Urgent Foal Advice

Jasperboy said:
just been with the vets, not colic guts are over active if any thing so they have taken blood to test for kidney and liver problems, may be a infection some were, so have to wait for the bloods then go from there, worried as her tummy is swollen and rounded.
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Did they take her temperature? What advice have they given you on her care for now?

What studs are local to you that you can get some advice from?
 
Temp normal, rang one stud and got told i was stupid for taking them on should have returned them ect i ended up putting the phone down, wont ring another, got to keep her in and when i the bloods come back make a action plan of care,
 
Jasperboy said:
Temp normal, rang one stud and got told i was stupid for taking them on should have returned them ect i ended up putting the phone down, wont ring another, got to keep her in and when i the bloods come back make a action plan of care,
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Phone Joanna Varden - essentially you have an orphan foal - she may well have some really usefull advice for you on how to look after her properly.

Or PM MFH_09 on here or HenryHorn. Both very, very experienced with raising youngstock not on the mare.

Good luck - and let us know how it goes.
 
Have you got anyone near you (if not then maybe place an advert somewhere) that have just had a foal weaned off so that you could try and get the mare to look after her.
Hope she gets better soon.

You should report the dealer to the ILPH or RSPCA because them foals should never of come off mum at that age let alone sold (i'm not blaming you its the dealer fault not yours).
How many other foals did they have for sale? because if yours are that young how many other foals could there be that are in the same situation as yours.
Its not only the foals but the stress the mums have had by having their foals taken away from them far to early :mad:
 
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As asked for here are some pictures of the filly and her guts

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I also bought a foal, several years ago, that I was told was six months old and weaned. When his passport arrived, it turned out he was four months old. My friend bought three foals and hers were all the same age as mine, or younger. We had reserved these foals six weeks prior, having seen them in the herd with their dams.

Luckily we had no issues with ours. They were fed milk pellets, stud balancer and alfalfa three times a day, plus access to good quality grazing. Wormed every four weeks blah blah.

When the passport revealed the true age I was told the mare had "had enough" of my young colt and had effectively naturally weaned him. With the benefit of hindsight, I believe that wasn't the case but like the OP I had no idea what a 6 month old foal should look like.

Good luck with your foals OP.

For the record, Talis was insured pretty much as soon as we got him home. I had to arrange for a BVA Mortality Certificate to be accepted for insurance...this basically just checks the general health/heart for signs of genetic issues.
 
Oh gosh, poor little thing :( She does look lovely though - i have no advice but i really hope it works out for you. Is the other foal ok and eating etc? Did you have the vet check them both out when he/she came?

Sorry, loads of questions!
 
I see what you mean about the belly....good news though is that the dropping there looks pretty normal (well to my untrained eye at least).
 
I'm interested to know more about your grazing.

You say you are strip grazing - why? These are babies, lots of good grass is needed......
 
Jasperboy said:
the field was topped and rested for the last few years there is so much of it i wont risk letting them lose on it all
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Ok, so they're not on good grazing, just poor, seeded grazing......

Your little poorly one looks nutritionally struggling to me - the other looks in better knick.

Hopefully you and Maesfean are now in touch via pm - her help will be invaluable. But if not - take her up on any offer of help. Another good source of advice is going to be from feed companies.

I wonder what is in the grazing if it's been left so long. It's always possible that she may have eaten something like ragwort (although unlikely I suppose).

Good quality hay, and access to a good outside environment is essential for youngstock.

And I wonder if a worm count could be done?
 
I do see what you mean now, yes, she does look unthrifty especially compared to him, he looks bright as a button.
Thanks AM for the vote of confidence!

If it was me, I would still go along with the advice to change their feed gradually to D & H Suregrow instead of a stud mix; as I explained it's just too rich for this type especially as they have no other source of vitamins from the dams. Because she's poorly, I'd also think about putting her on some D & H Equilac which is a mare's milk replacer. I know it seems like a backward step to put her back onto milk but I feel she needs a boost so a month of supplement won't hurt at all especially as you don't think she's eating too much. Incidentally, I know you said they share feed bowls but does she get her share or does he push her out? My two couldn't be fed together because Freddy guarded his food very jealously and I had to stand over him to make sure Harry finished his in peace; Freddy was a greedyguts right from the start, he wouldn't (and still doesn't) share his grub with anyone! Ad lib good meadow hay, plenty of turnout (I would be inclined to give them as much of the field as possible so no strip grazing; babies need space to play and gallop) I'd also like a worm count done and the blood tested which I believe you're doing anyway.

PS: I'd also like them actually stabled together, it might buck her up a lot, she could do with the comfort it will give her.
 
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Simsar said:
Sorry mean't holly sorry if there is a magic!!!!!!!!!!!
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I wasn't being mean!!

I was trying to find out if the OP had any experince with youngsters because I didn't want to be insulting by assuming they knew nothing! My comments were in no way nasty or mean or telling someone off - just trying to judge how best to help!

I have PM'd offering to vivit and help if the Op is anywhere near me and also suggested that there are plenty of others on here that will do the same.
 
they are in the same stable, just moved the colt out the way to take pictures, she gets plently i normally give her a little extra with out the colt, looking in to a gelding to be a nanny at mo
 
I am a newbie to foals and before we had our filly I wouldn't have known the difference between a 3 month and 6 month old but we live and learn hey :)

Just wanted to wish you well and agree with others that there are some very helpful, knowledgeable kind people on here like Maesfen who will be a wonderful source of knowledge and support so you are in good hands.

I have asked many a dumb question and had some very helpful replies ;) I hope your babies are back on track soon.
 
Poor little foal, hope everything works out okay and keep us updated.
Makes me sick people can pull foals away from mares at 2/3 months and sell them
 
Hi, she is a little brighter, please dont shoult at me but i have got her to eat milk pettels warm water and honey, we have a mare coming monday to mother them. Vets said its a wait and see case but we have a small window of time to get her stronger before winter starts
 
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