Help us save Ruby, our baby cow
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Rose Bridge Farm and Sanctuary (https://rosebridgefarmsanctuary.com) is located in Dresher, PA. We rescue and give homes to many farm animals. We recently saved Ruby from the auction where she would have been sold and raised for meat.
Ruby only about 2 weeks old and has already been through so much. She was doing great when we first brought her home. but she quickly became weak and started to refuse her bottle. We started her on iv fluids, but it was not enough. So we took her to to the vet, where she has been for almost a week.
Update 10/16: Ruby is slowly gaining strength with complete intravenous nutritional support and her diarrhea is improving. She still doesn't have a consistent suckle which can be related to overall weakness associated with septicemia and poor body condition. This morning she appears quieter and has a persistently weak suckle although will get up and ambulate appropriately. She may have some delay in obtaining a persistent suckles from a condition often seen in equine neonates called neonatal encephalopathy although this can be seen in calves as well. This is caused by suspected hypoxic injury to the brain during birth although the details of this disease are not been completely understood. The treatment requires continued supportive care with intravenous fluids and nutrition until she is able to acquire normal neonatal behaviors such as nursing appropriately.
Update 10/17: We discussed the neonatal encephalopathy which I don't believe she has as she has a strong enough suckle to drink a bottle initially
Update 10/18: Ruby is quieter today and not as active as yesterday. We started offering her a very small amount of milk yesterday with resolution of her diarrhea but, with her decreased activity and mentation concerned her gastrointestinal tract was not ready to digest milk and is still recovering. We will perform and an abdominal ultrasound to better assess the health of the gastrointestinal tract and discontinue milk feedings. At this point, Ruby just needs a bit more supportive care with continued intravenous nutrition until her gastrointestinal tract has healed sufficiently to allow her to drink milk and digest it appropriately. Otherwise her bloodwork is improving.
Update 10/19: Ruby is feeling much better today! She is the brightest and most active I have seen her thus far. I think the majority of her quiet demeanor and lethargy yesterday could be attributed to gastrointestinal pain. Today, Ruby also has a consistent suckle which makes me more optimistic about starting to feed her. She is displaying signs that she is hungry (bumping me) so we are going to attempt to feed her again today but starting with very small amounts to ensure her gastrointestinal system can handle it!
Update 10/20: Ruby is slowly gaining strength but because her gastrointestinal system is so inflamed, she requires gradual refeeding. She is currently getting small amounts of milk frequently throughout the day which she is doing well with. As we continue to slowly increase her oral intake of nutrition we can decrease her intravenous nutrition. Her bloodwork continues to improve so she is definitely on the right track to getting better.
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Rose Bridge Farm
Organizer
Dresher, PA