Foal question

[Deleted]

My sister had a foal born yesterday morning. The mother has no milk or very little. Not sure if the baby got any colostrum or not. I went over because she said her husband was talking of just shooting it. He works long days & she has a daycare so they really don't have time to bottle feed. I managed to get it to drink almost a 20 oz. bottle of goat milk. I told her if they brought it here I would try to do what I can.

Questions:

1: If I get it to take a bottle, how much & how often??

2: What are it's chances if it didn't get colostrum or very little?

3: Anything I can give it to boost it's immune system?

Any help would be appreciated. I just couldn't see shooting it without trying anyway.

[Kathy]

Wendy, I don't know anything about equine care but I found a site about foal care-I figured that might help until one of the horse folks saw your plea.

Good Luck, gosh I hope the little one makes it!!

petcaretips.net/orphan_foal.html

[Kathy]

Wendy, I found a bit more about colostrum needs in a foal and ways around it if the foal received none.

Colostrum contains antibodies that provide immunity against infectious diseases. These antibodies are absorbed directly into the foal' s bloodstream from the digestive tract. This direct absorption of antibodies can occur with a high degree of success only within the first 24 hours of life.

Normally, the foal will nurse often enough and the mare' s colostrum will contain enough antibodies or immunoglobulins (IgG) to provide sufficient immunity. Within 12 hours of birth, foals should have either nursed colostrum from the dam, been fed a colostrum replacement or, if unable to nurse successfully, had colostrum administered by nasogastric tube by a veterinarian. Colostrum can be frozen for up to two years. Sources of frozen colostrum are available and can be found locally at large breeding farms or through the internet (www.cyberfoal.com).

Foals can have the IgG concentration in the blood checked at 12 to 24 hours after birth to ensure that an adequate level has been achieved.

If no colostrum has been provided to the foal by the third day, or if the IgG level is too low, blood plasma can be administered intravenously by your attending veterinarian.

[bergere]

Wendy,

Right after the foal sucks,, check its lips. If there is moisture or white stuff in or around his mouth, he is getting milk. Not all mares have big bags.
Sometimes a foal is getting more milk than one thinks.

If she is totally dry with no bag at all, call around to the local horse breeders,, tell them what is going on. Most will be very willing to help you out.

Is better than just shooting the foal and giving it no chance.

If you want, give me a email to what county and state you are in and will put the word out.

[bergere]

Think either Valley Vet or Jeffer's Sells colostrum through their catalogues.

[Deleted]

He did not make it through the night.

[Kathy]

Wendy, I'm so sorry! I was hoping he'd be one of the lucky ones!