for me! I feel that he found them for me to keep me from loosing my mind after he had to leave me, and to keep my mind off of loosing him....it worked, too. :bgrin However, I got to the point where I just had to talk with Little Bit and tell him that Momma had her hands full with all these special babies, as I do all my own hoof trims and that he was going to have to help me find a way to find other good people to be dwarf Mommas and Poppas....that's when I came up with the idea of "Little Bit's Adoption Program". I have folks all across the united states that help me, so I am sure that I would be able to find just the RIGHT person to adopt Ms Wiggles, if you ever decide that is what you need to do. Many times the mare goes with the foal, until which time the dwarf is ready to be weaned, then she is returned home....it's works out great that way!

:

 

[CyndiD]

Been reading this thread with great interest...whatever you decide with Ms. Wiggles I believe we are behind you 100%...

:

But I am still going to always hope for GOOD news! :aktion033:

 

[PaintedPromiseRanch]

: and {{{{{hugs}}}}} to both of you, your mare and your little sweetie.

and oh LuckyC that poem

: but

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[MInx]

: Continuing to Pray for your strength and the best outcome for Ms Wiggles Bless her heart.

I can only say, YOU are the ones there, and therefore the ones that can feel and sense how she really is. Only you can feel her strength and desire to continue on and if you feel through her in your heart she is too tired to comtinue, then maybe she should be helped over the Rainbow Bridge.

Course if she can make it physically, perhaps Jannel is right and try to let her be adopted to experienced dwarf people who can make whatever life she has as good as possible.

Best to yu and your hubby,

Minx

 

[lovinarabs]

Just wanted to offer support and hugs from Minnesota. We're behind you 100% and wish we could help you out with some of those late night feedings so you could get some rest. Bless you for all you're doing for that special little one.

 

[Little Bit]

Minx wrote:

Continuing to Pray for your strength and the best outcome for Ms Wiggles Bless her heart.
I can only say, YOU are the ones there, and therefore the ones that can feel and sense how she really is. Only you can feel her strength and desire to continue on and if you feel through her in your heart she is too tired to comtinue, then maybe she should be helped over the Rainbow Bridge.

VERY WELL SAID

:

Lara & David, like I told you on the phone tonight I will support whatever decision you make about little Ms Wiggles, not that that it matters if I or anyone else supports you, as it is ulttimately your decision, as you two are the ones living with this special little treasure, you know her better than anyone.

I'm keeping her in my thoughts and prayers.

Please give her some sugars from me & the Biscuits, tell her we are VERY proud of her.

Bless her little heart.

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