6 Weeks Prem, this beautiful little suri was found in the paddock, extremely cold, on a quite sunny morning at 8am.
As we were checking the herd first thing in the morning, this little bundle, that was only 8 inches long, the slightest move caught our eye in the long grass.
The dam, a Suri maiden, standing guard over her pride and joy. "What's that ?"
I said to Elyse, no that is too small to be a baby. ELyse ran over, it is a baby, and just alive, we had no time, so I took the baby and ran to w basin with warm water, and ELyse bustled up the dam, "Pink Nola", at the same time, recovering from a Caesar (story Below), Jenny (Huacaya) and her cria, Zaheh, (less than1 day old) were in the maternity ward.
Jenny was still sore, and was not standing up as yet, but Zaheh was very active, i said to ELyse put Pink Nola in the maternity ward, whilst we get the baby going.
We both were submerging the cria to just under the chin, and kept circulating the warm water around her, making sure the water at all times was warm enough.
"We are going to be lucky to have this one," ELyse said, as she was trying to hold the babies head up out of the water.
There just seemed to be no life, and she was just so small, all her features were just in minature. Her Temperature did not register on the thermometer. and she was as light as a feather, a litre of milk weighed more than she did.
Her tiny toes, started to just give some movement, and after an hour, we would get a little swimming motion.
Checking her temperature every so often to see if it was rising, eventually after 1 1/2 hours reaching normal body temp, of 37.5 degrees Celsius.
It took all mine and Elyse's efforts, ROb meanwhile had come home, and also assisting in trying to keep this precious little one alive.
Meanwhile un beknown to us, Pink Nole, had claimed Zahreh, and was feeding her, and guarding her.
Zahreh had no idea really who her mum was, and so as Pink Nola was offering some milk, she might as well have some.
Jenny was still a little drugged, and really did not worry.
We decided, as we had to get her to swin, we would call her The littliest Mermaid. (mermaid for shot), Mermaid, was now looking for a drink, but we could not get Pink Nola anywhere near Mermaid, all she wanted was Zahreh, we separated them, and placed her in a pen, next thing you know, Pink Nola jumped the pen, and found Zahreh, there was no way she was giving this girl up.
We thought well at this stage, as Jenny would not be feeding for a while, let Pink Nola have Zahreh, Zahreh was happy with that, as we started a bottle feeding regime.
Jenny started to feed mermaid, and was going really well, but we really did not want to wear her out, so we decided to bottle feed mermaid, and that way we knew exactly how much she eas taking in, and could monitor her better, She was far too small to be in the pens of a night,
Two weeks late, (picture), mermaid, sleeps in the house of a night and out with a couple of weanlings during the day, SHe has doubled her body weight now 3.65 kg. and we just love her
How big is Little? Littliest Mermaid DOB 8/1/08
Ever wonder about a Caesar?..........scroll down
Caesar... How do you know when you call for a caesar?
A caesar is the last option for birthing.
You really do leave this only in an emergency.
Jenny, was definately in labour at 5.30am, Sunday morning, we were due to go for lunch with the family.
And so, another day, another baby, we were shearing late this year, and since shearing we had 26 babies in 3 days, our hands were full, as all the maidens delivered.
Lucky for us, virtually all the maidens had good mothering skills, good milk supply, and did not need a lot of assistance.
We had enough Pens around the place, that as the females delivered we placed each baby and mum into a separate pen, so we knew which baby belonged to which mum.
They were everywhere, and all the mums all lined up, as proud as punch of their babies.
It really did look like a maternity ward.
The babies all were healthy and mums were all doing well.
The weather was reaching 43 degrees, for these three days, so we made sure that all were in the shade, that all babies were geeding well, and getting feeds every two hours, and that there was plenty of supplementary feed for the dams.
Both Elyse and I were run off our feet, as we went from one mum to the other, to make sure the babies were hooking onto their mums properly and that they were actually feeding, and not just mucking around.
By 8 o' clock, Jenny had softened up, and her vulva looked quite loose. Jenny has had 3 succesful unassisted births so i was not expecting any problems.
Still no change in her at 9.30am, so i thought there must be something wrong.
ELyse was just getting up, it is her day off you know, and Rob also was up.
I asked them to hold Jenny whilst i checked her out.
She was dilated, but i could not feel a head, nor could i feel any feet.
At this point i knew there was oing to be problems.
I rang Tim, (Drouin Vet), and Matt was available to come down, and arrived at approx 10.30am.
Matt checked her out, and came to the same conclusion as myself, we had the babies back facing us, there is no way she can deliver, and we were really running out of time.
Unlike other species, alpacas birth very quickly, and already i had picked up that she had been in labour since 5.30am, over 4 hours now.
Matt said, to save at least the mother, we will have to do a caesar, and quickly.
He got out his surgical gear, put on a surgical gown, and went in, and quickly and gently as he could.
Jenny did not move a muscle, when he started injecting the local around the area he was going to cut.
She just placed her head in Robs arms, and just layed there knowing that we were doing the best we could for her. Meanwhile, Elyse rang and got clean towels, belly clamp, warm water, and prepared a clean area in the pen for the baby. Within a couple of minutes, Matt has now opened the uterus, and he gently pulls out the baby.
The baby was so twisted seemed almost 360 degrees in the middle region, front legs were up one horn, and the other leg were up the right horn, and the back was at the cervix.
We were very, very lucky, as Matt hands Zahreh to Elyse so he can attend to Jenny.
Meanwhile, Elyse rubbed Zahreh whilst she took her first breaths.
Elyse was cleaning her up, rubbing with the towel, clamped the belly button, and was clearing the mouth, also spraying the belly button with solution.
I was so impressed with Matt and his quick dicisions, his most professional manner, and his great veterinary skills.
Thank you Drouin Veterinary Clinic...Tim, Matt, and Shaun
............................we were only 1/2 hour late for lunch, whilst ELyse was mothercraft nurse for Jenny.
