Tag Archive for: special needs cow

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Where There is Love, There is Hope

 

We need to get Hope’s front end/legs strong in order to help her become more mobile. We would like to purchase a set of DynaSplints in order to help her contracted tendons, with hope that the product will one day, enable our precious baby girl to run and play like a normal little calf.

We have posted a fundraiser on Facebook to help raise the necessary funds. If you would like to contribute, please click on Hope’s image above which will take you directly to our Facebook fundraising page. You may also contribute via PAYPAL or via various means on our website’s donation page. If donating via PayPal, please note that your contribution is for ‘Hope’s DynaSplints.’

Thank you, all, for your love and support of our sweet Baby Hope!

When the world says, “Give up.”, Hope whispers “Try it one more time.”

#NeverGiveUp #believe #bhfer #follow #share #WhereThereIsLoveThereIsHope #CalfNamedHope

 

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Hope Needs Dynasplints

The two photos above show the difference between a normal calf and Hope.

Hope is a calf that spent most of the first 4+ weeks of her life on the ground because she couldn’t walk – she was born with contracted tendons. She couldn’t stand for long periods of time but she must have stood long enough to drink mom’s milk.  Neighbors saw Hope laying down in almost the same spot of the property each day.

I can’t imagine how horrible it must have been for Hope during the severe thunder storms that we had – and to be alone!  And she had to have been miserable in the extremely high temperatures laying in full sun.  She was very lucky that lightening or the coyotes didn’t get her.

Hope’s mom left her alone for periods of time in order to graze and get water and, after the first few weeks, her mom began staying away for longer periods of time.  Hope and her mom should have been placed in a small paddock after she was born so mom wouldn’t wander far away and the baby could get limited exercise. Sometimes, with exercise, the issue of contracted tendons will correct itself.  Tetracycline antibiotics are sometimes given to help bind up the calcium, reducing the growth of the long bones and giving time for the tendons to catch up.  In some cases, with time and exercise, the tendons will straighten on their own.  Sometimes, manually stretching the leg(s) out a few times a day will help or splints may be used.  None of these things had been done for Hope.

We are stretching Hope’s legs out often. She will still only stand for short periods of time. Dr. Julia does acupuncture and Raindrop therapy on her and we are trying to get DynaSplints for her.  Hope is an absolute love and is fully cooperative.

We will be working on the contracted tendon issue and as well as other issues – there are some unknowns but time will tell.  It’s going to be an adventure, and a bit time consuming, but if she can have a good quality of life, it will be worth it. If, for some reason Hope becomes uncomfortable and there is nothing we can do, we will love her enough to let her go. But we’re going to stay positive and believe that that she will improve.

Thank you all for caring about her.

When the world says, “Give up,” Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”

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Such a Good Girl!

Hope was such a good girl on her way to the vet for her follow up on Saturday morning. I have been fighting the flu but promise to provide further details regarding Hope’s issues, as soon as I can. Thank you for your understanding.

I hope that each and every member of our incredible little village had a very Happy Easter or Passover.

Sincerely,

Theresa

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Hope’s Evening Update

Dr. Sonday and Dr. Simonson met with us yesterday to review Hope’s test results.  We will be scheduling Dr. Mangan, our veterinary ophthalmologist to do an eye exam on Hope and we will be consulting with a neurologist.

At this time, even though the odds are not in Hope’s favor, we all feel that she deserves a chance.  She’s alert and in good spirits, she’s comfortable, she’s eating and drinking, and she’s mobile (to an extent).

I’m so thankful that Hope is here and will at least, be given the opportunity to overcome her issues.  Thank you all for caring and for helping this precious little girl.  I wish you all could meet her.  Everyone who has met Hope, simply adores her.

When the world says “give up”, Hope whispers, “try it one more time.” Believe…

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Baby Hope Update

When I met Hope on Wednesday morning, the first thing I noticed besides the issue of her legs, were her eyes. They were odd – at times they would roll back under the socket and you could see much of the white of the eye. She didn’t seem to watch us move about, but she did seem attuned to noises. After she was carefully loaded into the SUV, I took her to the vet for tests. Once back at the farm, she settled into Betsy Rose’s stall.

Hope can get up on her own at times, with effort, but she doesn’t walk much and lays back down soon thereafter. She’s eating and drinking some, not enough in my opinion, but hopefully, that will improve. She seems most content when someone stays with her, and she simply loves to lay her head in my lap and have her face rubbed.

There appears to be neurological issues, so we will gather our team (optometrist, neurologist, traditional vet, and a holistic vet), to assess her overall health.  

Her crooked legs is one thing, but the apparent loss of vision and being wobbly in her backend and seemingly, being unaware as to where her legs are, is something else. Once we have reviewed all test results, we will plan a course of action.

It makes me sad that Hope was pretty much alone for almost four weeks – down on the ground lying in the scorching sun and even torrential rains. And during all these weeks, Hope didn’t wander from the spot where she was born which supports the thought that she may not be able to see – she had no clue as to where to go or what to do. And when her mom would go off to graze and get water, she was all alone.

She’s a very brave little girl. I’m very grateful to the humans who stepped up and contacted us and to the wonderful support from all of you.

I can’t tell you how sweet and trusting Hope is. She is simply precious. She needs prayers, lots of good energy, and likely, a miracle.

Thank you, all, so very much, for caring.

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Precious Angel Hope

We Named Her Hope!

The little one had a tough time getting up yesterday morning.

She’s just precious.

She was gently picked up and loaded into the back of the SUV.

When I first saw Hope, I felt she had more issues than just contracted tendons. I will update as soon as she is seen by our team of veterinarians.

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Please Pray for Baby Cow

Someone reached out to us about a baby calf with contracted tendons that lays, alone, in a paddock everyday because she can’t walk. Her legs/tendons need to be stretched out several times a day. She may need splints – we don’t know yet. The mother goes off to graze and get water, but returns to give her baby a chance to nurse but as of late, she has been wandering off more frequently and has been gone a bit longer each day. Mom and baby should have been placed in a small area where the mom would be unable to wander too far and the baby’s chance of being hurt by other members of the herd, or even coyotes, would be greatly lessened.

A couple of good samaritans have been stopping by to help the baby get up and give her water. Yesterday, we learned that the owner, not wanting to be bothered with this baby, was going to give her to a neighbor who would fatten her up and use her for meat and her hide.

I couldn’t help it – we had to offer to take this baby.

We want to get her here today and get her settled in. Perhaps the sling and hands on manipulation will help her. Once she is better, and doesn’t need hands on manipulation throughout the day, we think we have a foster home she can go to until a permanent home is found. The thought of her not being mobile and laying in the hot sun, and in the rain, is maddening. She’s going to need milk replacer and vetting.

Would anyone like to pledge to help this precious little girl?

MORNING UPDATE
We need prayers for baby cow – she’s weak this am and couldn’t get up. The owner has finally agreed to release her and we’re getting ready to go get her. I’ll update when I can.

Thank you all for your love and support.

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