Health issues with sick foal-Need advice PLEASE

[TINALEE]

Again I have come to the forum to see if I can get advice on a sick foal.He is 6 months old.When he was 4 months old I noticed he was thin even though he was eating well from his momma and eating grain.I had the vet check him.He said he looked fine just a bit thin so we decided to take him from momma incase her milk was not giving him the nurishment he needed.He ate his grain and hay just fine.One evening I went down to feed him,he looked dazed.I talked to him-he gave me a blank stare,when I walked toward him he fell over as if he fainted.I picked him up and within a minute he was fine.I had a fainter in the past so thought maybe it was the fainting but he just didnt look right so I brought him up to my basement so I could keep an eye on him all night.The next morning he was still just real slow.I checked his gums and was shocked to see his gums looked as if they were rotting around his teeth(also smelled bad).I gave him penicillian and immediate response and electrolyte in his water,with the antibiotic his gums cleared up and he was eating very well so after a week I put him in the barn with a jacket because he was still thin.2 days later he didnt look good,Again I walked over to him and he fainted.What on earth I thought?I brought him up to the basement again he was fine for a week.Put him back in the barn after that week,a day after being in the barn he looked weak and fainted again...Up to the basement he went.My hsband said he was just pulling a fast one on me,he just wanted to stay in the basement...lol...so we made a room for him in the basement,have the floor lined with rubber so we can clean it well and all.I had the vet run bloodwork on him.The test showed he had low sugar,low red cells,low white cells and low protein...Sounds like a starving horse right?????? He eats Legends mare and foal(16% protein 6% fat) I have a FULL bucket out at all times for him.Yes I know that would kill most horses but I monitor how much he is eating.He eats about 2 cups per day.He seems to prefer the hay over grain.I have as much hay as he wants to eat in his room,I also pick green grass for him every day.I add weight builder to his feed every day,He gets apple flavor electrolytes in his water every day and I give him immediate response every day.The vet gave me an ulcer medication for him which I gave.He was tested for parastites-NO parasites.He seemed to be doing ok but last night when I got his fresh grass he didnt want to stand up to eat-he wanted to lay down to eat so I picked him up at which time he then stood up to eat.I thought oh maybe he is tired tonight.This morning he wouldnt get up at all.I thought I was losing him.I gave him his immediate response and 3cc's of karo.He then got up on his side.I waited about 10-15 minutes and gave another 2 cc's of karo.He stood up after about 5 minutes so I know he was hypoglycemic...My question is WHY wont he gain weight?Why does he become hypoglycemic?We have him in the basement-its about 75 degrees in there so not cool at all.We plan on keeping him in the basement all winter.He is a TINY baby boy.I rock him every day.He is the most precious baby.I just dont know what to do for him.The vet says he really doesnt know what more to do but give him time....Well time doesnt seem to be doing much for him.PLEASE any suggestions???????????I had a pom in the past that had an auto immune disease-symptoms were similar.Has anyone had this in a foal/horse at all.Is there any hope?Is there anything I can do for him?When he faints he puckers his lips,could this be seizures?ANY advice or help would be GREATLY appreciated.THANK YOU in advance...

 

[kaykay]

Im so sorry you are going through this. Can you post pictures of him?? So hard to know what it could be. Surely sounds like failure to thrive. But it could be some congential condition he was born with that you cant see. I do think the "fainting" is seizures. Can you take him to an equine hospital??

 

[Reble]

Oh so sorry to hear this is happening, if you cannot get a second opinion, try the penicilion for the next 10 -14 days.

Get the electrolyte paste and give him that every day.

Some type of foal pellets and stop the grass

Maybe alfala hay cubes instead Good Luck

 

[susanminiponygirl]

I might get another vet's opinion. Does your vet think he does not have good liver function? We have a mare with a partial-functioning liver and she can't take protein over 10%.

We actually had one filly born with NO white blood cells, but she began getting sick immediately. I don't know, I think I would look into a teaching hospital at one of the universities or an equine hospital. Sorry I can't be of more help. Love him for as long as you have him.

 

[drk]

Tina, I would take him to the equine emergency hospital closest to you.

I would not rely on one vets opinion and time is of the essence.

 

[mizbeth]

I agree, this little fella needs to be seen by someone else and ASAP if possible. Something is just not right and now you do not have time to "see if" this is it, or that is it. Could be an ulcer, but he still he needs to be seen as an emergency. Good luck................please let us know how he does.

Beth

 

[susanminiponygirl]

Any update on the little guy? I sure hope he is improving.

 

[Royal Crescent]

You should take him to some kind of equine clinic. I would also wonder if you could talk to some kind of equine nutritionist. A source of sugar like Karo may be a quick fix for a sugar low, but if it is anything like people, it does not hang in there to keep the sugar up. You need a diet that helps to steady glucose levels, and hopefully a reason why they are dropping.

No expert here for sure, just my thoughts

I hope you can figure it out.

Barb

 

[Irish Hills Farm]

I would definitely get a second opinion immediately.

I'd be really worried that he continues to faint and everytime you give him the Karo syrup he crashes afterwards, that is not good at all. I'd also be worried at this time that his organs might be failing.

 

[mmmorgans]

Tina - how is this little guy doing? Did you take him to another vet for a second opinion? I sure hope that everything is OK - but sometimes there can be things wrong with a baby - that aren't overly apparent until they are older. Prayers that this little guy will pull through.

 

[Marty]

I"m also terribly sorry to hear this.

I too agree this little one needs to get to the hospital right away and be tested for all kinds of diseases. Everything from West Nile to Potamac, EPM, the whole nine yards; although these may not be classic symptoms of anything, there seems to be to be some thing poisoning his system. Do hurry.

 

[Royal Crescent]

How is your little one doing? Have not heard anything since your first post!

Barb