Penn State Vet School Foal Cam-My Special Girl

carole · Sun Mar 30, 2014 1:14 pm

baby is nursing on his own now which is good, still looks quite unstable though, very wobbly but that might just be every foal

Ridan_Remembered · Sun Mar 30, 2014 1:51 pm

At 10:50am Pacific time, he seems far more steady now. Not 24 hours old yet. He's walking normally and mom keeps a close eye on him. Still a lot of people in that stall. Wonder when they will turn mom and baby out and give them some alone time.

Ridan_Remembered · Sun Mar 30, 2014 2:04 pm

11:00am, seems like they are going to tube the foal again. Don't know if they are doing it as a teaching thing, or if they think the foal still needs it, but he has been nursing on his own. I've seen him nursing. Also, while the mare is a sweetie and is calm, she clearly isn't happy about them messing with the foal so much.

carole · Sun Mar 30, 2014 2:09 pm

Just a minute ago, saw 4 people in the stall and half of them with cameras taking pictures of the foal while the mare was held back. Is it really necessary?

Ridan_Remembered · Sun Mar 30, 2014 2:46 pm

carole wrote:Just a minute ago, saw 4 people in the stall and half of them with cameras taking pictures of the foal while the mare was held back. Is it really necessary?

I'm with you, Carole. Putting aside the fact that I have zero vet training or experience with foaling, just as a human being my instinct says what they're doing all seems highly excessive. Frankly, it doesn't make that vet school look very good to the untrained eye, at least.

BaroqueAgain1 · Sun Mar 30, 2014 3:26 pm

"...to the untrained eye..."
Well, that's the important phrase, isn't it? We're not veterinarians. That IS a school for vets, and not just any school, but the prestigious New Bolton.
Part of all the activity may have to do with the fact that the mare and her foal are being studied, and used as a teaching tool for students. But there are also issues with the foal, about which they have been kind enough to tell us.
I'm gonna trust that the docs there know what they're doing.

harvestmoon · Sun Mar 30, 2014 3:32 pm

Ridan_Remembered wrote:
carole wrote:Just a minute ago, saw 4 people in the stall and half of them with cameras taking pictures of the foal while the mare was held back. Is it really necessary?
I'm with you, Carole. Putting aside the fact that I have zero vet training or experience with foaling, just as a human being my instinct says what they're doing all seems highly excessive. Frankly, it doesn't make that vet school look very good to the untrained eye, at least.

All pertinent information underlined. "Putting aside the fact"? That fact should not be put aside.

lurkey mclurker · Sun Mar 30, 2014 3:43 pm

An update which explains the additional tube feeding:

An afternoon update on My Special Girl and her colt:

Both mom and baby are doing well today, having a lazy Sunday of rest and feeding. However, the colt is not getting as much colostrum (essential first milk) as the veterinarians would like, so they "milked" My Special Girl's udder, and then fed that milk to the colt through a tube.

https://www.facebook.com/pennvetnewbolt ... eam_ref=10

BaroqueAgain1 · Sun Mar 30, 2014 4:12 pm

I see that people are in with them again...may have milked the mare. I'm a little worried about the colt's lethargy...most foals would get to their feet, or show some interest, if they had people standing/walking right next to them.
ETA: The attendants may have felt the same way...they're getting the colt up...hopefully nursing.

Ridan_Remembered · Sun Mar 30, 2014 5:09 pm

harvestmoon wrote:
Ridan_Remembered wrote:
carole wrote:Just a minute ago, saw 4 people in the stall and half of them with cameras taking pictures of the foal while the mare was held back. Is it really necessary?
I'm with you, Carole. Putting aside the fact that I have zero vet training or experience with foaling, just as a human being my instinct says what they're doing all seems highly excessive. Frankly, it doesn't make that vet school look very good to the untrained eye, at least.
All pertinent information underlined. "Putting aside the fact"? That fact should not be put aside.

Meaning no quarrel or challenge, harvestmoon, but I said those things precisely to put my comments into the proper perspective. I'm posting with the compassion and worry of a caring human being, not as a critic of the vets.

Also, underlining what I already volunteered about myself is really petty.

Ridan_Remembered · Sun Mar 30, 2014 5:14 pm

BaroqueAgain1 wrote:I see that people are in with them again...may have milked the mare. I'm a little worried about the colt's lethargy...most foals would get to their feet, or show some interest, if they had people standing/walking right next to them.
ETA: The attendants may have felt the same way...they're getting the colt up...hopefully nursing.

Baroque, from the time the colt was first trying to get up last night he's had people holding him down. He's less than 24 hours old and already has had so much done to him that it's no wonder he's struggling. I believe and certainly hope that the vets and students are doing all that because the foal needs the help. Still, it's an awful lot to throw at a newborn foal.

