Little Guy Needs Help!
Please be a part of saving this
premature
Foal's life, by donating to help cover his vet bills.
Thank You!
Thank You for your donation!
Donna A. - Judy W. - Wendy S. - Lynn W. - Sara H.
Melinda M. - Brooke F. - Michelle J. - Jennifer L.
If his vet bill does not match or exceed the donated
funds for his care, or in the extremely unfortunately circumstance he does not
make it, the excess funds will be put towards our veterinarian budget.
Updates!
Go
to the bottom of the page for the latest updates!
4-8-09:As you all know, Honey, the pregnant mare at the rescue, was just
getting bigger and bigger. Every signed showed that she was getting near to
giving birth. The last few days the signs were getting really obvious.
Tawnee has been
making countless treks to the stall day and night, but as usual, the mommy
learns your schedule and times it just right to have her baby in privacy. Early
this morning we were greeted by this cute little face. We found this cute little
face concerning though...
This foal was the
smallest horse foal we had ever seen from a standard horse. He is oh so
tiny!
Tawnee
wanted to give the baby a great first impression of people and a little
imprinting time. We were all very concerned about the little guy.
He had a good appetite though, and he figured out rather quickly
where the source of food is.
His poor little body is extremely thin. He managed to be tall
enough to nurse and he seemed to really enjoy getting some warm
nourishment.
There was a cold breeze so
Tawnee
got a foal blanket. The new baby was so little he was lost in
the blanket.
Tawnee got some more blankets and soon he was
snuggled up nice and warm for a nap.
A premature birth crossed all of our minds. Honey's
outward signs were telling us everything was normal, but
the little foal was telling us otherwise.
Tawnee called the vet to tell them she was
bringing a mare and foal who would need to stay awhile.
Like most baby's he liked his
blankey.
The little guy only weighs about 30 lbs.
Tawnee gently carried him to the waiting
truck.
Honey loaded right into the horse trailer,
and then it was time for the little guy to have
his special ride. There was no way he could ride
in the trailer with Honey.
So he got to ride in the truck on a
volunteers lap. It seems to be a reoccurring
situation, a little horse sitting in the
back of a rescue truck.
He was a great passenger and fell
asleep on the way to the vet.
Tawnee reunited
Honey with her baby
after the ride. She sure
was happy to have her
baby at her side once
again. This photo shows
how little he really is.
The vet and tech
went to work right
away evaluating the
situation and
starting the baby on
special
meds.
The vet
determined that
he is 20-30 days
premature. The
cause of his
premature birth
is unknown.
Tawnee
was concerned
that since we
had some new
horses come into
the rescue that
maybe Honey was
stressed and
gave birth
early. But,
since her
outward signs of
being ready for
birth, dripping
milk etc, were
happening prior
to birth the vet
does not believe
it was an
external stimuli
or cause, but
rather
sometimes
things happen
that are
unpreventable.
We just have to
make best of the
situation.
This
little guy
has a lot
going for
him. He is
strong
willed and
has a good
appetite.
There are a
lot of
complications
that can
happen with
premature
foals, but
the vet
feels this
little guy
might just
make it.
One
thing
the vet
is going
to check
out is
that it
is
plausible
that
Honey
was
pregnant
with
twins
and
there
may
still be
another
foal in
there.
If so,
we are
hoping
that
Honey
will
carry it
to full
term.
Like all
mares we
suspect
are
pregnant
when
they
come
into our
rescue,
Honey
had an
ultrasound
to
determine
that she
was
indeed
pregnant.
The baby
was too
big at
time of
ultrasound
to
determine
how many
foals
where in
there,
but it
certainly
confirmed
that
Honey
was
indeed
pregnant.
After
the
little
guy
had
a
nice
long
drink
of
milk,
he
settled
down
and
the
vet
tech
gave
him
another
check
over.
He is such a cute little guy. So little and so helpless and fragile.
When Tawnee had to leave he was sound asleep under a heat lamp to stay warm. He is such a tiny little adorable baby. He almost just blends into the shavings he is so small.
~~~~~~~
4-9-09: The vet reports "Honey is in love with her baby. The foal is
doing very well, there are two heat lamps in his stall. He has had his second
day of antibiotics and the
IGG will be
ready in the morning.
Temperature is normal, and he has been eating well throughout the night
and day." We are so thrilled he is doing so well. He is still extremely fragile,
but everything is looking good. His stall is deeply bedded with clean shavings
so when he lays down there will not be any pressure points on his tender skin.
Tawnee
took a video of him as well,
click here to play it or click the video below. He sure is a precious little
guy.
~~~~~~~
4-10-09: He
is doing great! He is gaining weight and is pretty feisty now, even bucking and
kicking.
The baby got his medications while being held by a vet tech.
He was a good boy and
didn't'
seem to mind his shots too much.
He is just oh so cute!
And now, it's your turn. Thank you everyone for
sending in the name idea's, we originally wanted to have 5
choices, but there were so many good ones, we could only limit
it down to 6. Please
click here to visit the poll and pick
your favorite name!
~~~~~~~
4-13-09: Jason headed out to visit Prince and get him ready for a special occasion today. Jason found Prince laying in a warm sunny field, having his first ever sunbath. He was only given about an hours worth of sun. Premature foals have a hard time maintaining their body heat, so he couldn't stay out there too long, but he sure did seem to enjoy it. He is gaining weight rapidly and is quite the frisky little guy. When we first took him out to the vet he was a bag of bones, but he is looking great now. He has gone from 30 lbs to over 48 lbs in just 5 days!
Honey just loves her little boy so much. She is always standing over him making sure he is doing ok.
Prince had to be woken up so he could get ready for the special occasion. What was the special occasion?
Channel 12 news from Chico came out to the vet hospital to do a news story on the cute little guy. Jason was interviewed about what was going.
And then Dr Weaver, Prince's primary care veterinarian, was interviewed.
They have a text article up on their website, and the video should be up by tomorrow's blog we are hoping. Click hereto read it.
~~~~~~~
4-14-09: Prince is getting even cuter, if possible. He is growing very quickly and soon he will be a normal birth weight.
Channel 12 has a video up and they did a great job. Click here to watch the news story.
His color is definitely darkening up and changing a bit. He was pure white, almost albino looking, when he was born. We are just so thrilled and excited to see this little guy doing so well.
~~~~~~~
4-15-09: Honey and Prince are doing great! Prince is getting bigger, stronger, and is doing very well. He's getting bigger so fast, but he is still oh so tiny.
Dr Weaver was spending a little time with him, and he wrapped his head and neck around her shoulder, as if to hug her and say "Thank you for saving my life."
After that, it was time for a snooze. Baby's sleep a lot, and premature babies sleep even more.
~~~~~~~
4-19-09: We got a cell phone picture update of Prince at the vet office. He is doing great! In the daytime he gets to spend some time outside playing in the open air. His play pen is filled with soft shavings so he can lay down without damaging his fragile body. He is an amazing little guy.
~~~~~~~
4-20-09: Prince is getting so big, is doing very well and is oh so adorable.
It's amazing, when he was born he was so boney and so thin. He was so little he could walk under his mommy with no problem. Now, it just doesn't happen anymore.
~~~~~~~
4-29-09: For those of you who are asking about Prince. He is doing very well, we haven't had an opportunity to visit him since we were sent off to Nebraska, but the vet office assures us that he is doing great. We can't wait to go see the little guy again!
~~~~~~~
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P.O. Box 6108
Oroville, CA 95966
530-282-5565
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