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  Discussion on Diarrhea in new born foal
Author Message
New Member:
Ppaints

Posted on Friday, May 7, 2004 - 11:20 pm:

Hi I have a 5 day old foal with clear watery diarrhea. She seems to have colic at times - I gave her pepto this am and again this evening. She is nursing still and still seems quite strong - what else do you reccomend that I do? Electrolites? I have no experience with this - can I use the stuff they sale for cattle? Should I give an antibiotic?
Member:
Bonita

Posted on Saturday, May 8, 2004 - 8:10 am:

Never EVER use any product specified for a different animal unless you have checked with your vet first.

As to your foal, I would get the vet out ASAP. Except for mild diarrhea during the mare's "foal heat", which this definitely does NOT sound like, diarrhea in foals can be FATAL, & the little guys can go down VERY QUICKLY - as in up & around one minute, down for the count the next. You can't possibly have any idea what sort of bacterial infection might be going on or what to treat it with until you get your vet out. And right away.
Member:
Ppaints

Posted on Saturday, May 8, 2004 - 4:28 pm:

Hi Bonita

I took the filly to the vet. Not dehydrated yet - upped the doseage of Pepto and gave me a better antibiotic - he thinks I should see a big improvement by monday - thanks for your advise!
Member:
Quatro

Posted on Saturday, May 8, 2004 - 10:45 pm:

good luck with your baby. It was weird to see your name on the post. My name before marriage was Susan Marie Marshall. Greetings~
sue
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, May 9, 2004 - 9:41 am:

Marie,
We have 2 articles to further educate you on these issues see:
1) Equine Diseases » Foal Diseases » Foal Heat Diarrhea.
2) Equine Diseases » Foal Diseases » Infectious Diarrhea in Foals.
DrO
Member:
Bonita

Posted on Sunday, May 9, 2004 - 4:44 pm:

I AM so glad to hear that your vet saw your filly & changed things a little with a good outcome in mind!!

As a small-time breeder myself, I obviously have contact with a LOT of other breeders, thus exposing myself to all the very WORST horror stories regarding foals.
Member:
Mszoey

Posted on Monday, Jul 12, 2004 - 3:18 pm:

We have a 8 day old foal that has had diarrhea for most of the days since it has been born. Two days ago he was put on Pepto, this helped abit, but he seemed to act colicky after he had a certain amount of Pepto. last night his eyes seemed abit sunken in, he was breathing abit heavy, he has white spots all over his tongue, like Thrush in a human babies' mouth. His mother did not clean well, she had an infection.

the colt was taken to the vet this morning, he ran tests for Passive Transfer, it was good, he did not even look in his mouth, he was reminded a couple times. I feel the mother passed the infection, I also have to wonder if this is a yeast infection thru his system.

The vet says to keep up the pepto and he has him on Tribrissen antibiotic.

I feel pretty uncertain about this vets treatment, thank youi
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 14, 2004 - 8:00 am:

Hello Sherri,
There is not a thrush equivalent in horses that we recognize but it was important for the vet to evaluate what you saw.

If the vet thought the foal had an infection that was responsive to TMP/SMZ and not dehydrated the treatment would be fine. But from what you describe it sounds like this little guy was dehydrated and TMP/SMZ though wide spectrum has a lot of "holes" in its coverage. See the article Equine Diseases » Foal Diseases » Infectious Diarrhea in Foals for more.
DrO
Member:
Mszoey

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 14, 2004 - 11:16 am:

Mare and foal are on the way to the city for some professional care, I know the foal is dehydrated, his diarrhea has not stopped. He nurses well, but he is getting weak, thank you for your info
Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 14, 2004 - 11:48 am:

Sherri, I hope your foal improves with some professinal help. Please keep us posted. We care.
Member:
Mszoey

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 14, 2004 - 12:59 pm:

Hi Holly, this foal is actually my uncle's who thinks nature should take care of things in sweet time. I took the mare and foal home to get things taken care of like they should have from day one, this little guy is not good, I am so surprised he has made it this far. I know the mare had a uterine infection, my uncle gave her a dose of Pen B & G and called it good, this colt had to pick up bacterial infection from her, but what do I know, I only raise so many colts a year and this is his first in who knows how long, sorry had to vent. I will keep everyone posted on his prognosis. I am still baffled by the white spots on his tongue and in his cheeks, looks just like human thrush.
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