enemas

[oln]

i am unsure about enemas. went to chemist for one, i was offered a small lipstick sized tube but they werent sure it could be used on a foal. when i last saw a foal have an enema it was liquid parrafin,but that was some years ago. what exactly do i ask for at the chemist,and does what i was offered sound right. many thanks.

 

[merlinsquest]

I used to work for a pharmaceutical company that specialised in eye drops and enemas!!!!

I cant for the life of me remember the name of the enema, (something lube)..... but it was only in a small tube with a long nozzle on it.

I know nothing of foals needing enemas, but know that the human ones sting like buggery and you are grateful to get it out again

Sounds about right for a human one though... Cant you get one off of the vet???

 

[springfallstud]

Couldnt find a UK link but looks like this http://www.vetnpetdirect.com.au/product.php?productid=16794&cat=409&bestseller

dont tell chemist it for a horse, they are not allowed to sell to you then. Normally behind the counter and under a pound, same stuff from vet is quite a bit more, my vet kindly sent me to the chemist for them.

 

[Maizy]

I went to Boots for one, ahhhem for my imaginary friend. Can't be a child or elderly one tho or they won't sell it!! It was very small and cheap...sorry I can't remember the name tho.

 

[Violet]

You want Microlax, it is a small white tube get a couple in case you need more than one. It is used in humans too.
Microlax product leaflet

 

[GreedyGuts]

Most foal experts now advise against routine enemas. The vast majority of foals pass their meconium with no trouble at all, so giving them an enema is an unnecessarily risky procedure.

In foals that develop a true impaction, phosphate and other types of shop-bought enema are unlikely to make a difference, and dealing with them is a job for your vet.

 

[eventrider23]

I have to say most of the foal experts, including several members of the BEVA I have spoken to have all advised that enemas are given and places like the National Stud who have the best vets at their beck and call all do it routinely as well so sorry to disagree GreedyGuts.

 

[springfallstud]

All vets we have used recommend them given within an hour, having had 2 last year needing help and seeing another 2 belonging to someone else suffer this year and need vet help i will continue to use them.

 

[Gingernags]

[ QUOTE ]
Couldnt find a UK link but looks like this http://www.vetnpetdirect.com.au/product.php?productid=16794&cat=409&bestseller

dont tell chemist it for a horse, they are not allowed to sell to you then. Normally behind the counter and under a pound, same stuff from vet is quite a bit more, my vet kindly sent me to the chemist for them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Right, I found this site...

pharmacy

With the same product and they also sell

CX powder

Isn't this the stuff you can dust navels with after dipping?? Chlorhexidine powder?

 

[oln]

many thanks everybody. so if i buy a couple of enemas from chemist, do i just squirt one in an hour after foaling or will i need more. small riding pony foal.

 

[Touchwood]

We do it routinely as well springfallstud, in fact I've never known anyone not too....

 

[GreedyGuts]

No offence taken! I accept that there are a lot of differing opinions on this, but it's one of those things that gets done routinely in many places even though it doesn't make much difference. The National Stud also give all of their foals antibiotics at birth, but studies have shown that this makes no difference whatsoever.

If a foal is truly impacted then only an acetyl cysteine enema will get things moving. The best thing to do is to watch newborn foals and if they don't pass their meconium within 3 hours call the vet. Colts and arabs are at greatest risk and it's actually quite rare in fillies.

I also feel that blindly poking a plastic tube into a foal's rectum is a bit of an uneccessary risk.

 

[volatis]

we only give an enema if necessary. If I'm very concerned obviously I'll call the vet, but I dont like to give one as routine as I like to interfere as little as possible