Caramella does unsociable hours...

Thanks to Cambridge Caramella reading the wrong text book; we are a little bleary eyed today. Obviously missing out the chapter about morning births on dry days, Caramella decided to birth at 22.15 hours on a cold and wet Saturday night. I mention Saturday because of course whenever you need a vet it is always out of hours!

We had been out and about around the birthing paddock all day yesterday: harrowing the hay field; topping; and poo picking; but no tell tale sings of any one ready for birthing. Caramella who was 341-days gestation ran in to the barn for her tea as usual. However, when we went to do the evening round at 21.00 hrs we noticed that Caramella was losing blood. We got her in and realised that it was actually a fair amount. However, she was showing no signs of the second stage of labour. Caramella belongs to Amanda and I knew that she would not hesitate to get the vet involved, so made the call.

An internal examination showed the cria to be in the correct position but a very narrow birth canal was making delivery very difficult. Fearing that a ruptured placenta may be a cause of the blood loss the vet was keen to get the cria out. Which he did successfully. A lovely little fawn female (6.5kg) who was up on her feet within the hour. Caramella did need a little stitching and has had antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory shot for pain relief; but is a fantastic mum despite the difficult birth. Amazingly the cria (still to be named) had already put on weight this morning. Kept in overnight she has been dying to get running around, so she is now out in the paddock in her two coats!

Cambridge Caramella (sire; Strezleckie of Cambridge) with cria (sire; Witness)

The new cria is a beautiful solid mid-fawn (despite all the black in her pedigree) and has been chasing around checking out all the other girls who are all due this month. We have been debating about her 'inside out ears'. As this is not something that I have come across before (they are not the usual floppy prem ears) I have been having to do some Google searching. From the results it would appear that they usually correct themselves. However, some breeders advise using tape (as with floppy prem ears) to correct the shape. As they provide no protection for the ear canal (from debris or rain) at present, I think we will probably tape them when we get her in this evening.

Inside out cria ears!

Congratulations Amanda...we need a name soon!