Thursday, June 20, 2019

Still Alive

It was a hard night, we lost electricity during the storm which stayed off for a couple hours. At the 11:30 pm feeding everything was pitch black. I had one small lantern to use to milk Roxanne and feed the colt. I was able to help him up but instead of balancing and walking around the stall, as he did at the 9:30 pm feeding, he kept collapsing after just a few steps. He was even worse at the 1:30 am feeding and by the 5:00 am he was no longer able to even try to stand. Dr. Hoerr sent a text at 6:00 pm that his blood work wasn't bad. This is what he sent:  Other than a low WBC/Lymphocyte count and a mild elevated BUN/CRE, his only derangement is acidosis (bicarb loss through diarrhea)  Electrolyte levels and balance are fine.  The acidosis might explain the weakness and apparent mental derangement. Let's try giving him bicarb IV fluids. Give him two liters to start.  Then another liter every 4 hours or as needed for maintaining hydration and urination. See how he responds in the first hour.
He was fed at 7:00 and again at 8:30 am then I took off for the clinic to pick up the bicarb fluids.  From there I went to Goodfield, IL to pick up foal formula as Roxanne is not co-operating with letting her milk down. The foal was very hungry by the time I got back at 10:30 am. He was fed first then given a liter of fluids.  He perked up a bit and by 11:30 am he was given another liter of fluid and another feeding. After that feeding, he was trying to use his front legs which was such a good sign.  Today was spent feeding him and working on getting him to use his legs. I was able to get him to stand but he doesn't have much movement in his back legs yet.  By tonight, as long as I helped balance him and every once in a while move a back leg he was able to walk around the stall a couple laps. Hopefully this is a good sign!
During the time not working with the colt, Sheena was teased and covered by Valiant.  She stood well. At 9:00 pm the last bicarb liter was given. The colt is hungry and is sucking on the syringe used for the tube feeding. He is now drinking 16 ounces down in just a few minutes. I tried to get him to drink from a bucket but no go on that. Roxanne walks away each time I try to get him close to nurse.  Hopefully if we get him better she will let him go back to nursing. He is still alive and where there is life there is hope.

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