Poo!

V

violetblush

Member
Joined
4 March 2013
Messages
10
Visit site
We have a foal! If I could work out how to post a pic I would!

Can someone give me a steer on poo please. We are in a yard full of 'experts' and we are novices with foaling. They dont talk to us but word has come back.

Our foal, Dolly, has runny poo. She is bright and alert and feeding well and consistently. She sleeps, she gets up, she runs about. Mum is happy (other than with her new audience of people thinking its OK to look over the door) and filling with milk as needed.

Now - should I be concerned about this running poo? I have done loads of reading about foaling, after care etc and I know opinion is mixed. I know when we have babies their poo is runny as their digestive systems adjust to food. I know when they stop feeding, being bright and alert and moving about its time to worry. I was applying the same logic here.

Is there a golden rule?

And why is it people in yards would rather bitch behind ones back and risk failure than be proactive? What is that all about?!!
 
The only thing that comes to mind is foal heat scour.

Very happy to be corrected by people who know better though!
 
Hello!
Foal heat scour (if its not a myth) tend to happen when the foal is 7 - 10 days old when the mare has her foal heat and her hormones transfer in the milk.
Dolly is just 26 hours old so its unlikely to be this.

Have now spoken to the vet. He says its most likely the gut adjusting to food, especially as she is big and taking in a lot quickly. It wont be bacterial given her age as it would take longer to develop and I need to trust my gut instinct....

Good man!!
x
 
Jolly good :) wasn't sure about the age of the foal,hence the guess, but congratulations and hope Dolly does well :)
 
What are the foals vitals? If the poo is soft and orangey coloured then I wouldn't worry so long as it isn't diarrhea. You could give a probiotic for a few days to help the foal ease into its new menu. If foal has a temperature and/or diarrhea develops then don't hesitate to call the vet as foals can come down very sick very quickly and they are incredibly susceptible to bacterial infections at this age.
 
Foal poops can be quite soft. I remember trying to find my foal's when born but it was fairly much a soft plop mixed up in the straw. It firmed up into something recognisable after a few days though. As said though, if in any doubt do call in a vet for a quick check. I assume you had one in for a check after birth?
 
Spring Feather said:
What are the foals vitals? If the poo is soft and orangey coloured then I wouldn't worry so long as it isn't diarrhea. You could give a probiotic for a few days to help the foal ease into its new menu. If foal has a temperature and/or diarrhea develops then don't hesitate to call the vet as foals can come down very sick very quickly and they are incredibly susceptible to bacterial infections at this age.
Click to expand...

This, any doubts always get straight on the phone to the vet.
 
I'm in complete agreement with Spring Feather and Mynutmeg. A course of Protexin will never do any harm. May not be a bad idea to take her temperature as well, foals do run higher than adults as normal though so don't be too alarmed if it comes in higher than you may expect,as long as everything else is fine. Pinch her skin as a check on dehydration.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top