How to make our weanling happy again?

Question

He walks awkwardly (not jumping around like young horses would do), appears to be lethargic and skinny. on the way to our paddock in a horse transporter he was really calm although he didn't want to float at all 2 days prior to that. maybe he has been sedated. he also has not been taught a thing (is 6 months old now), yet we could lift all his feet and touch him everywhere when he arrived. he is sleepy, not paying much attention to his surroundings and is somehow not what we think a healthy foal should be and look like.

Maybe someone could help us? He seems to be neglected and malnourished.

Answer 1

We had a filly...just weaned (6 mos old)

She was overly calm and let us do anything to her.

She started to kinda drag her feet when she walked.  Seemed drugged.  The guy I worked for wasn't too concerned (it was his filly) at this point.  Thought she was depressed from being weaned.

Well...about a week later she went down.  Mild Colic.

I walked her and got her moving and she went back to her lethargic, no interest in life self.

The vets showed for barn shots a week later.

I pulled the tech aside and showed her the filly.  Immediately she called the vet over, alarmed.  The owner is now realizing that she is not well.  It has nothing to do with her weaning.

Many tests are run and guess what...

She has a problem with her gut. Chronic colic. She was born with it.  The first foot or two of small intestines that joins to the stomach is twisted and dying.  Surgery impossible.

The vet says she never had a chance even before she hit the ground.

background on the filly:

light eater. Never nursed much.

Slept a lot or was always lying down.

Skinny but didn't have her backbone jutting out.  Just thin.

Seems to not care about being touched.  Picks up all feet before weaned!  Just as sweet as can be!

Never really trots around or runs.  No foal games.

Walks slow, head down a bit, almost dragging the tops of the toes.

All of the above signs get worse.  You pass it off as 'she's just tired', ' I always show up when she's sleeping', 'sad'.

She used to eat normal...treats and everything.  Just laid back.

Then:

She starts taking a couple mouthfuls of grain, prefers the hay.  Now she only nibbles the hay and refuses grain.  Drinks some but not alot (1/8 of a 5 gal. bucket)

Dragging feet so that they scrape along the ground.

Wobbly a little (weak)

Head down to her knees

Ulcers on her hips and elbows from laying down so much.

Cannot be turned out with others as she will get hurt by them...cannot get away.

I'd have the vet out to do a gut check on her.  This is a job for a vet for sure.  He needs to direct you on how to proceed if this little filly is just so malnourished she's ready to break.  She's so delicate that a vet's advice is the ONLY advice I'd take at this stage in the game.

Good luck!

edit:  I just read what Zeph...had to say.  I never even dreamed that they would tranq a foal!  Is he coming out of his 'funk' now?  It shoudl be wearing off if that is what it is!

Answer 2

I'd be calling the vet. He may be sedated. He may be missing him mother and confused about all that has happened to him, or he may be sick

If that isn't an option watch him carefully - take his temperature if you have a thermometer and check him for symptoms of illness or injury. If he's sedated he should perk up in a short time. Is he eating?

Answer 3

You dont suppose he could have 'Dummy foal syndrome' do you?

I hope I am wrong - but yes definately get your vet to check him over..

Good Luck

Answer 4

You might have him checked for a Lawsonia  infection.   It can get horses of any age but weanlings ( 4-7 months)seem especially suseptable.   some of the symptoms are diarrhea, depression, fever, inappetance (anorexia), weight loss, edema (fluid swelling) on the abdomen or lower limbs, a poor hair coat, and  even mild intermittent colic.  Not all weanlings get all of these symptoms.

Have the vet come and check him.  they can test for it by fecal or by blood and the treatment is simple. E-mycin or other antibiotics.  

We had a weanling we brought down from up north and he had it.  Our vet said it is a new bacterial strain that is showing up more and more

Answer 5

Sounds like he was sedated.  I would call the owner and the shipper and just ask.  Not like it's a big deal, and was probably a good idea, you just want to know.

If I remember correctly, dummy foals are oxygen deprived at birth.  It's too late to show up now.

He's missing his mother.  He's lost everything he knows. He may well be depressed for a bit.  If he had a hard time weaning, he may have lost weight.

He may just be exhausted from the trip.

Foals often eat horse p**p; it gets the bacteria they need into the gut.  

That said, it may be something more.  If he's not livelier by tomorrow (now if you think it advisable), I'd have the vet out to check.

Better safe than sorry.

PS - Is it possible he had a rough trailer ride?  Thinking it over, he almost sounds concussed!