Kelly Kip · Sun Mar 30, 2014 8:45 pm

Ridan_Remembered wrote:
harvestmoon wrote:
Ridan_Remembered wrote: Putting aside the fact that I have zero vet training or experience with foaling, just as a human being my instinct says what they're doing all seems highly excessive. Frankly, it doesn't make that vet school look very good to the untrained eye, at least.
All pertinent information underlined. "Putting aside the fact"? That fact should not be put aside.
Meaning no quarrel or challenge, harvestmoon, but I said those things precisely to put my comments into the proper perspective. I'm posting with the compassion and worry of a caring human being, not as a critic of the vets.

Also, underlining what I already volunteered about myself is really petty.

No, I think it means stop second guessing the professionals here. You know, the ones who KNOW what they're doing and WHY.

harvestmoon · Sun Mar 30, 2014 8:54 pm

Ridan_Remembered wrote:
Meaning no quarrel or challenge, harvestmoon, but I said those things precisely to put my comments into the proper perspective. I'm posting with the compassion and worry of a caring human being, not as a critic of the vets.

Also, underlining what I already volunteered about myself is really petty.

You can be compassionate all you want, but you admit to having no knowledge of foaling or vet care. Why not just ask questions, learn something, and forgo the critical attitude?

This is a top institution and everyone involved is, I'm sure, just as compassionate as you.

I underlined simply to point out the parts of your post I was referring to. How that's petty is beyond me.

Ridan_Remembered · Sun Mar 30, 2014 9:35 pm

harvestmoon wrote:
Ridan_Remembered wrote:
Meaning no quarrel or challenge, harvestmoon, but I said those things precisely to put my comments into the proper perspective. I'm posting with the compassion and worry of a caring human being, not as a critic of the vets.

Also, underlining what I already volunteered about myself is really petty.
You can be compassionate all you want, but you admit to having no knowledge of foaling or vet care. Why not just ask questions, learn something, and forgo the critical attitude?

This is a top institution and everyone involved is, I'm sure, just as compassionate as you.

I underlined simply to point out the parts of your post I was referring to. How that's petty is beyond me.

I have asked questions...some other folks as well. Not getting any answers here for the most part. And I know that's a top institution.

harvestmoon · Sun Mar 30, 2014 9:57 pm

They're posting updates/info on Facebook. Seems they are quite willing to answer questions, too.

https://www.facebook.com/pennvetnewboltoncenter

Ruffian_fan · Sun Mar 30, 2014 10:37 pm

harvestmoon wrote:
Ridan_Remembered wrote:

Meaning no quarrel or challenge, harvestmoon, but I said those things precisely to put my comments into the proper perspective. I'm posting with the compassion and worry of a caring human being, not as a critic of the vets.

Also, underlining what I already volunteered about myself is really petty.

You can be compassionate all you want, but you admit to having no knowledge of foaling or vet care. Why not just ask questions, learn something, and forgo the critical attitude?

This is a top institution and everyone involved is, I'm sure, just as compassionate as you.

I underlined simply to point out the parts of your post I was referring to. How that's petty is beyond me.

I have asked questions...some other folks as well. Not getting any answers here for the most part. And I know that's a top institution.

____________________________________

Hang on. You've asked questions on this website, which is not associated with the facility in question. Did you go to the school's Facebook page and post your questions there?

Ridan_Remembered · Sun Mar 30, 2014 11:13 pm

Ruffian_fan wrote:
Hang on. You've asked questions on this website, which is not associated with the facility in question. Did you go to the school's Facebook page and post your questions there?

I don't have a current Facebook account. Unless I'm mistaken, you need to log on to Facebook in order to find such pages. Is this right?

Nevermind above...I answered my own question by looking for the Facebook link on the New Bolton website. And look what I found there:

This makes me so happy. It's nearly 8:30pm Pacific time and I'm going to bed early for an early wake up tomorrow. This is a great note to fall asleep on.

harvestmoon · Sun Mar 30, 2014 11:21 pm

To view, no. Just follow the link I posted above.

You'll need an account to ask a question, though.

swale1984 · Sun Mar 30, 2014 11:29 pm

Just checked in before going to bed, and found mom and foal doing circles in the stall and mom giving baby boy a few kisses. Here's hoping both have a great night.

Side note, does anyone know what the 2 discs on MSG's back are for ?

Della · Sun Mar 30, 2014 11:55 pm

swale1984 wrote:Just checked in before going to bed, and found mom and foal doing circles in the stall and mom giving baby boy a few kisses. Here's hoping both have a great night.

Side note, does anyone know what the 2 discs on MSG's back are for ?

I think the white discs were to attach electrodes to monitor fetal heart rate, and perhaps other vitals prior to the foal's birth