Foal STILL scouring. Any ideas?

PlanetHacking said:
Well, they've gone out; the mare charged around and the foal joined in, which was good to see. She's also feeding. I'm really hoping that now she's back on the Diarsanyl it'll help bind her, and then I can talk to the vet about worming.

I've been googling Diarsanyl, it contains prebiotics and seems to be good stuff. Fingers crossed!
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Diarsanyl is very good stuff we use it along with a charcoal based product ,the name escapes me.
Both products usually do the trick.
The one we put on antibiotics would bind for a couple of days but then would start squiting again once we weaned her off the drugs.
Antibiotics sorted eventually
 
She's not great, I'm afraid :(. She's still feeding but still scouring and not happy. I've kept her topped up with plenty of electrolytes but the Diarsanyl isn't working. I was on the verge of contacting a different vet for a second opinion but my original vet agrees that he now needs to run some tests. For pathogens, he said, not sure if this will be bloods or fecal or both. I wish I'd insisted on tests sooner, you live and learn.
 
I would run bloods first that will tell you if it is infection but also if it is immflamatory and the best way to treat it.
We are very lucky and a full blood screen on a foal only costs arond £30 and we get results in a few hours.
They run so many differant tests on the blood and they look for certain markers that give an indication of the problem.
Rotavirus is something common on the bigs studs but not common if there hasnt been lots of foals born on site before as it passes on through previous contamination.
Good luck its not nice to have a sick foal and i hope he/she gets better soon
 
I hoped there was going to be better news.
Lets hope your vet springs in to action today then and gets some results for you soon.
Are you bringing her in at night?
 
Poor foal's no better; if anything a bit worse. It's really taking its toll now. The vet came and took lots of bloods, fecal sample and a swab, hopes to have some results tomorrow. They're in now and won't be going out till this is sorted. I'm feeding her electrolytes more intensively now, half a litre every 3 hours and keeping on with the Diarsanyl. I must admit I'm worried sick. Thanks for your concern, I'll keep you posted.
 
I wonder if it's time to tell your vet you'd like the foal referred to hospital (for more intensive support).
 
amymay said:
I wonder if it's time to tell your vet you'd like the foal referred to hospital (for more intensive support).
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Just as I was typing my reply the vet phoned! He's had the first set of blood results which suggest infection, as the white blood cells are high. In a strange way I'm quite relieved as, depending on the next set of bloods, they're planning to start her on anti-biotics this afternoon. Also, the bloods showed that she's not showing signs of dehydration, which is good news.

I do agree though Amymay, if she doesn't pick up soon I'll ask for a referral. Thanks again everyone.
 
Poor you, and foal. Have to say I'd be none too impressed with my vet by this stage.

Please keep us posted. We all have everything crossed for a speedy turnaround.
 
PlanetHacking said:
Just as I was typing my reply the vet phoned! He's had the first set of blood results which suggest infection, as the white blood cells are high. In a strange way I'm quite relieved as, depending on the next set of bloods, they're planning to start her on anti-biotics this afternoon. Also, the bloods showed that she's not showing signs of dehydration, which is good news.

I do agree though Amymay, if she doesn't pick up soon I'll ask for a referral. Thanks again everyone.
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Glad you are getting the right help for her now.

I'm afraid that I would be saying something to the practice as everything you have said about her so far from the water like scours right down to the temperature suggested she has been fighting something for a while and your vet really should have been more proactive and got her tested sooner.

I have lost a gorgeous filly here this year...she had prolonged scours and was very lethargic....we treated withe everything we could as the bloods showed an infection however we still were unable to save her and so it just shows how delicate they are.

Good luck.
 
I would be very unhappy about the way your vet has handled this. I am amazed he has left it so long to get tests underway!? Lets just hope that now he is doing something that it isn't too late.

Keeping everything crossed for you and the foal x
 
Yes, I'm very unhappy that tests weren't done sooner, as it certainly wouldn't have done any harm. I've been speaking to the vet daily so he has known the full situation. He was fairly sure the Diarsanyl would sort it, and didn't think she had an infection as she hasn't had a temperature for a week. I took his advice as I have no experience of foals at all (she was a surprise). Still, at the end of the day she's my responsibility and I should have insisted.
 
Fingers and toes crossed that your little filly fights off the infection and is well again soon.
Like the others have said I would be very very angry with the lack of action taken by the vet. I would talk to the practice and review your bill when this all closes out.
Also I would definitely put the feelers out for another vet/hospital now in the event that she worries you over the next couple of days.

The very very best of luck.
 
Thank you everyone for your support. The vet has had some more blood results and on the basis of those spoke to a consultant at Liverpool Uni Equine Hospital and we now have a treatment plan. In addition to the Diarsanyl and electrolytes, she's also now having oral antibiotics and probiotics. Another vet from the same practice came out and saw her this afternoon and all her clinical signs are normal (temp, heart, gums, gut sounds) but she's still very depressed. I'm glad we're finally doing something but do wish we'd started sooner.
 
