| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Nancy@autumn
14 Posts |
 Posted - 10/28/2009 : 12:37:01 PM
|
Hi,
Monday afternoon I found a dam in her pen shivering; it was 52 degrees out. I had noticed her standing in the pouring rain early that morning. Brought her up to the garage, threw a towel over her and started with the blow dryer. Her temp was just over 95. Put a coat on her and a wool blanket wrapped around her and turned on the space heater. Now it's Wed and her temp is only up to 98.1. I've been keeping her in the garage on a stall mat cushioned with straw. She's been getting lactation formula grain with hay chop sprinkled over it, but she's not eating. Tried the soaked beet pulp last night but she didn't touch that either. She body scores about a 3 out 5.
Problem: She has a 3-month old cria; he's trying to nurse (finally got her to stand), but when I got my hands on her this morning, she has no milk. Weighed the cria yesterday and today; his weight is holding so far at 55.2 pounds.
Heading to the store for some whole milk and yogurt to try bottle feeding.
Is there a chance that the dam's milk with return once her temp gets back to normal? Any suggestions at to what else I can do to get her temp back up to normal?
Thanks,
Nancy
Nancy Edwards
Autumn Sunrise Ranch
Monroe, WA
|
|
report to moderator
|
|
|
Paradise
443 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2009 : 1:00:15 PM
|
It seems like you have more going on than just a low temp. It is unlikely that 52 degress and rain would have caused a low temp unless there is something else going on. I suspect that you have sepsis (infection) of some sort going on and all her organs are shutting down. The fact that she is not eating is even more indicative of a serious problem. You needed a vet two days ago; I would get one out now for sure to diagnose what is going on. Pneumonia, ulcers, parasites, and enterotoxemia are all possibilities.
As far as the cria goes, it is not ideal, but a 3 month old can survive being weaned. I would make sure he gets high quality hay and try to get him started on feed if he is not already eating it. If he is eating hay, I wouldn't even bother with forcing the bottle at 3 months old and 55 pounds.
Laura Hillman
Paradise Alpacas
Hempstead, TX
979-826-9559
www.alpacanation.com/paradisealpacasoftx.asp |
Report to Moderator  |
|
|
LibertyWool
7 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2009 : 1:46:56 PM
|
| I agree with Laura, get your vet out. A low temperature can also be a sign of infection. I lost a ewe to a uterine infection and she had a lower than normal temperature. Ended up not being able to save her as she was septic. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
nyala
2251 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2009 : 1:59:01 PM
|
Hi,
I agree with what everyone else is saying here. Something is up besides the temp being down. If the mom were mine we'd have the vet out well actually we'd probably just take her to Cornell.
We had a cria orphaned at 3 and half months and she is a lovely strong yearling today but she would never take a bottle just went right to eating grain. A creep feeder might be something to think about if the milk does not come back.
Good luck with both of them and please keep us posted!
Ann
D. Andrew Merriwether, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Anthropology and Biology, Binghamton University
and
Ann and Andy Merriwether
Nyala Farm Alpacas,Vestal, NY
www.alpacanation.com/nyalafarm.asp |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Nancy@autumn
14 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2009 : 6:26:31 PM
|
Thank you all so much for your thoughts. Got her to the vet; her vital signs were good and temp was 99.3. That was the good news. She was also dehydrated, and based on her gut sounds and blood work, the diagnosis is a gastric obstruction. She will be having surgery this afternoon.
The vet thinks her prognosis should be good since we caught it early enough. I will keep everyone posted.
Her cria (a dark rose gray male) just wants to know where his mom is. Tried a bottle, but he is having nothing to do with that. I've got him back in the pen with the two other adult females and a 3 week old little girl. I'll see if I can get him to try some grain; he has been eating hay pretty well for a while. I just hope to have his mom back home soon!
Nancy
Nancy Edwards
Autumn Sunrise Ranch
Monroe, WA
360-863-1844 |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
highpeaksalpacas
544 Posts |
|
|
Nancy@autumn
14 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2009 : 10:38:47 PM
|
Update: Just spoke to the vet; she's out of surgery. Surgery was more complicated than first thought. Apparently the obstruction had been lodged in one spot and then moved. The intestine where the obstruction originally lodged was necrotic, so they had to remove that section of the intestine. They had to make another incision in the intestine to remove the obstruction.
Upside is she has youth on her side - only 4 1/2 years old. Downside is that she will have to be given a laxative for the rest of her life to make sure no obstructions recur. I can live with that.
I asked the vet how long he thought the obstruction had been there, and he said just days, not weeks or longer. He also said that she would not have made it through tomorrow without the surgery, so I feel good about making that decision. They will call me in the morning to let me know how her recovery is going.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers,
Nancy
Nancy Edwards
Autumn Sunrise Ranch
Monroe, WA
360-863-1844 |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
danimac
514 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2009 : 11:28:45 PM
|
Nancy -- that's good news. I'm glad to hear the dam made it out of surgery well. Her little boy will be glad to have her back.
Good luck with the healing.
Dani
Dani McKenzie
Longbottom Meadows
Roy, WA
360-400-0348
http://www.longbottommeadows.com |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Nancy@autumn
14 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2009 : 2:50:52 PM
|
Thanks, Dani!
I felt really bad last night; about 8:30 I went out to check and make sure her cria was in the shelter as it had started raining again (does it ever stop?). He saw me coming and came running out to the gate expecting me to have his mom. And stood there in the rain humming for his mom; I felt so bad.
Vet called about 30 minutes ago with an update. The dam made it through the night with pain meds, and felt well enough to spit at the vet this morning. She's still not eating though, so they are trying some feeds and will resort to gruel if she doesn't start eating on her own pretty soon. Her mineral levels are still the same as pre-surgery, so they're keeping a close eye on that. Should get back to normal once she starts eating again.
Thanks,
Nancy
Nancy Edwards
Autumn Sunrise Ranch
Monroe, WA
360-863-1844 |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Pepperina
484 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2009 : 4:13:19 PM
|
I kept a girl going who didn't eat on her own for 12 days with making a porridge mixed with glucose. They can add some probiotic to this also to make it thin enough to syringe down in 10ml lots. I also added some barley green powder to it. I have since ordered some Fibrevive which is supposed to be excellent at keeping them going.
She will also benefit from spit transfaunation to get her gut flora going again. I know it is a pain to do this, but it is miraculous how it works.
Fingers crossed for you.
Regards Barbara - Pepperina Alpacas Forest Hill Australia
Pepperina Alpacas Forest Hill QLD Australia
Email pamas@bigpond.com |
| Report to Moderator |
|
| |
Topic |
|
Hypothermic Dam with no milk
