A Sick Foal with her MareA disease known as neonatal maladjustment syndrome causes many problems with newborn foals.
These foals are called dummy foals due to the fact that they seem to be "dumb" at birth. Other common names for the condition are wanderers, barkers, or sleepers.
Only partially understood, neonatal maladjustment syndrome may be due to edema, which can cause swelling in the brain. There may be a premature birth or an older mother, but there is not certainty as to the definite reason.
Symptoms can include non-suckling, and in some instances force feeding must be done. Other symptoms include confusion, and signs of discomfort such as tooth grinding, sneezing, or lackadaisical obsessive walking. To intercede with aimless wandering behavior, it is necessary to carefully lay her down to rest.
The pictured mare (above) would not leave her foal to eat or drink; the hay and water had to be brought to her. She is incredibly patient and gentle around the little one, allowing ranch hands close contact.
With careful observation, many supplemental feedings and some vet care, 90% of these ill foals are well in just weeks!
4 comments:
Now the Blog works, I can post to it! Yea!
Pretty cute Dummy horse.I hope she will be o.k.
She's beautiful.
I told your husband, "you know where that's going to end up... especially now that you've helped take care of her!"
I'll see her at your house, I'm sure!
Yes, she's fine after weeks of hand feeding the mare's milk. She's 3 now and doing well.
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