Trixie Has A Sister

Coco foaled 7/13/2017. 16 pounds, 17 inches.  Dixie just named it Misty! Misty was at least two hours old before she could stand wobbly and walk. My Grand and Great Grand daughters came to help take care of them right away. I laid down in the stall to work at getting Misty to latch on. We thought it was nursing. Misty was weak and was not able nurse later in the day. I would milk a small amount for milk and when given to Misty she revived and seemed to nurse. I worked with her and thought she was able to get up to nurse. the next morning I thought she was not going to make it and Coco would not eat. I called the clinic and they told me to have both of them there at one in the afternoon. I tried to milked Coco but she seemed dry or not letting milk down.  After getting them to the to the clinic Coco was given a shot for her milk to come in. Misty was found to have a hole in her heart. The Vet said it could or might not be a problem but nothing he could do about it now. The Vet had his helper get ready to tube Misty but three of his helpers worked at getting Misty to latch on.  The Vet sent home with me several shots of the meds to get her milk to drop.

After getting them home I had problems getting her to nurse and after thinking she had it figured out I would go back up and Misty was limp and acting like she had given up on living. I had things to do and didn't do chores until late. I didn't get back up until about dark to feed Coco and check on Misty. When I looked in on Misty I thought she was dead. She was on her back with her back feet in the air much like you see dogs sleep but her head was folded back like her neck was broke. I put some water in her mouth and she started to move her mouth in a sucking motion. I got my trimming stocks in front of the house garage door where I had lights. I brought Coco up and placed her in the stocks where I could set on a stool to milk her. I tried to milk her and could only get small amounts and she was bawling for Misty. I had given Coco a shot in the morning but gave her another and went up and brought Misty down to have her close. The milk didn't come down quickly as the Vet told me it would but I was able to get over two ounces and after Misty had that in her she revived. Dixie came out and held Misty beside Coco while I tried to get more milk. Working with Misty and getting her to latch on for a small amount of time but Coco seemed dry. I put them both in the horse trailer with hay and water after eleven last night.

Rusty got me out of bed early to go out side and when I looked in the trailer Misty was laying normal on her folded under legs. When she heard me she got up and went right to nursing. Coco's bag was fuller than it had been since she foal.  Misty and Coco is in the backyard now with Misty nursing every few minutes and trying to run some.

I think we had the problem of Misty being weaker than normal and Coco not having milk as she needed to keep Misty nursing.