Long Labor, but DMAR Dolce is Here!
DMAR Dolce arrived at 3:26 pm on Nov. 15, 2009. She weighed 15 lbs at birth and is very alert and strong. She was standing on her own within 5 minutes. As soon as she was standing with a little help from me she nursed immediately. She had quite an appetite worked up.
Dam, DMAR Electra shown in pictures with Dolce above, had a very long labor. This is Electra’s first cria, but she is proving to be a wonderful mother with plenty of milk. She is very attentive to her cria and is often heard clucking at her baby.
We noticed Electra humming a lot starting at 8am. Her appetite wasn’t normal, so this along with the humming made us think she was in the beginning stages of labor. However, as time went by we really didn’t see her being too uncomfortable or trying to push. It was 12:30 when I was going to take a ride with Tom to get some alfalfa. We had just finished moving the girls into the front pasture and with horror we watched as Electra rolled all the way over on her back to the other side. Of course the only thought going through our minds was uterine torsion. Anyway she didn’t appear to be in any pain, so we were about to leave when I noticed that the inside of Electra’s tail was damp. I told Tom I wanted to check it out when I noticed a drop falling to the ground. Her water must’ve broken.
Our plan was to move Electra and one other alpaca back into the stall. It was a little difficult as they didn’t want to leave, but it really didn’t take us too much time. At this point we did notice Electra was very uncomfortable. She was standing then kushing and then standing again. When she kushed she would let her back legs out to the side and then kush straight to finally letting her back legs out to the other side. After an hour of her water breaking I saw no sign of impending birth. I gloved and lubed up to check to see if she actually had a uterine torsion. I went in rectally, but I could feel no torsion. Well at least that was good news.
I placed phone calls into my vet (out of town- go figure) and then to another alpaca breeder. She asked if I had checked for a uterine torsion in which I advised she had none. Next she thought it best to go in vaginally to see where the baby was. I knew I had to do this, but quite honestly I was procrastinating. Ok, new glove and lubricant ….I went in, but to be stopped immediately by a wall. There was a small hole in which only the tip of my middle finger could penetrate. Her cervix was closed. How is this possible? Her water broke over an hour ago. Another phone call to the alpaca breeder and one more to another vet hospital who gave me another clinic who was on call.
While I am waiting for the on call doctor the other alpaca breeder advised that I could bring my maiden female to them for examination. If nothing else they could either second my original assessment or tell me that they did feel a torsion. No matter what we would be closer to the vets when they finally called.
We packed Electra up in the trailer and I followed behind in my car. Tommy would have to come home to do the afternoon feeding, so it was necessary to bring two vehicles.
On the way to the alpaca ranch I received the phone call from the on call vet. Guess what he told me? Yep, he doesn’t handle alpacas!!! I told him he was covering for a hospital that does handle alpacas and the only response he gave me was that he would leave a voice mail for the doctor that I have dealt with in the past and maybe she would return my call. I didn’t argue for it wouldn’t do me any good. I thanked him for making the effort to call the other doctor.
Within 5 minutes the other vet called. I couldn’t believe it. Unfortunately she too was out of town, but you wouldn’t imagine how much better it is to hear someone support your efforts. She told me that what I had done to assess Electra was correct. As soon as I reached the next ranch to have them examine for a uterine torsion, but that is all. She advised that going into the cervix continually will cause more issues than not. If the cervix is closed it is up to the cria to open it. The only thing left for us to do is to wait. That is all.
It was at this time that Tom pulled over on the Hwy. I pulled up behind him and when he jumped out of the trailer he advised that Electra is bulging out the back end. I looked at her and agreed. Ok this is what we were waiting for. I sat down to wait, but then Tom said we needed to get off the Hwy. We were closer to the other ranch, so we decided to continue.
Not even 5 minutes later and Tom pulled into a gas station. He jumped into the trailer (by the way we have a camera in the trailer, so Tom could watch what Electra was doing) and by the time I headed over he came out saying the nose was out. I jumped in and was both thrilled and scared at the same time. I wasn’t seeing any movement in the cria.
It has now been 7 1/2 hours since the onset of labor. My vet told me that any labor this long is no good and her main mission is to get the cria out asap. I lubed up and told Tom I was going in. Easier said than done as Electra was very tight. I had no choice but to push the head back in. As soon as I did her two front feet popped out. Elated I was since I now knew the cria was in the correct position. I pulled and eventually got both the head and legs out further. I gave Electra a slight rest and then worked on the shoulders. Within 10 minutes we had a female cria on the ground who was breathing and super strong.
I examined Electra and to my surprise she has no tears. She stood like a statue while I helped the cria nurse off her. It did take Electra another 3 hours to pass the intact placenta, but I was thrilled that I didn’t have to give her any drugs to do so.
Overall the experience was quite new and we learned a lot. However, I am now ready for an easy birth. I feel that this year there has been too many new experiences and I really don’t want to learn anymore. Can you blame me?
Dolce appears to be fawn with a dark fawn and white face. Her fawn color is weird, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she turned into a light rose grey. Time will tell. I can say for sure that her fiber is really really crimpy. The crimp was so tight that the hair dryer we applied to her did nothing to straighten it out. She is simply beautiful.
Dolce’s sire is Snowmass Incan Emperor who is a multiple blue ribbon winner. Incan’s crias have been fawn, brown, rose grey and silver grey. He has produced reserve color champions and blue ribbon winners. The crias all are very fine with high amplitude of crimp. Incan is available for outside breedings. Click Here for more information.
This is Donatella’s first litter and she is proving to be a very attentive and caring mother. She is constantly in her whelping box pulling the pups to her, so she can clean them. Milk is of no issue and the pups can be found suckling at any time of the day.
The sire of the puppies is Vincenzo. He is a first generation American with his parents coming directly from Italy. Vincenzo takes his guarding duties seriously and looks out for Donatella as well as the other maremmas on the ranch.
