When they just cant wait to be in the world.....

[Donlin Dexters]

We had a not so much of a surprise arrival yesterday of a little heifer who was busting to get into the world 6 before she was meant too.
We knew mum was getting very close on Saturday and started doubting our management practices with a half smirk, half annoyance at the thought the (then) 4 month old dwarf man could have done the job with a non-dwarf cow even if she isn’t that tall herself. By Sunday morning we came to the conclusion that it’s not a biggy as the little man was to sire her 2015 calf anyways so we will just run with it – what choice did we have

She arrived in the usual Dexter way but was quite small but we have had near similar sized, very vocal each time mum licked her and she was very slick in the coat, so unlike the other calves’ coats upon their arrival, and ¾ of her hooves was jelly like. It was at this point we knew we had a premmie and not a mis managed full-termer.

After 2 hours of watching her try, and then give up even with mum’s constant encouragement we decided that with the approaching cold night and wind picking up in strength, bub had to come inside.
Much to mum’s disgust and strong attempts to prevent it – bub was placed in a jacket and headed to the house on a quad and placed in front of the fire.

Hubby went down with a huge bucket of molasses covered chaff and stud mix to bribe some colostrum from mum while I got bub settled and comfy.
Hubby came back and said Mum was very well aware he had had her baby last. When she couldn’t find bub on him, he had become arch-enemy number one but he did manage to get the remnants of the after-birth during kill-the-baby-snatcher-attempts.

We broke out the powdered colostrum. No need to stress mum further especially since she had bonded so quickly and strongly to her baby, and she is expected to take bub back as soon as possible.

So near-hourly feeds were offered throughout the night with very small amounts of powdered substitute seeming to do the trick via a syringe over a finger being softly sucked. Her sucking reflexes are not very strong either.

This morning she is still not on her feet, but her she is holding her head up here and there, she is still attempting to stand, she is taking a fraction more milk with every second feeding and her sucking is appearing to have a little more strength in it. Her nose has stopped spot bleeding and her eyes are more open and look as if they are clearing up.

We don’t think her breathing has improved but sometimes during the night we would rush to check on her as she would breathe smoothly and quietly here and there.

Oh and from about 4am, she started to cry out each time she was left alone……….we are creating a monster

Fingers are so very crossed bub keeps getting stronger and goes back to her very willing mum to become the true Dexter she was born to be, hence the afterbirth to try and increase the percentage.

[genebo]

It sounds like little bub is going to have a rough time of it for a while. I'm pulling for him!

You might like to read about another preemie. Here's a link: dextercattle.proboards.com/thread/1974/gracies-story

Why was hubby trying to get the afterbirth? Was he pulling it out of her or picking it up? I'm curious because I've never dealt with an afternirth at all. I leave it to the cow to pass it when she can. Lots of times the cow eats it. I think it's supposed to be good for her to eat it.

Good luck to little bub!

[Donlin Dexters]

Hi Genebo

I did read about Gracie and saw the pics of which Gracie standing under her mum was saved to my iPad. Thst photo is one of 'those' pics! It was also dragged out for hubby to see that at only 7.5 months of gestation they can and do still make it so while she fights to stay here, we will do everything to help her suceed.

I rang a few people and it was suggested to grab som of the afterbirth before its completely eaten, to bag it and then freeze it ( as it could be more than a few days before the calf is ready).
Once thawed in warm tap water only, rub it over the calf so the combination of smell and calling will help in the re bonding especially since mum was very aware of her calf's call.

We also have a towel used to rub mum down here and there during the weekend just in case the calf was premmie. That towel came out of the plastic bag and has been under the calf's head since she came inside to the fire.

Its probably all a waste of time............but it makes the humans feel a little better.

We have picked up electrolytes to add to the milk and an injection of antibiotics is in the pantry as a stand by.

Vet was relunctant to prescribe steriods or anything of the likes but would if I wanted to request it.
Both of them didnt feel as if it helped increaase the survival rate at all.

But they did say that calves who are definitely no more than 2 weeks early and those who are around the 6-7 week premmie mark tend to have a better survival rate than those born uinbetween at the 8 month gestation mark and neither could say why. Its just something they have found through their work with diary cows.

