Bramblehill
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- Jan 9, 2005
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We had our first foal of the season on Sunday late afternoon. Easy uncomplicated birth and all seemed textbook perfect. Finally we had a FILLY!!!
I put betadine on her umbilical stump several times during that evening and the next day. She got up within just a few minutes and was nursing within 30 minutes. The next day she seemed fine. WE spent several hours with her on Monday evening and she was nursing well and up on her feet. She wasn't jumping around, but I attributed that to being a baby and being sleepy. We gave her the Tetinus Antitoxin shot within 24 hours of birth. The dam was given wormer and Pneumabort the week before. (Could this have caused problems??) We had some runny noses from other mares and did not realize that she would be foaling so soon.
The next morning I went in to feed and she could barely get up to her feet and only nursed briefly. Temp wass 103.8.
I took her to the vet's office as soon as I could and was told that the baby was dehydrated and septic due to not receiving antibodies from her mom for whatever reason. Also the possibility was that she had her sire's blood type and was incompatible with mom's but no blood testing was done. IV fluids were given and an antibiotic was injected into a catheter in her neck. She was put on a heating blanket and occasionally would stand up. She only lived a few more hours after that. It has been heartbreaking, but I wanted to see if there's anything that I could have done or can do to avoid this in the future.
I noticed collostrum suppliment available at TSC and wonder if I'd given that the first evening as a preventative measure if I'd still have our filly now.
Thanks for your input/experiences and for listening.
I put betadine on her umbilical stump several times during that evening and the next day. She got up within just a few minutes and was nursing within 30 minutes. The next day she seemed fine. WE spent several hours with her on Monday evening and she was nursing well and up on her feet. She wasn't jumping around, but I attributed that to being a baby and being sleepy. We gave her the Tetinus Antitoxin shot within 24 hours of birth. The dam was given wormer and Pneumabort the week before. (Could this have caused problems??) We had some runny noses from other mares and did not realize that she would be foaling so soon.
The next morning I went in to feed and she could barely get up to her feet and only nursed briefly. Temp wass 103.8.
I took her to the vet's office as soon as I could and was told that the baby was dehydrated and septic due to not receiving antibodies from her mom for whatever reason. Also the possibility was that she had her sire's blood type and was incompatible with mom's but no blood testing was done. IV fluids were given and an antibiotic was injected into a catheter in her neck. She was put on a heating blanket and occasionally would stand up. She only lived a few more hours after that. It has been heartbreaking, but I wanted to see if there's anything that I could have done or can do to avoid this in the future.
I noticed collostrum suppliment available at TSC and wonder if I'd given that the first evening as a preventative measure if I'd still have our filly now.
Thanks for your input/experiences and for listening.