my maiden mare gave birth too early and the foal is soooo beautiful but he is really thin...and not nursing even the mare is not letting him nurse...only if we hold her .....she was almost going to kill him ....she steped too many times....and the foal is 15 hour old....she is walking in the stable like he is not with her in the stall.....she steped on the poor filly's nose when the filly was sleeping and she wasn't looking out on her at all.....the foal is not nursing well...he try to nurse for about 6 seconds and then lower his head and looses the place where she should nurse trying to find it.. i spent the whole day trying to nurse her with the mother....and the mother is not producing milk somethibg else the foal is drinking ....i don't know what is called in english but the boobs produce it before the milk....i tried to milk the mom and feeding the baby and it work but i can't keep it up like that....and remembre she is a maiden maree....
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This is a tough, tough situation.
The mare could easily kill the foal by stepping on it. Sometimes they'll step on a leg, and the blood supply will be cut off, the leg will die, and the foal must be put down. It's heartrending.
If the mare stepped on the foal's nose, he may not be nursing because of pain due to that. Please have the vet out for a look. If there is no vet, inspect the foals nose and inside his mouth. Look for any bruising, feel for any lumps/bumps or parts which move which should not. he may have broken something.
He could also be what's called a "dummy foal." This is caused by not enough oxygen to the brain. Often nothing can be done, but often supportive care such as you are giving is enough to get the foal through it. Here's a link:
http://www.corralonline.com/articles/article060608...
I would put the foal where the mare cannot hurt it but where they can see and hear each other - like in an adjoining stall with a low wall between that they can't get across. It is vital that the foal be protected from the mother since she is not looking out for him or letting him nurse.
Then I would feed the foal every hour or so, as much as he would take. Best would be to bring the mare to him and tie her or have someone else hold her while you encourage the foal to nurse. If this is impossible, milk the mare, put the milk in a bottle, and bottle feed the foal. Make sure to get the foal up and standing frequently - it helps get his blood moving. The lack of oxygen has affected all his internal structures, and they must be gotten going.
If you could find a nurse mare that would be good too.
In a few days, the mother may come to accept him and care for him properly.
The liquid the mare produces right away is colostrum, and contains all kinds of stuff the foal needs to have, especially for his immune system. Whatever immunities the mare has will be passed to the foal through the colostrum. She'll start producing milk soon, but it's important for him to get as much colostrum as possible.
It's important to get a vet on the case to work with you here. They can tell you so much, and help you in so many ways.
Good luck with both of them.
Call the vet!
Find a donor mare!
Check out the filly's nose to make sure he is physically able to nurse!
Keep him warm (Not hot)!
Pray to God to spare this foal's life!
Why didn't you call a vet right away! I'm shocked! But that's too late to worry about. Keep both eyes on this foal until the vet arrives.
Your mare gave birth to a Premature foal.. and you Didnt call out the vet? there obviously something wrong with the foal that is why the mare wants nothing to do with it.. its Unhealthy call the dang VET
The mare my not accept the foal..
You may have to orphan the foal yourself...
But you should honestly get some experts....
Get a professional! Call the vet!