Sorry mad busy morning and just arrived home from delivering P to get his plaster removed at the hospital.
Foal saw the vet last night, it turned out when the iv bag emptied a blood clot had formed and blocked the port. He got more fluids, had perked up even before the vet arrived which was good, and started eating hay. After the vet left he drank over a litre of milk, then when we returned him to his dam flew at her and drank solidly for another ten mins, something he hasn't done for days.
He is now back in his corridor stable with Mum overlooking it, and on a slow drip iv administered by C (who is brilliant with these drip things, I can't seem to remember how to work them, must be sleep deprivation and my age..)
We also have a vet nurse working on site all morning so I have cancelled the vet's visit for now, at £60 as soon as he steps out of his car I can't bear to contemplate the bill..
The foal has started to eat topspec balance mixed with fenugreek (fenugreek is an amazing appetiser, sick horses always have some sort of attempt at eating some)
and we have hand picked a net of fresh grass for him.
Just to make life really busy we have cut the first two hay fields so C wil spend the remainder of the day on the tractor turning, whilst I nip back to Exeter, collect P, then take over the horses.
Oh and I have to return the foal to the mare once he is off the drip to drink plus supplement his milk with formula and flush his catheter every four hours to prevent it clogging up again..
So not a lot to do today!!!
Keep up the vibes guys, he still needs them.. but this is the biggest improvement yet if I dare say that.....
I am seriously in awe of you, HH, and your dedication. I so much hope that the little chap is out of the woods now. I will send all the positive thoughts I can muster, and check for news. x
That's great news Sue, so pleased he seems to have turned the corner.
I can't remember now if you told us whether they actually tested the mare and her milk immediately at the start of all this. Just wondering if it was a possibility that she did pick up something as a carrier, it didn't show outward signs on her that carried through her milk for a short while; a bit like breast feeding mums stay away from strawberries for that reason! Clutching at straws here I know! Good luck with him and the hay, hope the weather holds for you.
Funnily enough it doesn't come down to dedication, more a sort of "No option but to keep trying" when the foal tries to fight for his own life.
The horse healer lady said he told her didn't want to die and was prepared to fight, so what else do you do?
It's a bit like when I had the twins and people's first words were always "How on earth do you cope?"
Well you can't not cope can you?
This has been a joint effort too, an incredibly dedicated and wise vet who drops whatever he is doing and comes straight here, CCJ who has coped with the extra work and shown incredible maturity in her taking over the bits I found hard to do such as the fluids by IV, and my husband and me throwing tons of money in drugs at the problem..
I was so saddened by losing Diva last week I sort of felt "Bugg**, I'm not going to lose another foal !" and I actually believe all the good wishes from people on here do reach the foal too.. Some may scoff but who really can say if it works or not?
Enough philosophising , we have things to do, so better get moving.. of course whilst all this is going on I have also got to clean a cottage which hasn't been used for months as my son is bringing his girlfriend home from Czech republic tomorrow, and I had forgotten that's another job needs doing..
Funnily enough, I am supposed to be retired now....
I am so pleased that things are looking better for him now, he is going to be so special when he grows up after all this. Vibes still on their way to you all xxx
so pleased that he has made an improvement, hopefully he will continue getting stronger and stronger, good luck to you and the foal. Has the vet discovered what was wrong with him and Diva? or is it still a mystery?
That is really positive news, I am so pleased. I am glad you have got family support in all this, good news that your hay is being made tho the timing could be better! If I was nearer I would gladly help but not really possible. Don't forget to try and give yourself a break, not easy I am sure but this little guy needs you to look after yourself too. Sending lots more good vibes.