Post by charlotte on Feb 9, 2006 12:30:06 GMT -5
Wow! What a miracle! I'm telling this story for SHG member Janet Houck.
Houck, (Dr Richard Houck DVM) was away on business in Colorado. Janet was visiting family in FL. No mares were due any time soon so a good time to travel.
Farm manager, Randy, brought the mares in the 'across the road pasture' up for feed as he did every day. He did a head count, then counted again. Someone was missing! Down in the back of the pasture he found one little mare in labor...WAY too early!
Randy was able to get her across the road and into the main barn in a foaling stall and just at that minute Dr Houck drove into the driveway. They delivered a TINY pinto colt...obviously very premature, but ALIVE! Heat was turned on in the stall and drying the foal began. The colt had very little hair. Frozen colostrum was thawed and at 30 minutes the colt was tubed. The every 30 minutes tube feeding went on for hours, then gradually the time was lengthened between feedings.
Because his tendons and ligaments were very lax the colt couldn't stand. His legs were splinted for 24 hours and he was assisted to stand as he wanted to try to nurse. On the third day he nursed and by day 4 day he was entirely on his own. His legs were again splinted for 24 hours as he grew and are completely straight now.
At his first weigh in on day 4 the little miracle colt weighed 6 pounds. Now, 4 weeks later he weighs 20 pounds. He is getting 1/2 hour of turn out now, weather permitting (and wearing many blankets). He and his mom remain in the 'incubation' stall when not outside.
He is eating Progressive Foal Starter pellets and has been on Progressive Foal Aid (to help with the tendons and ligaments) from day 6.
So miracles DO happen! With the help of some very dedicated guardian angels.
Pay a visit to the Houck web site to find out about their breeding program and their very interesting history. www.mini-n-doc.com/
Charlotte
p.s. for some reason this forum won't let me put in Dr Houck's name....it changes it so please excuse the clumsy wording.
Houck, (Dr Richard Houck DVM) was away on business in Colorado. Janet was visiting family in FL. No mares were due any time soon so a good time to travel.
Farm manager, Randy, brought the mares in the 'across the road pasture' up for feed as he did every day. He did a head count, then counted again. Someone was missing! Down in the back of the pasture he found one little mare in labor...WAY too early!
Randy was able to get her across the road and into the main barn in a foaling stall and just at that minute Dr Houck drove into the driveway. They delivered a TINY pinto colt...obviously very premature, but ALIVE! Heat was turned on in the stall and drying the foal began. The colt had very little hair. Frozen colostrum was thawed and at 30 minutes the colt was tubed. The every 30 minutes tube feeding went on for hours, then gradually the time was lengthened between feedings.
Because his tendons and ligaments were very lax the colt couldn't stand. His legs were splinted for 24 hours and he was assisted to stand as he wanted to try to nurse. On the third day he nursed and by day 4 day he was entirely on his own. His legs were again splinted for 24 hours as he grew and are completely straight now.
At his first weigh in on day 4 the little miracle colt weighed 6 pounds. Now, 4 weeks later he weighs 20 pounds. He is getting 1/2 hour of turn out now, weather permitting (and wearing many blankets). He and his mom remain in the 'incubation' stall when not outside.
He is eating Progressive Foal Starter pellets and has been on Progressive Foal Aid (to help with the tendons and ligaments) from day 6.
So miracles DO happen! With the help of some very dedicated guardian angels.
Pay a visit to the Houck web site to find out about their breeding program and their very interesting history. www.mini-n-doc.com/
Charlotte
p.s. for some reason this forum won't let me put in Dr Houck's name....it changes it so please excuse the clumsy wording.
They swear there was no way she could have been bred any other time. I find that hard to believe....BUT, if true.....just goes to show the dramatic difference there can be in gestations!!!!