The other disadvantage we have compared to Gracie is its not summer. We are entering the last month of winter and this week has been forecasted for very cold gale-force winds. Canberra has been warned of possible sleet/snow come Friday afternoon as another strong cold front is expected across the southern states.

So even if we could get the little Miss out with her mother for periods during the day, we would have to bring her in overnight to be near the fire. And then there is the risk of pneumonia in under developed lungs.

We will take each day as it comes and make decisions based on that particular day for now with the sole aim of returning calf to mother as soon as is possible without causing further issues or setbacks.

[Donlin Dexter]

Gees you can tell I heavly rely on spell-checker

[Donlin Dexters]

Arrrhhhhh I give up

[wvdexters]

We are pulling for your little lady and hoping things are improving for you all. As for "spelling worries" LOL We all cringe when we look back at our posts. That's part of the fun. 

[Donlin Dexters]

-- sorry for teh length of this post but I felt I had to explain in detail --

Cassidy ( Cassi) arrived Mon 28 July at 2.45pm and left us Wednesday 30 July 5.30am.
But not from arriving 6 weeks early – it was from a failure in the duty of care from the medical profession.
Let me explain:
Mon 28 July – 6pm
- Cassi was brought inside to the fire after 3 hours with mum didn’t see her stand or drink. The mind was certainly willing but the body wouldn’t comply unfortunately and the temperature was dropping and wind was beginning to howl.

- Rang Vet surgery: it was half an hour after closing time so rang the afterhours number for colostrum powder (it was now dark and mum was in no mood to have us near her) only to be told they didn’t carry colostrum and never had. (First failure in duty of care)

- Daughter drove to nearby produce store which is operated out of a farm. The owner was great but no colostrum powder. So Milk replacer, bottle and electrolytes was rushed home.
@ 8pm
- Cassi was syringed her first feed. Half way through she weakly sucked on a clean finger with milk being syringed over the finger. She was given 25mls from 1 litre madeup complete with 5mls of electrolytes.

- Food was offered on the hour and every hour. She never refused. Food was syringed over a sucked finger. Cassi was increasing her intake with each feed but only by a small amount.
Tues 29 July – 4am
- Poor hubby was exhausted (he took the week off to be with Cassi) but bub was looking a whole lot better. She had lost some of her newborn wrinkles and her bloodshot eyes were clear and the blood that was staining her nose had stopped.
@ 5am
- Cassi was on approximately 35 mls and was sitting up like a normal calf would without requiring the pillow promps.
@ 10am from work
- I called the vet to get a ‘calf-kit’ together. I was then told that they do have colostrum powder, yes, its on the shelf. The excuse: an order had just been delivered.
- Rang daughter to go in and pickup calf-kit inclusive of the colostrum powder ‘that they have never have’.
@3pm
- Daughter calls me. Yes has all that I asked for and she was told the reason why the afterhours vet “thought there wasn’t any colostrum powder” was because he had just come off holidays (Second failure in duty of care)

- Told daughter to mix only a quarter of colostrum and three quarters of milk replacer making up about 100mls to offer Cassi her 35-40mls by now.

- Hubby called to tell me Cassi, had his help to get there but just stood on her own, balanced without falling over for quite a few minutes before collapsing a little exhausted.
@ 4pm
- I again rang the vet as I was walking out of work to head home to pick up antibiotics for the calf for the ‘just-in-case’ only to be told that they would need to see the calf before prescribing the meds even though there was nothing wrong with the calf and I only wanted the meds as a stand-by……..well explained I was taking a premmie calf out in the cold for medication she didn’t need so began to arrange home visit.

- (Cassi was improving as the weather was failing on a daily basis. The antibiotics were a precaustion to Cassi spending at least the days with her mum – she was beginning to stand afterall).

- So happened, large animal vet was in our area. Arranged for him to see the calf and also look in on mum at the same time as she had still not expelled the afterbirth 24 hours later.
- Vet arrived at house before I did. And for some reason he walked in with a feeding tube in his hand.

- Took one look at Cassi and told hubby that her chances were very slim. Hubby returned with a don’t think so reply and told the vet of her progress to date and her increasing feeding and sucking ability.

