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  Discussion on Orphan foal with diarrhea
Author Message
Member:
Leanne

Posted on Monday, May 9, 2005 - 11:24 pm:

I have been feeding an orphan that was rejected by his mother. I milked her for the first 2 days and then put him on foal lac, I fed him every 2 hours for the first week, then every 3 hours for the last two weeks, he was 3 weeks old sunday. He has diarrhea ever since I started the milk replacer, I have changed it to 2% cows milk with Karo syrup, and he is still having problems, he seems healthy other than that.. I have also given him pepto. what else can I do?
Member:
Rasmith4

Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 7:37 am:

Leanne,

Last summer I found an orphan fawn and when I started to feed him he got diarrhea also. The formula I used to cure his diarrhea is as follows:

1 1/3 cups milk replacer
1 quart warm water
1 teaspoon cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 raw egg

Mix all of the above in blender

Feed 1/2 formula with 1/2 buttermilk

After he drank this formula for a few days his
diarrhea was all gone and he thrived. I kept him on the formula for several days after he was cured and then gradually increased the milk replacer until he was on just replacer. I used goat milk replacer for him. He is now a healthy little buck deer running with his own kind.

The amounts will need to be increased for a foal but it should work. I got the formula recipe out of my book on raising goats. But the ingredients should work with a foal also by substituting the goat milk replacer with foal milk replacer.

Hope this will help your little one.

Cheryl
Member:
Eoeo

Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 10:22 am:

Have you given him any probiotics? That would be something to do. Also, he would normally be munching on his mother's manure which puts stuff into his tummy that helps with the digestion. To simulate this you can take some FRESH manure from the most healthy horse you have that has recently been wormed. Put a road apple in some water and stir. Let everything settle and then syringe about 60ccs of the green juice and give it orally to the orphan. I would do this for 2 or 3 days, once a day. Also, you can take jello gelatin, ours like the wild strawberry, (I am writing this with a smile)put a large package in cold water and stir it up. Syringe that into the orphan but be prepared to get some on you. At least it smells good. Do that a couple of times a day for 2 or 3 days and it will help slow things up until the good bacteria takes hold from your green juice. This does work though it can be messy. EO
Member:
Leanne

Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 5:36 pm:

I have given him Probios 2 days in a row and there is no difference, I also had him on a 2 a day antibiotic for a respitory infection that he had, the glands under his jaw are swollen, I have had a equine vet out to see about him , he is the one that suggested changing the formula. He is soon to be 4 weeks and will not think about eating the foal lac pellets. I will try the formula above and see how it works. I know dogs are allergic to chocolate, will it not hurt horses?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 7:03 pm:

Do not use the above formula by Cheryl (raw eggs are a real no-no). In fact it is not clear that anything all needs to be done. It is normal for foals of this age to have "foal heat" diarrhea, which has nothing to do with foal heat or nursing the mare. If the foal is absolutely healthy other than diarrhea follow our suggestions Equine Diseases » Colic and GI Diseases » Diarrhea in Horses » Foal Heat Diarrhea. If you feel there are other signs of disease you need to have your veterinarian consulted immediately. We have more information for feeding orphans at ,
DrO
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