Scarlett Rose, Trinket and Crias - i.e. lots of baby news!!

Another shot of Scarlett Rose this morning - its a double barrel name, not a first name and a middle name :)

The vets decided that Trinket was OK to come home, informing me that she delivered the afterbirth at 2am this morning - having a vet know that is bound to be expensive!!  But we are very happy to have such a good outcome from such a bad start.  And that the cria is also well enough to travel.

If you saw her like this you would give her much hope!

But a few slurps from the bottle and she looks a lot better (don't we all??  wink wink, nudge nudge!!):

Still looks very premmie, but the colouring is amazing!  Will tape the ears, and the legs should come good in a week or so.  She feeds enthusiastically and we're hoping things will go well for her.

I knew when I left I knew that Cushla was in early stage labour, but had to trust her to do her usual good job of the whole affair and was rewarded on my return with a gorgeous black female cria, dry, up and about and suckling well.  This is the second (black female) cria from our boy Alpha Centauri Alba.

Trinket Update

Trinket and her cria are still at the vet's.  So far the afterbirth has not been passed, so she is staying until that's all sorted.

The cria has managed to stand at least once, but cannot remain standing, so cannot suckle.  Trinket has little or no milk, so the staff of Crookwell Veterinary Hospital are formula feeding her, she is a very willing participant in this, and takes the bottle enthusiastically, so has not had to be intubated.  Trinket is showing an interest in her cria, so hopefully once she's strong enough, she'll be able to suckle and stimulate the milk supply.

Please keep all your fingers and toes crossed that I can bring home 2 lovely llamas from the vet's very soon.

Shayne and Brad's visit, Cria Update and 'its all fun and games till somebody gets hurt'

Shayne and Brad called in for lunch on Sunday, had a very enjoyable time and a great barbie :)  They brought Minto with them, and she and Kiki had a marvellous time.... only trouble is a marvellous time is very very tiring... Kiki couldn't even make it to her bed!!

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Bianca's ear taping is off now, and her ears are nice and upright... she (still) seems pleased with the look :)

Lucien is also growing well and looking good - just ask him!

Yesterday Trinket went into labour, but several hours later nothing had been achieved.   Called the vets to come out and help, meantime Collette also went into labour.  Decided that while they were there Collette should get checked out too, turned out to be going OK, just slowly as its a first time for Collette.  Unusually she seemed determined to give birth lying down and this seemed to be slowing progress.

So vet Jayde, decided to give a helping hand.  Here trying to present Collette with her cria.

Very pleased to say we ended up with a healthy female cria :)  We've named her Chianti.

Today she looks bright and happy :)

 Things did not go so well for Trinket, despite being in labour for several hours her cervix was not even slightly dilated and Jade told me that a c-section was the only course of action and that it needed to be done back at the surgery!!  Between us we man-handled Trinket into my trailer, Jade rang ahead to let them know we were coming and off we went.

Trinket was wheeled into the OR on a guerney, you can tell she's not a well/happy llama because she's had no sedation or any other drugs and she's cushed on a trolley and not moving!!

Jayde had to work hard, and work quickly, when you put a slash in the side of belly as big and as tight as Trinket's some of the 'inside' stuff wants to become outside stuff!  All this was got back in, and the baby found and brought out.

Will working on getting the cria breathing and cleaned up, need a clamp on the cord which was pulsing blood at 'birth'.  Oxygen mask, hot water bottles and more towels added shortly after this photo.  Antibiotic shot given as she had 3 strikes on the premmie score board!

After the op, Trinket and the cria were transported to the stables and yards to recover, Trinket was still quite groggy.

And the cria - who we will name Jade Princess if she makes it - is weak and quite premmie.  Fingers crossed.

 The weather was all over the shop this season, the pear tree lots all its fruit - and there was a lot!! - to a series of very late and very harsh frosts.  The tree is now so confused its flowering again in March!!