What could be wrong with my foal ?

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BBH

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She's 11 months old and has been quite poorly the last couple of days, very flat and reluctant to walk.

Observations,
Lost her spark,
lethargic and reluctant to walk forwards but will with encouragment
tucked up
No heat in feet
happy to eat / drink
Is now poohing
No serious colic signs / rolling/ looking at flanks / etc
No discharge from anywhere
Eyes clear
No sharp teeth

Any ideas ?
 
Seriously, I would ask the vet to have a good look, she could have pulled something with the reluctance to move, eaten something or have a virus, it needs checking out IMO.
If foals get ill it affects them far more and far quicker than something older, they can go downhill very quickly and it can be a hard road back so you need to act quickly. Let us know how she is.
 
After your post about her the other day I would get the vet to come and have a look - today.

Does she have a temperature now??
Is she up to date with her tetenus??
 
Hi everyone,

no heat / swellings anywhere - we also checked for bruisings on her feet
All jabs up to date
not sure about temp as don't have thermometer but doesn't ' feel' hot

have phoned vets but can't get here till this even as don't think emergency ??

Thankyou all for your help, if only they could talk.
 
LHS, one of your key things for your first aid box is a thermometre...... Especially for a baby.

Good luck with the vet. Let us know how you get on.
 
As said the vet is coming later but they don't think the symptoms described are emergency call out needed, not me.
 
The vet came yesterday and she has a respiratory infection / pneumonia and is on a course of penicillin. She is a lot happier today and we have to take her temperature again this evening and call him if its no lower.

So thankyou all for your advice and fingers crossed she'll be back to her usual cheerful self soon.

xx

Eeek how do I edit my spelling on the thread title
 
So pleased you have an answer now and foal is on the way to recovery. If you hadn't had the vet yesterday, you would have had a very very poorly foal on your hands by now and might even have lost her, it's that serious to act quickly with babies; I know you'll be prepared in future. Do keep us updated.
 
Thankyou both for your good wishes.

I don't think I've ever heard of a horse having pneumonia before especially one that has been well rugged and kept in overnight in bad weather, but i've learnt a couple of things over this, firstly we have a thermometer and secondly what a normal breathing rate is.
 
LHS said:
Thankyou both for your good wishes.

I don't think I've ever heard of a horse having pneumonia before especially one that has been well rugged and kept in overnight in bad weather, but i've learnt a couple of things over this, firstly we have a thermometer and secondly what a normal breathing rate is.
Click to expand...

You're more than welcome, glad we pointed you in the right direction.

Possibly, being rugged has been her downfall as it's very easy for them to overheat, sweat under the rug and then catch a chill which is probably how this happened . We think we are pampering to their needs because we are cold and they must be too; it doesn't always work that way as you've found out.
 
I am really glad you have an answer. All symptoms that a foal presents should be treated as serious because as already said they can become very ill very quickly and treatment is urgent. The most minor of respiratory ailments can develop into pneumonia. Most modern antibiotics are very effective so she should have a speedy recovery.

Try and learn a few basics like taking the pulse, temperature and learn to know what is normal for each individual horse you have.

Plenty of TLC along with the meds will do the job

Good luck with everything and let us know how the foal is coming along.
 
Glad you foal has had the attention and treatment she needs.

I am almost obsessive about checking respiration rate and temperature in any foal that looks a little "wrong".

Do you have a specialist equine vet? I am surprised they seemed so casual about an unwell foal.
 
Morning,

Am pleased to report that foalie is doing really well, her breathing is back to normal as is her temp. Her last penicillin shot is tonight and she is eating normally and her spark has come back. In fact you wouldn't know there was anything wrong tbh.

I think our problems stemmed from the fact that her symptoms didn't point to any one thing and we would never have thought of respiratory problems as there was no weezing, noise, coughing etc.

Thankyou all for your good wishes and concern.

xxx
 
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