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Discussion on Small foal - sleeping alot
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New Member:
larkspur
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Posted on Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 5:39 pm:
We have a 7 year old mare, not a first time mom, that delivered a cute but small filly on sunday morning (may 6). The mare was on 100 acres of mixed grass/fescue and was having nothing to do with being caught so delivered in the pasture. Birth was apparently uneventful as both were up walking around when we checked...mom let us catch her at that point and we brought them up to the barn. Baby seemed small but was nursing. Moms bag is ok....but not large. Filly is gaining weight, slowly..we taped her today at 96#...she lays down and sleeps alot. We put the mare on alfalfa and calf manna...starting slowly to ease her into it. Baby will get up and run around, kick up heels, trot off from mom to explore. But, and this might be the worrywort in me, she just seems so small and sleeps so much.
She bumps moms bag pretty good...nurses for a short period of time...walks around...nurses some more...sometimes for just a few seconds...sometimes for a minute or more. Then naps for half an hour to 45 minutes.
Shes a week old tomorrow morning...and in my opinion should be alot more active than she is.
I'm not panicking...but I'm concerned.
We're on day two of the alfalfa and calf manna...should I expect to see a difference soon in moms bag or baby's demeanor?
Sorry this is rambling, maybe I'm more worried than I thought.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 7:11 pm:
Hello Jo and Missy,
Though a bit long 30 to 45 minute naps are not out of the range of normal but this is not an assurance everything is OK. The foal should have a good exam by a veterinarian anytime you think something is wrong.
Trends are very important, for instance is the amount of time down increasing (bad sign) or decreasing (good sign)? For more on this and other factors for assessing the foals risk and health see, Equine Reproduction » Pregnancy, Foaling, & Neonatal Care » Care of the Newborn Foal and Mare.
DrO
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Member:
boomer
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Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 1:11 pm:
Dr. O,
I thought fescue was bad for pregnant horses..?
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New Member:
larkspur
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Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 2:24 pm:
I had our vet come out and take a look at peanut the day after I wrote in...he checked her over thoroughly and eased my worries. It seems our girl doesn't care for the heat....the vet came in just as the day started to cool off...by the time he was done checking her out it was quite pleasant...low and behold the little stinker perked right up. Its been unseasonably hot here in SC...since its cooled off we can't keep up with her! He did take some blood for testing...just to be on the safe side...but shes gaining at about 1 1/2 pounds per day and interacting with the other filly in the pasture.
Thanks so much for your response....its just nice to have somewhere like this to come and get good information from a live person.
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New Member:
larkspur
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Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 2:29 pm:
Patricia,
Fescue isn't good for pregnant mares. We purchased this mare and put her with our broodmare band prior to last breeding season. She was never a problem to catch for checkups, farrier visits etc.... We bring our bred mares up 90 days prior to foaling and put them on a mix of orchard grass and alfalfa. This mare decided to utilize the 800 acres our mares are on to dodge, hide, and be uncatchable. She'd stay just out of reach...and shes in excellent shape..also smart...no food was going to tempt her in. So we didn't get her till the morning she foaled..then she was ready to come in.
Needless to say she'll be in a smaller area for her next foal!
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 4:04 pm:
Joe and Missy,  Good news! She probably just wanted to keep you on your toes!
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Member:
paul303
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Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 - 1:30 am:
I love good news....I LOVE GOOD NEWS!!!
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Member:
boomer
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Posted on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 2:31 pm:
I am so happy to hear your foal is doing well! I've never even seen Fescue (at least that I know of) I just read it in one of the articles. We all are worry worts when it comes to our babies. At least I know I am!  Have a wonderful time with your little one.
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