We had a bit of a shock this morning! We let the birds out first thing as usual and then made our way to the barn where we found a very off-colour Onion with the most chronic diarrhea! We realized with horror that the cause must be excessive over-eating due to a 'break-in' of the feed store yesterday (someone forgot to secure it properly), something that has happened before but not with such dire consequences. We rang the vet straight away as we knew there was a real danger of grain overload leading to acidosis. This is when the excess feed in a ruminant's stomach ferments, rather than gets digested, the resulting acid then killing off the good bacteria and so preventing the rumen from working!! A severe case of acidosis can result in death, the odds being 50/50!!
We were advised to pump as much antacid into her as possible (a human milk of magnesia equivalent) along with pro-rumen (full of minerals and vitamins and designed to encourage the good bacteria to return) - up to 3 or 4 litres a day and to not allow her to eat anything but hay and straw.
This later action is not a problem, she doesn't want to eat a thing!!
Getting all the liquid into her has proved fun – we are using a drench gun and she is resisting on every level!!
We ended the day exhausted with the effort of all the drenching - and worry – and guilt!!!!!!
Fingers crossed for the morning!! (photo from this time last week... if we knew then what we know now…)