Advice..foal with runs...

[macadoo]

Cesar has had the 'hershey squirts" for about a week...He is 19 days old...It started from Patilla's foal heat...but just hasn't cleared up...I spoke to the vet on Weds..and he said not to worry,,call him back on Fri...I called on Fri. and they gave me a probiotic paste to give him..I thought it was better but today it came back...the vet says to give him 60 ml. of Pepto Bismol three times a day...which I will start tomorrow...any of you have any suggestions as to how to get this much down him???? Sringe of course, but I don't want to drown him ! ! !

[Carol Nelson]

Ok...I don't want to go against what your vet has told you, but when my colt had the same problem for six weeks...I used Kaopectate in the caplet form. I too got the probiotic from the vet but it stunk and was hard to administer to a rambunctious colt so I got the Kaopectate and crushed the tablets and put them in a yummy concoction of Fastrack, molasses, brown sugar and grain...and he would gobble them down.
I found the Kaopectate worked better than the stuff the vet gave me and was a whole lot easier to administer.
I think they also make Pepto Bismal in tablet form...you might ask your vet about crushing them and giving them in a grain mixture. You just don't have the volume with the tablets as you do with the liquid.

whoops...just saw the age of your colt...that is probably why the vet prescribed the liquid Pepto...

[Abejita]

yup you need to Pepto -you have to watch that you dont turn him the OTHER way (constipate him) It realy isnt that hard to give..You just have to try not to give it all at once..put the dosing syringe in as far back as you can ..arm over his nose so you can use your upper arm (under his jaw) to pugh /boost his head up..push a little in ..wait till he swallows..push a little more in..He will fight a little and he will lose some (dont wear anything you dont want pink and juicy LOL)Some fola seven act like they like the taste ..about the time they get their last dose LOL
Did you deworm the mare right after foaling? If not he MAY have picked up some worms too..(ask you vet if it is safe to give Cesar some ivermectin I know I have started my foals on a deworming program at a month but 19 days ..I think you'd be safe but ask the vet.).I have also had one or two foals do this when the mare is getting some alfalfa..dont know why but on occasion it would happen Most horses it didnt bother though.(not a knock against alfalfaI just know that within a day of pulling it the runs started clearing up..tried to reintroduce they started..

Make sure you wash and baby oil his little butt too!

[Carol Nelson]

Ha...yeah, my colt just loved to get his little butt washed...he would back into me. Had the CUTEST little one too...

Never did find out what caused the diarrhea...only thing we could guess is that mama was an older mare and produced LOTS of milk and it would run out of his mouth when he drank. He also grew like a weed!
This will probably be your best thriver!

[Pinto Paso]

yup either pepto now because it has been going for a while or probiotics - they may take a bit longer.. We use Ration Plus (probiotic) 2 or 3 days before foal heat is due - we have not had a foal with foal heat runs for a few years. Quick, easy and many benefits - plus only a few drops each day, tastes kind of like molasses so is easier than pepto to give. :D

[PattiB]

When my orphan filly got the squirts, Kao $ Pepto did nothing. I bought lactobacillus from the pharmacy and it cleared up in two days. I put it in her milk but you can put it in some baby apple sauce.

[Pinto Paso]

lactobacillus is the probiotic in Ration Plus :D

[CarolU]

There is no reason not to do both, probios and Pepto. Pepto will give immediate relief and the probios will colonize his gut and get rid of the problem.

Check him for dehydration. If he peaks, I'd get him on IV fluids.

[macadoo]

We got in two doses of Pepto today...on the second one I found that he had real poops (slightly mushy)...so I only gave it twice instead of three times.. Yes, I'm washing his butt and using ointment. I don't know how much he actually swallowed. He's such a rip, we have to have one person hold him and another give the pepto...He is certainly going to have plenty of brio.
Thanks for all your tips...