Anyone ever have this happen? Foal refusing to lie down???

[Blume_Farm]

My mare foaled her filly at 2:30am this morning. Birth was normal, passed placenta fine, filly stood and nursed very well within an hour. The filly is HUGE (weighed 145lbs). All was good, got two hours sleep and went to work this morning at 8am. I have mare stare and watched them all day today at work. The filly never seemed to lie down and stood all day but was nursing and bouncing around on her new legs. When I got home at 5pm here rear legs were very swollen with edema. I got nervous about possible septic joints and off to the vet school tonight (hence how I know she weighs 145lbs). All her blood work was normal, iGg level 800 so they sedated her for ultrasound exam and placed her on her side on this foam mat. Her naval was good and joints look good just a lot of edema on her rear limbs. We are now thinking it is because she has essentially been standing since birth and she is so large. After lying on the foam mat for just the 30 minutes of her ultrasound exam her legs looked so much better. She and mom are still there for observation and antibiotics just in case.

Has anyone ever had a foal that refused to lie down? Even after they settled the foal and dam in their stall for the night my mare was so excited about shavings (she prefers that to straw) she laid right down for a rest. The foal continued to stand and bounce around the stall.

[Laurierace]

Yep. My last foal didn’t lie down by herself for about 18 hours. I grabbed her with one arm around her chest and the other under her tail and lifted with my knee to more or less knock her off her feet after she nursed. She would try every once in a while but seemed like she either didn’t know how to lie down or was afraid to.

[Indy-lou]

Yes, there was another thread here from another foaling season when I had one that took a long time to learn to lie down. I believe in most cases they just don’t know how to accomplish it, and some get so tired they fall down. Do a search of this forum and perhaps you can find that thread also.

[Cindy_s_Warmbloods]

I have seen a few foals like this and have “helped” them lie down by essentially what Laurierace did. Once this was done once or twice they seemed to figure things out.

[ArbGrl]

My colt was laid down for the first couple days, he was at the vet’s clinic, the little guy would just not lie down on his own. I think it was his stubborn streak showing up

[dianehalpin]

A few of mine have not seemed to be able to figure it out for a few days and I’ve also done as Laurie did. Then, suddenly they figure it out. It is somewhat distressing to watch one sleeping unsteadily.

[tucktaway]

Yes! Another big filly who took a day to figure it out. She wanted to, but couldn’t figure out the folding process. Jingles for your “little” girl!

[Edgewood]

[QUOTE=Cindy’s Warmbloods;6983744]
I have seen a few foals like this and have “helped” them lie down by essentially what Laurierace did. Once this was done once or twice they seemed to figure things out.[/QUOTE]

Ditto this. I have had about 3-4 that would not lie down. I always helped them lie down and then they would fall asleep right away. I think that they are afraid to lie down, not knowing how to work the long legs.

[Home_Again_Farm]

[QUOTE=Edgewood;6984087]
Ditto this. I have had about 3-4 that would not lie down. I always helped them lie down and then they would fall asleep right away. I think that they are afraid to lie down, not knowing how to work the long legs.[/QUOTE]

Triple ditto on huge babies.

[Laurierace]

[QUOTE=Home Again Farm;6984178]
Triple ditto on huge babies.[/QUOTE]

Makes sense as they have more legs to coordinate. My foal who wouldn’t lie down was also my largest foal to date.

[ticofuzzy]

I also have this happen with the large babies and their hind legs usually swell up as well (cannons, fetlocks and pasterns). It never amounts to anything and goes down over time. Good luck!

Interestingly enough, I just had a very large filly who flings herself onto the ground whenever the mood hits her (Sometimes mid-run - she just stops and flops to the ground). She will lie there for 1 minute, jump up and start running again. I’ve never had a foal that lies down so frequently and for such short periods of time.

[Kerole]

Good Lord Eliza, that sounds more of a worry that the ones that won’t lie down!

[camohn]

[QUOTE=Kerole;6984452]
Good Lord Eliza, that sounds more of a worry that the ones that won’t lie down![/QUOTE]

only had 2 like this, both exceptionally tall/long legged models. I think they just cant figure out the stits FWIW they did eventually get tired enough to flop in the shavings. Took a while though.

[currycomb321]

it can also be a sign of mild hypoxic-ischemic issue. You need to lay them down so they can get the proper rest that they need while you see if they figure it out or start showing other signs - monitor for decreased nursing/suckle, dullness etc.

[ticofuzzy]

[QUOTE=Kerole;6984452]
Good Lord Eliza, that sounds more of a worry that the ones that won’t lie down![/QUOTE]

I wouldn’t waste too much time worrying about her…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgbveATxF10&feature=youtu.be

[vtdobes]

[QUOTE=ticofuzzy;6985528]
I wouldn’t waste too much time worrying about her…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgbveATxF10&feature=youtu.be[/QUOTE]

Love it!!!