I’m so sorry to hear about this colt’s dam. That’s rough! Will one of the other mares accept him for nursing? If she’s blindfolded or tranquilized? I realize that’s sort of desparate, but if the current mare’s milk comes in soon, maybe that would bridge the gap.
Sorry to hear about your mare.
Do you have any other nursing mares? If so, can you get enough milk from one of them into a bottle to either feed straight or mix with the replacer? it might be worth a try. Hopefully new mama will start producing soon, the more he tries nursing her and the more you try milking her the quicker she will start.
Adding my condolences…
Victoria at Last Chance Corral in Athens, Ohio has TONS of experience in rescuing nurse mare foals…she may be an information resource for you:
http://www.lastchancecorral.org/home
Prayers Jingles & Hammers!
Thanks for all the suggestions. We “have” tried goats milk - I did a homemade concoction that we have a recipe for. We haven’t tried the “mash” mixture yet, so will give that a go. I’m to the point of trying to do the choo choo thing with a spoon to get him to open his mouth <rolling eyes>. He’s just not having any of it. But his new momma is very, very attentive and very good. Domeperidone arrived yesterday so she’s now had two doses. Fingers crossed she comes into it quickly.
As we deal with soooo many outside mares, one rule for mares to get to live here is that they MUST be kind, gentle souls - no exceptions. People that have come to visit I have no issues taking them out into the middle of the pastures and all of the mares will wander over for a scratch or a pat and to show off their babies. Those temperaments are so incredible and irreplaceable. I really, really love our mares. Heartbreaking :(.
The mare we lost was Aiyana, a Hanoverian mare by Arrian and out of a Feiner Stern mare. Just a very, very sweet, kind mare. We found her about a week ago when we went out to feed, carrying her head at an odd angle, ataxic and walking in circles. Absolutely no signs of injury - no bumps, no cuts, no real swelling - nothing. Obviously some sort of head or spinal chord injury, but what, where, how or why, no answers. Did lots of brainstorming with the vets, but beyond recognizing that it was neurological and the sudden onset indicated an injury, but nothing to pinpoint the cause. We were treating her with massive amounts of Dexamethosone, DMSO, Banamine, Bute and lasiks and she actually improved the first few days. So, we were really, really hopeful that she would continue. But she did a major back slide, to the point that she was having troubles staying up and would spin at a high rate of speed, ultimately flinging herself down on the ground. Horrific to watch and really, really concerning to be near as she just had no control. Through it all, she was always, always attentive and concerned about her baby. Nicker to him even when she was down. When we realized that she wasn’t recovering and was actually getting worse, we made the horrible decision to put her down. Sometimes I really hate breeding horses :(.
Thanks again everyone for the kind words and suggestions. If we can get him through the next few days, and so far, it looks promising, I think we’ll be okay. This heat is just so darn tough on everyone and he’s a big colt, so I don’t want him losing any more condition or weight.
Aiyana sounds like wonderful, sweet girl Kathy. So sad for her.
I’m sure you did the best anyone could for her.
I am so sorry for your loss 
She sounds like a wonderful mare. Fingers crossed the milk comes in quickly!! The good thing is he is trying to nurse…that will help the milk come in much quicker. (Speaking from a human standpoint, “assuming” it is very similar…) Best of luck for the little (big) guy!!
The mare we lost was Aiyana, a Hanoverian mare by Arrian and out of a Feiner Stern mare. Just a very, very sweet, kind mare. We found her about a week ago when we went out to feed, carrying her head at an odd angle, ataxic and walking in circles. Absolutely no signs of injury - no bumps, no cuts, no real swelling - nothing. Obviously some sort of head or spinal chord injury, but what, where, how or why, no answers. Did lots of brainstorming with the vets, but beyond recognizing that it was neurological and the sudden onset indicated an injury, but nothing to pinpoint the cause. We were treating her with massive amounts of Dexamethosone, DMSO, Banamine, Bute and lasiks and she actually improved the first few days. So, we were really, really hopeful that she would continue. But she did a major back slide, to the point that she was having troubles staying up and would spin at a high rate of speed, ultimately flinging herself down on the ground. Horrific to watch and really, really concerning to be near as she just had no control. Through it all, she was always, always attentive and concerned about her baby. Nicker to him even when she was down. When we realized that she wasn’t recovering and was actually getting worse, we made the horrible decision to put her down. Sometimes I really hate breeding horses :(.
Thanks again everyone for the kind words and suggestions. If we can get him through the next few days, and so far, it looks promising, I think we’ll be okay. This heat is just so darn tough on everyone and he’s a big colt, so I don’t want him losing any more condition or weight.[/QUOTE]
Kathy, the mare I posted about that left us with our orphan was lost in much this same way. Sudden onset of symptoms, horrible and traumatic. I am so sorry for your loss. It is always hard to loose them. To me, harder watching them in this kind of situation. Best of luck with your colt.
Thought I’d post a quick update :). Baby is nursing well and his adopted momma is totally in love with her new baby. She started out with absolutely nothing in her udder. Just a few drops of clear, yellow salty fluid. I had to wait for the Domperidone to arrive but, the day before we received it, his nursing had at least stimulated some milk production and she was actually producing milk. She’s been on Domperidone for several days now and her milk “is” coming in. I am no longer bothering forcing anything on to this kid so we both are much happier at the sight of each other. He lost a little bit of weight, but surprisingly, not as much as I was worried he would lose. I’ve got them both in a small pen for the moment but will probably turn them both out in the next few days. I jsut want to finish the course of Domperidone with the mare first. I’ll post some pictures of this really incongruous pair <smile>. It’s really quite heartwarming to see.
Wonderful!!! continued best wishes for you all 
Yay!!!
What wonderful news!
[QUOTE=Louise;6428275]
What wonderful news![/QUOTE]
:yes: great news, Kathy. Give that big girl a skritch, what a good mare.
Such good news!!
Excellent! What a wonderful mare.
Great news! Am eagerly awaiting photos.
Bowl feeding
The orphan that I raised had nursed as well. I had success getting her to drink when I offered the milk replacer in a flat bottomed bowl that her lips could go to the bottom but not over her nostrils. I held it fairly high for her. Think a big stainless steel type dog dish.
From that start then we could go to buckets. And even though the foster mom came into milk, she did lose condition on what mare produced, so it was important to supplement as well.
Good luck!
That news gives me a big morning smile! I’m so glad this story is having a happy ending, and I’m really looking forward to pictures.
Don’t know why I am just seeing this thread. I am so sorry to hear about Aiyana! What a tragic loss.
Glad baby is nursing and adopted mommy has milk. Which mare adopted him?
Kathy, I came in on this late. So sorry about your mare. I have raised 5 orphans and it’s very good news that his new mama is producing milk.
With that being said, your eye will tell you if he’s not getting enough. If you can, check his gums on a regular basis b/c that will show you signs of dehydration and anemia. We had a orphaned colt we raised and he too hated the replacer, even the foalac which ALL of the others loved.
I worked like you did and force fed him, he would however eat the pellets. I did also get the electrolytes in him, you know the stuff you mix up and it looks like Tang.
We lucked out with him b/c shortly after he came my big TB mare foaled and she allowed him AND her colt to nurse from her-yes two at once. He’s now a wonderful strong and healthy 5 year old whom my working student has with her in KY.
Good luck and it will all work out.
jean
Wonderful news!!!
Wanted to share a pic of my last orphan foal (at two weeks), the one that would not drink from a bottle or bucket. He ate the mash and grew up to be a wonderful hunter/jumper with his current owners. He is an appendix QH.
