No, this isn't a beauty post. This is the post about the resiliency of animals, and the reward of determination. Little Cream, our ram lamb with the traumatic birth, is still with us. Not only is he with us, but he is making progress. TLC, bottle feeding, mama milking, Bose injection, Vitamin E orally, TLC, nutridrench, Vitamin B complex injection, TLC, and cortisone injection, and we have a wee little lamb who brought tears to my eyes this evening.
Cream was able to stand when braced between my legs for his bottle tonight. We know if Good Mama stands still enough he is able to hold himself up to nurse, but we are still supplementing him with milk we have milked from her and Pamela. Once he was finished with his bottle Kohen and I witnessed him pull himself up to stand independently, for the first time. He was wobbly, but upright. Nate suggested that I let Good Mama, Marshmallow, and Cream out of the lambing jug into the yard for a bit of exercise. Good Mama and Marshmallow quickly began exploring the yard, with poor Cream maaing at them. Kohen was his helper. He carefully lifted Cream upright and gave him a bit of extra support so he could stand. I was busy trying to keep tabs on Cream's mom and brother, but managed to snap a few pictures. Then the miracle happened. As a four year old with a short attention span is prone to do, Kohen wandered away after he had Cream standing. Cream took a step, and another, and ended up toddling for twenty feet after Kohen! I had tears in my eyes, and Nate was fist pumping from his spot in the window watching. It was great, and gives us hope that this little guy will persevere. He's still got a long road, but we gain more optimism every day. 
4 comments:
Tifany,
It is amazing how much you are putting into that little guy. He actually looks nice and healthy and big in those photos!
You are doing all the right things. I only have two ideas and they won't really help you guys. They are just things to be on the look out for:
If he wasn't breathing for a length of time, that can cause a bit of brain damage. Being a baby, he should be able to recover from it with time.
Also, when Clancy viewed the photos and the lamb's hind legs, it reminded him of a neighbor's draft horse that he found cast and buried in a muddy swamp up to his nostrils. That horse had amazing will to live, but he had struggled so long and beat his head against the ground so much in his effort to escape that he had temporary loss of function of many of his muscular groups from the "brain trauma" He had no control of his hind legs and tail for quite a while. He had to be put in a sling and taken care of. His case was extreme and severe, and even though he was almost 20 years old, he eventually recovered full function of those areas. He even worked again.
Since Cream is so young, if that is his problem (minor brain trauma) and he is supported during this time, he may make a full recovery.
What an eventful lambing you are having this year. I have been there too and I know it can be really emotionally exhausting.
I hope you are getting lambs you like from Bam.
Tell that Kohen that he is an excellent namer. I laughed out loud at the idea of a big fine ram named Mr. Marshmallow. It's terrific!!!!
Thanks Sabrina, I questioned the amount of effort myself, but like the vet told me yesterday, "he'll make a fine pet!" Just what Nate wants right? When I checked on him this morning he stood independently and walked around the jug. Definite progress!
That IS progress! Congratulations!
He is a sweet little guy. And you guys definitely have what it takes to be good shepherds. I hope that lamb makes a full recovery to prove to the world how wonderful you really are! (and how tenacious Shetlands can be) :)
Have a terrific weekend.
Yes, congratulations on Cream's progress! The things we do for our sheep....
Post a Comment