We all like to see everything in its “place” right out of the box. IME of foaling 20-30 a year at one point the vast majority are “perfect” little horses. But we have had plenty that were a bit of a wreck. One in particular last year. One of these days I will post the before and after pictures so people can sleep a bit easier if theirs looks anyway close. Take everyone’s suggestions/advice with a grain of salt. I have seen pictures of foals posted that IMO and experience were mild issues at best. The advice/suggestions were IMO and experience way over the top and completely unnecessary. Especially when it came to splinting, massaging etc.
Pictures speak a 1000 words and we don’t have any to work with. So, all things being equal I can tell you foals can and do make a dramatic turnaround in 4 to 6 weeks by and large. But there are “procedures” that can help make sure things go in the right “direction”. But the window of opportunity diminishes with time. Unless your vet has a LOT of experience the value of their advice is very limited IMO. IMO people that breed and foal in areas who only have access to general practitioners should consult with experts in the foaling capital of this country, Lexington Kentucky. Take some really good pictures and call Rood and Riddle or Haygards in Lex KY and ask for a consultation. Email the pictures and talk about the situation. Over 8,000 foals are born each year in the Lexington area. These vets see more foals with issues in one breeding season than most vets will see in a life time.
Again, not seeing pictures I am hesitant to give suggestions and or advice. But based on the written description of things I wouldn’t keep the little bugger stall confined. In just about all cases limited turn out in a small porta-paddock for a couple of hours a day is what we do. We move the paddock panels each day so the mare has some grass.
So, that’s the long of it. I wouldn’t worry too much with only 9 days since foaling. 4 to 6 weeks will give you an idea of what the future should look like. We have had foals “walking” on the hind pasterns that have come completely “right” in this time frame. With foals that have contracted front legs, walking on tippy toes, we wrap at night. The added “heat” tends to change things quite quickly. Never had to resort to “meds”. That’s not saying there is a time and place. But if the vet is working out of a “book” instead of a LOT of experience that’s generally the direction they tend to go in. Fair enough. We rarely have to splint anything. When we have we use/make “field fabricated” to suite the foal out of cut to measure and heat bent PVC pipe. With lots of padding. Monitored and changed regularly. No one in the TB world uses “dyna splints” by and large. They have been pretty much dismissed as being beneficial and not worth the time and hassle not only to the caretaker but the foal also. To each their own on these things.
You gotta love vet “speak”. I tell mine to write up things using “barn”, “horseman” terminology that my owners will understand.
I never wait more than an hour to 1 ½ hours at most for a “weak” foal to nurse. They only get weaker. I always milk and bottle feed. It is important to bottle feed the foal in its “natural” nursing position to avoid any chances of it aspirating milk. We also keep a couple of bags of frozen colostrum on hand. IMO any competent Repro vet should have some “banked” and give to a client in case it is needed. If it is not they can take it back. Milking a mare with a small bag will stimulate more milk production in short order in most cases. So when the foal is strong enough and goes to the milk bar the mare will be ready. I have found over the years the size of a mare’s udder is not always indicative of how much milk she is producing. Especially in the first week or so. Just like humans they come in all sizes. And pretty much all do the “job” just fine.
As to your mare, again we are not working with words/description from the “horse’s mouth”. So, it would be out of line to second guess the person who has hands on. But IMO it sounds like they are being a bit conservative. It is a judgment call as to breed her back or not. But this judgment call should be made by someone who has had a LOT of experience with lots of mares over many years.
A quick internet search gave me this for an example.
“Per rectal palpation on day 3 revealed findings highly indicative of a massive hematoma within the broad ligament of the uterus. The palpated hematoma mass was as large as a volleyball and located in the area adjacent to the right uterine horn”
“On day 30 after delivery, the treatment was discontinued. Afterwards, the horse was pasture-sound and required no medication. On day 80 after parturition, she was covered by a stallion and became pregnant in the same season. The mare had bred a healthy term foal through the normal delivery in the next season. No definite areas of hematoma within the broad ligament of the uterus after delivery either by rectal palpation or ultrasonography were revealed.”
The complete article can be found here;
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4013962/
The above is not necessarily meant as “advise” I am not in the “stall”. It is based on my experience as someone who does this for a living. All or none of it may apply to what you have going on.
