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Karen Nolte
Member
Username: Morg1
Post Number: 7
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 8:49 am: |   |
I have a maiden mare who foaled Monday. She had a good sized bag but not huge. Tuesday morning I noticed that she is only milking out of the rear quarters of her bag. When I squeezed her teats she had only one stream of milk from each one. I looked at her nipples and I couldn't see another hole that would be contected to the front quarters. Now that the foal is nursing quite well he's pretty much keeping the rear quarters empty. The front quarters are still large, but not hot or swollen looking. Have you ever seen a mare that didn't have a way to express milk from an area of her bag without past history of Mastitis or injury to that area? I was wondering if she was born with this defect. I've been watching the foal closely for any signs of hunger and he seems to be producing enough to fit his needs now. I bought some foal lac powder, just in case. I thought that I'd try to get him used to the idea that he would be drinking from a bottle to supplement the mare. I tried a bottle yesterday and he got down 2 ounces, but he just wants Mom's milk. I'm going to continue to try one or two bottles a day for a while to see how he takes to it. Is there anything else I can do? |
Little King Ranch
Member
Username: Eoeo
Post Number: 162
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 9:46 am: | |
If the foal isn't hungry and she doesn't have mastitis, I wouldn't fool with mother nature. It is amazing how these mares produce enough to feed a growing colt. There have been mares who only had milk on one side that just simply produced enough from it to feed a colt. You could offer the foal lac pellets and some equine jr. feed for the baby to nibble on, that is what we did for our orphan while we were getting the nurse mare situation straightened out. He ate grain from the get go. Just my opinion. EO |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 12823
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 7:55 pm: | |
If it is true Karen that there is congenital atresia of the ducts on the front 2 quarters I suspect supplemental feed would be necessary later but maybe not now. The mare can milk feed the foal even when he is much larger so should be able to produce enough milk at this time. I like LKR's idea of using foal-lac pellets as supplement feed at about day 10. Signs that the foal is not getting enough milk would be attempting to nurse other structures. There are many recommendations that apply to your situation in the article, Care for Horses » Nutrition » Feeding and Caring for the Orphan Foal.
DrO |
Karen Nolte
Member
Username: Morg1
Post Number: 8
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 - 9:54 pm: | |
OK, I was already planning on creep feeding with Omolene 300, so I'll just buy the foal-lac pellets to mix in with it instead of messing with the bottle idea. What ratio do you recommend for feeding the grain and foal-lac pellets 50/50? I do think that he's getting enough milk for right now. He just spends alot of time going from nipple to nipple, but he seems to be satisfied for the most part. Thank you EO and DrO for your advice. This is a fantastic website and I'm telling everyone about it. I just can't believe that it took me so long to find it.
Karen |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 12827
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 7:14 am: | |
How much time does he spend nursing Karen? I would start with straight Foal Lac and then at about one months age begin adding small amounts of 300 with the idea of being complete 300 by 4 months age.
DrO |
Karen Nolte
Member
Username: Morg1
Post Number: 10
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, May 12, 2005 - 10:59 am: | |
It doesn't seem that he's nursing overly long, but he nurses more frequently. I think that she's providing enough to keep him satisfied, but not full. My other mares milk like cows, so I'm used to the foal just having to swallow fast enough instead of working for their food. He has plenty of energy, and he doesn't seem to be hungry after he finishes nursing. In fact, I can squeeze a teat and still get a stream of milk. I'll be watching him closely though to make sure that he stays satisfied. I'll start using the foal lac as soon as he starts showing more interest in mom's grain, or when he's 10 days. Thanks again. Karen |
Karen Nolte
Member
Username: Morg1
Post Number: 11
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 8:37 am: | |
Ok, the foal is now eleven days old. Mom is still keeping up with his needs. He's gaining weight and filling out nicely. He's also eating grain and hay very well, but the other day he was having a very difficult time passing his stool. I ended up giving him an enema and he was then able to go. The stool looked like it would have come from an adult horse. It was very large and green. I'm concerned that he isn't getting enough liquids in his diet. Is there a way I could get him to drink water, or something I could give him to make relieving himself easier. Thanks. |
Little King Ranch
Member
Username: Eoeo
Post Number: 164
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 9:32 am: | |
I wouldn't worry about him getting enough liquid. We had to give several 3 enemas to one of our foals and he passed the same thing. It just took him a couple of days to get things going right. Once we got that passed he was fine. You would be surprised how soon the foals start dabbling in the water on their own. If he is gaining and filling out, has plenty of energy to play, he is doing fine. If a mare and foal can be turned out for exercise as soon as possible, it seems the foals pass the meconium sooner and easier. EO |
Karen Nolte
Member
Username: Morg1
Post Number: 12
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 6:49 pm: | |
I'm just trying to be sure about his health. I don't want to lose another baby this year. Right now, he's turned out all day and put in at night, but starting this weekend he will be out in pasture 24/7. I haven't seen him show an interest in water yet, but I can't see everything. I know that foals can show an interest in water early. I had a filly a few years ago that I had to put the water out of her reach, because she started drinking it before she was a day old. |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: Mrose
Post Number: 658
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 7:27 pm: | |
Karen, you do need to be a little cautious about the water. Just make sure he's not filling up on it instead of what he should be eating and drinking. But, sounds like you've had experience with this before. So glad your little colt is doing well. If you have to give him another enema, then I would worry. |
Karen Nolte
Member
Username: Morg1
Post Number: 13
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 20, 2005 - 8:44 am: | |
I watched him go last last night he really had to push, but he was able to pass his stool. I think that it will get better once I get him out on grass full time, but right now my grass is pretty short. I was just wondering if there was anything that I could give him orally that would help soften his stool. I'm in the process of moving horses to a different pasture with tons of grass. As you know that's a gradual process. I'm hoping that I can have the horses moved to the pasture full time by this weekend, so he and his mom can have their pasture. |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: Mrose
Post Number: 660
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Friday, May 20, 2005 - 10:22 am: | |
There are pediatric stool softners which would probably work, but I think I'd just keep and eye on him until you get he and his mom into the pasture, unless his problem gets worse instead of better. |