- He asked hubby if he wanted to be shown how to tube her – now this is where our communications fell down. Hubby thought I must have asked for this since the vet walked inside with the tube in his hand.

- Once the tube was in the vet asked my daughter for some warmed up food so he could show hubby how to “pour the milk directly into the stomach”.
- Hubby said no thanks she just had a feed. Vet said she needs more than the mls she is getting or she isn’t going to survive.

- Daughter warmed up milk and as she handed it to the vet, commented that it’s a mixture of colostrum and milk replacer……….the vet then requested straight colostrum and about 300 mls (Third failure in the duty of care)
- Yes at this stage the alarm bells went off in hubby’s heart but his mind was saying that the vet knew best, and he was very tired as well.
- I arrived home as the vet was heading to mum. He told me the calf had little chance of survival as the heart and lungs were immature. I told him we know that given she is 6 weeks premmie hence the antibiotics but she has been getting stronger with each 6 hour period and I reminded him it was a Dexter calf which weighed 15 kilos – not too shabby considering a full-term calf is around the 18 to 22 kilo mark.
- walked inside to warm up feed and Daughter said vet tubed her with 300mls – I was not happy. Then I was told it was straight colostrum – I flipped and got on the phone to the vet clinic. I was told that the colostrum shouldn’t be a problem as it is more easily absorbed, even in its powdered form and wouldn’t cause bloat. Calves don’t get bloat.
- It didn’t make sense to me but Im not the medical expert.
@ 6pm
- Cassi not only stood but got herself up. Yay, wont be long til she is with mum (even if only for the days, returning to the fire away from the minus temps overnight).
@ 9pm
- Cassi stood again and this time took wobbly steps after hubby as he began to walk away.
@midnight
- Cassi was irritated and restless. Her stomach was a little tight yet she had not had anything to eat – refusing to suck the finger etc.
Wed 30 July – near 2am
- Cassi began trying to go to toilet but nothing was happening. Thought that strange and her tummy was still a little tight, then we heard the rumbling. Grabbed the tube and expelled quite a lot of gas. We both knew then that Cassi was in trouble.
@ 2.30am
- Rang afterhours vet: no calves cant get bloat but try bi-carb soda
- Administered bi-carb soda via tube. Left tube in until we didn’t hear gas escaping anymore
@3am
- Cassi was in serious trouble and was beginning to cry out in pain and was consistently bearing down.
- Rang afterhours vet and said we are coming in now. (we are 40mins from the vet clinic)
@ 4am
- We arrived at clinic. Cassi was given a painkiller and tubed and amazed the vet re the amount of gas that was escaping (at this stage I should have demanded the stomach be drained and then tubed through the wall of the stomach – but didn’t. Her cries of pain didn’t have me thinking straight)
- Cassi was starting to go into shock – drip was put in for a quick dose of 500mls of whatever it is.
- Vet tubed Bloat Treatment into her stomach.
- Then took her temp – it was high. Gave dose of antibiotics via the drip.
@ about 4.30am
- Cassi was calmer and not crying out anymore. Her stomach had softened and she appeared more alert, no longer consumed with pain.
- I disappeared at this stage to the bathroom. Upon returning to the room, Hubby had to go – as he stepped out, I wrapped my arms around Cassi, she suddenly stopped breathing – her lips and tongue instantly lost colour.
- Vet tried to resuscitate her. Hubby walked in and told vet she had better try harder (so very unlike him to say anything like that and especially in the tone he did)
@ about 5am
- Cassi had died at just over 48 hours of age.
@ Sometime after 5am
- We put Cassi back in the car and took her home. On the way, we were recounting the events, searching for an answer of why when she appeared to be calm and recovering.

As it happens when I was in the bathroom, the vet administered another injection into the vein. Another painkiller hubby thought. He didn’t ask what or why another injection as he was too busy feeling relieved that Cassi was improving and no longer crying out in pain.

