It was morning, and our plans were to move the herd to new pasture, only to find one of our cows had trouble during labor throughout the night. We get up close and find that her calf did not make it. She is lying to her side with severe bloat and we're now at risk of losing her.
The day's plans go out the window, and we stress what to do next. Dialing the vet, and searching for the best solution, we find a needle we can use to release some of the air. Thankfully my husband keeps his composure a bit better than me and my Dad do during stressful moments like these.
Once we have her bloat under control, we try and get her to stand to make sure there is not any nerve damage. She doesn't get up. It isn't looking good, but we are able to move her back legs for her, which is a good sign. Now to wait. We establish a shade for her, and bring her water. (Adding a bit of syrup to it in hopes to give her a burst of energy, which seems to help.)
We eventually try to hook her up to something that will help her stand, and she stands for short periods, and falls back down. We end the day with wondering if we've done the right thing, and plan on getting up first thing Sunday morning to help her up again.
The morning comes and we ride to where we left her, only to not find her there. Many steps away, we find her, standing and eating. She could only take a few steps, and would fall back down, but she was up and walking. Praise God! We kept a careful eye on her throughout the next few days, and all she had was a limp. Today she is walking fine.
Things may not go according to plan some days, but we're thankful we have each other to lean on.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
-The Farmer's Daughter
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