So glad that you now have a treatment plan for your foal and fingers crossed it works.
If they now know she has an infection and have started her on the appropriate antibiotics lets hope for some improvement soon.
You have done everything and as has been said before, put your trust in your vet. I would be questioning why samples weren't taken before because had they done that then treatment could have started earlier.
I have had a few foals scour over the last few years and called vets out and one of the first thing that we did was send a poo sample to the lab to see what was going on.
Anyway, the most important thing at the moment is to get your foal bouncing around again and enjoying being a foal!
You can think about complaining later.
Agree about looking for another vet just in case.
Keep us all updated.
 
Definitely do NOT beat yourself up as whilst yes you may have no prior experience of foals...you have done EVERYTHING you can to help her and been more vigilant than many by calling in professional help daily. Especially as the vet knew you were new to this he/she should have helped more and been more thorough for you as well as simply doing the job properly from the start!
 
PlanetHacking said:
Thank you everyone for your support. The vet has had some more blood results and on the basis of those spoke to a consultant at Liverpool Uni Equine Hospital and we now have a treatment plan. ........
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Finally! You have every reason to be peeved. You are not an experienced breeder, you've called for assistance, after too long a time span, the right steps are now being taken.

What to do? That's a difficult one. It sounds like you need your vet, and there's no point in damaging your relationship with the practice. However, in your shoes, when the initially attending vet is with you, I would wait for a lull in the conversation and ask him just why it had taken 5-6-7 days (however long it's been) for proper tests to be carried out, and for a further opinion. Before he gets a chance to answer, stay calm, look him straight in the eye, and point out that if you lose the foal, then you will not be seeing the funny side of life.

You've been on this forum, seeking advice and some highly experienced breeders have suggested days ago that further exploratory work needs to be done. You may point that out to him, too.

From what you say, I don't think that you've been treated very well. You and your foal have my sympathy.

Alec.
 
Here Here Alec I was shocked that your vet just did not jab anti Bs as soon as he took the temp my vet did and she got another shot as well,we did not do tests but the foal was not depressed quiet the opposite.
I do hope she now getting better with the anti bs well done xx :D
 
Well, I have cautiously optimistic news today. She's stopped scouring and is passing solids! She's still very down but I think I would expect her to be given the prolonged infection and scouring. Luckily she's inherited her mum's laid-back temperament and is very amenable to the intensive treatment - by the time I've finished one round of syringing it's almost time to start the next ;).

I'll keep you posted, this is a really worrying time and the support from you knowledgeable people has been very much appreciated.
 
Well that is just fabulous news, I am thrilled for you!
With all of your intensive care I would hope to see more improvement tomorrow and even more the following day.
Well done, get your foal well again and then think about the vet.
 
Touch wood, I think we may be turning a corner. When I arrived this morning I could tell from the mare's udder that the foal was feeding better and she fed heartily four times while I was there. She also seems much less withdrawn and more engaged, she had a little play with the wheelbarrow and nicked a bit of mum's hay. :)
 
my foal had a awful scour last sunday. green water it was like something out of the omen only coming from the bum. yuk, anyway rang vet, he give me a injection for him and a probaoic (sp) paste. i had to inject 10 mls in sunday and 10mls on tues and i give half the paste on sunday and tuesday.
bring him into vet and get them to give an injection.
youkurts are great but not at this stage as this seems like bacterial infection. i owuldnt let it go anylonger. toouch wood my filly was fine on tusday but had to finish the course. but i know someone that lost a foal this year with a scour that wouldnt go away. hope all will be ok, but i would get vet to see her. let us know how you get on.


just realised everything is ok now, glad to here.
 
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obviously this is more worrying than the runs my foal had from the powdered milk being too rich, and obviously your dealing with it which is great

but if your foal does suffer and it is not an infection I found psillium husk worked for me it is just grass seed so I did not have to worry about giving it to my foal and I fed it consistantly while she was on milk as I was having to bath her morning noon and night
I also put yoghurt and electrolytes in the milk and it cleared up immediatley

anyway thought you might like to know but as I say I can see this is more than just scouring xxx
 
Hi yes, sorry, I started another thread and didn't update this one. Fingers crossed, she's still on the mend. The scouring has stopped altogether, and the course of antibiotics has finished. I'll keep on with the probiotics for a bit. I think it'll be some time before she's 100% as it's really taken it out of her. My feckless vet had the last of the results today and she's clear for worms so that's good.

My plan is to keep them in until the weekend just to be sure, and then turn them out. The foal's definitely more with it. When I popped them in a spare stable this morning to muck out, she went exploring, which is real progress :)
 
I thought we'd turned a corner - the foal had stopped scouring, was feeding really well and all round much stronger.

I arrived this morning to find her looking really poor, the worst yet, and not feeding at all. That's the first time is got's that bad. Called the vet out immediately, her temp and heart rate were through the roof. Vet gave her a jab to try and get her temp down and she's back on fluids. I noticed just now that she has thick white gunk coming out of her nose.

The vet spoke to Leahurst, who would separate her from the mare and put her on a drip. They said I'd be looking at 2 grand with no guarantee she'd pull through. I tried to add her to my insurance shortly after she was born and was told I couldn't until she was 30 days, and then this was a pre-existing condition so she's not insured. I don't really have 2 grand. I'm absolutely devastated.
 
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