- I commented that it had better not been the painkiller she was talking about and that I told her no too soon after arriving when she commented that she hoped the first painkiller would provide relief as she didn’t really want to use the stronger painkiller as it has a known side-effect of cardiac arrest……………I shook my head at her and told her “well you wouldn’t give that to a premmie calf”.
- We both assumed Cassi was given another dose of antibiotic or something as her high temp was at that point the only issue.
- Maybe Cassi’s little heart just couldn’t cope with the acidic levels in her blood anymore and we were both at least relieved that she was no longer crying out in pain or bearing down when she left us.
- The anger began to build as the day went on about the vet tube feeding her the 300mls and we discussed what we were going to do about it.
1 August - Friday
- Oh they were quick. I received the bill for the house call and the afterhours call complete with listing of injections…………..
- that stupid and arrogant vet had used the painkiller I had said no too. (Fourth failure in duty of care)
- When researching the painkiller on the net, it clearly has the stated warning that its not to be used in calves less than one week old: (Fifth failure in duty of care)
- And not to be used in animals with a cardiac arrhythmic or possible cardiac related issues.
(Sixth and final failure in duty of care)


Are we still angry – oh you betcha!

Are we going to do something about it?
I have an appointment with a solicitor on Friday afternoon for advice. The lack of care appears to be just too overwhelming for it to be swept under the table.


And to make matters worse: we still are working with a very depressed Dexter mother who we thought we would have relieved her anxiety by at least Thursday by giving her back her calf to rear.

She has been eating, her temp checked twice a day but she is only now starting to rejoin the herd here and there and still for very short periods of time.
The rest of her time is spent alone in the shelter where she last saw her calf.

The other thing on our mind is that Cassi’s mum is one of those Dexter mums who will willingly taken on other calves with her own.

In a couple of weeks time we have three calves due over a three day period to two heifers and a second time mum whose social standings in the herd are below that of Cassi’s mum.

Here’s hoping we are just being paranoid

[jamshundred]

Oh my goodness. I am in tears of frustration for you! I can relate too closely to this and it brings back painful emotions. I have been known over the years to be very critical of vets.  They usually do not listen and assume they know what is best and I know that I am always reluctant to be aggressive because "they" have the degree and are supposed to know more than me! Ha!  I do not like the education they are receiving at the behest of large pharmaceuticals and I don't like the medication and preventives they push.  I have a few stories I could tell about inept treatment.       Gosh. . I feel so badly for you all! 

Judy

[Donlin Dexters]

Thank you Judy

revenge/action or whatever you want to call it wont bring Cassi back but it's hoped to ease the anger, pain and guilt mix that hasbnt at all subsided.

And it is hoped that the clinic thinks more about what it is doing but we doubt it ever will.

Photos of Cassi are on Donlin Dexters facebook page:
www.facebook.com/LindonEstate?ref=hl&ref_type=bookmark

[genebo]

I, too have seen incidences of ineptitude by a veterinarian. That only makes me want to repeat what I've said before, that once you have found a good large animal vet you should pamper him, praise him, and curry favor with him in every way you can. That good large animal vet is a priceless jewel.

I'm so sorry that you lost your little one and hope you can ease your heart.

[wvdexters]

Donlin, I am so sorry for your loss of little Cassie and darn angry along with you and everyone else at what all went on with the vets. I feel so badly for you, I don't know what to say.

[Donlin Dexters]

Thank you everyone for your support.

You know the saying: an unhappy customer will tell 20 people but a happy customer will tell only 5.... Thats been me. I just cant help myself.

Where we are located, we supposedly are fortunate enough to be surrounded by vets: 7 in total who claim to be large animal vets, and all within the 50min mark but we couldn’t find one person with cattle and/or sheep who will use them for anything more than the issuing of prescription medication.

Its not worth the risk, I was told to allow any of them to do anything more.

Many of cattle owners were actually more horrified at the tube-feeding of a sucking calf who was showing signs of improvement, and more so about feeding such a sudden large amount.

But I was surprised at how many farmers weren’t so surprised at the use of medication that had an age and cardiac warning being used on a premmie calf. They said this total disregard for warnings on medications was so typical and is the main reason why they won’t allow vets near their cattle/sheep.

I am now wondering if the appointment with the solicitor on Friday may become a landmark one?!