So I’m currently wrestling with a very poopy filly. She is bright and her temperature is normal, but the diarrhea is scalding all the hair off her poor little bottom, despite washing and zinc oxide being regularly applied…
I have heard nothing but good things about Biosponge, but it seems it is not aavailable at all in Canada. Is there anything comparable?
Just moderately frustrated…
Have you tried Pepto Bismol? That’s what we gave prior to Biosponge.
I bought some BioSponge years ago and tried it on a few “poopy bum” babies and really wasn’t that impressed with the results plus it wasn’t the easiest thing to administer to them either at that age
Ive had terrific luck with NeoRase and also making sure I thoroughly clean the mare’s udder, legs, and that entire area a few times a day to make sure the baby isn’t ingesting any post foaling “goop”
I wouldn’t go through the trouble of buying the Bio Sponge again after this tub is gone - I really didn’t notice enough of a positive difference to make me want to have some on hand all the time …
I recently, like February, was given biosponge (or similar, but showed-up as biosponge on my invoice) by my vet… Ask your vet??
[QUOTE=TrueColours;8554160]
I bought some BioSponge years ago and tried it on a few “poopy bum” babies and really wasn’t that impressed with the results plus it wasn’t the easiest thing to administer to them either at that age
Ive had terrific luck with NeoRase and also making sure I thoroughly clean the mare’s udder, legs, and that entire area a few times a day to make sure the baby isn’t ingesting any post foaling “goop”
I wouldn’t go through the trouble of buying the Bio Sponge again after this tub is gone - I really didn’t notice enough of a positive difference to make me want to have some on hand all the time …[/QUOTE]
I am in Canada as well and I also was unimpressed with Bio Sponge. It really made no difference at all to my “poopy bum filly”. If she’s losing hair on her bum, I’d wash it thoroughly and then coat it with Vaseline so the poop won’t stick to it.
First: be carefull with the really young ones. I would call the vet first and ask about deworming and ulcers… Maybe try a probiotic?
There is a “canadian” version of the Bio-Sponge called Platinum Performance GI (I used it on my mare 2 years ago). Basically powder clay.
It worked well but I didn’t find it was a good “long term” solution. (She actually colicked after a month - due to a persistent folicle but who knows…This product is supposed to get stools firmer…)
We, vet and I, agreed on a different deworming program - had my mare on omeprazole for quite a long period of time and then weaned her off and now she’s now on a daily pro-prebiotic that works wonder. No more itchy bum, no more stressy poop while riding, way less crap on her walls (yeah, she likes to poop on the wall…)
The effectiveness of biosponge depends on what is causing the diarrhea. It is not a “cure-all.”
Can you get Progressive Nutrition products in Canada? I’ve had very good luck with Tidy Foal and it’s much easier to administer than Biosponge. I get Biosponge in a tube, but it’s a very thick paste and requires a fairly large amount for a foal.
Good luck with your baby!
It seems that a lot of useful products aren’t readily available in Canada. I would love to just be able to go to a feed store and pick up Rejuvenaide, or the like. I know Buckeye products have crossed the border, but none of my local retailers carry the line…
I’ve been dosing her with kaopectate, giving her lactose-free activia yogurt, and today she seems a bit improved. I’m keeping a close eye on hydration.
TrueColours - I have used neorease in the past and went to the vet’s office to pick some up yesterday, but was told that it was either no longer available, or not made anymore…
Mostly just venting, as this year has been highly stressful regarding foal pooping! Earlier this month, I had a different filly colic with what was possibly a meconium impaction high in the GI tract, requiring a trip to Guelph. Thankfully she seems to have fully recovered.
You can get it in Canada-from your vet. My vet gave me a free tube to try but said that he can barley give the stuff away…
Greenhawk also used to carry it but stopped
[QUOTE=melhorse;8554430]
You can get it in Canada-from your vet. My vet gave me a free tube to try but said that he can barley give the stuff away…
Greenhawk also used to carry it but stopped[/QUOTE]
I did ask at the vet’s office yesterday, but unfortunately they don’t carry it. 
Is Equiotic available in Canada? That has worked best for me and the fellow breeders I know who have tried it.
[QUOTE=alibi_18;8554230]
First: be carefull with the really young ones. I would call the vet first and ask about deworming and ulcers… Maybe try a probiotic?
There is a “canadian” version of the Bio-Sponge called Platinum Performance GI (I used it on my mare 2 years ago). Basically powder clay.
It worked well but I didn’t find it was a good “long term” solution. (She actually colicked after a month - due to a persistent folicle but who knows…This product is supposed to get stools firmer…)
We, vet and I, agreed on a different deworming program - had my mare on omeprazole for quite a long period of time and then weaned her off and now she’s now on a daily pro-prebiotic that works wonder. No more itchy bum, no more stressy poop while riding, way less crap on her walls (yeah, she likes to poop on the wall…)[/QUOTE]
I live in Canada as well and my vet has obtained Platinum Performance GI for me, I used it on an elderly pony with chronic diarrhea. Sort of worked short term. I now use Biotic 8 probiotic and have better long term results from that. I get it at Greenhawk.
OP, is it possible your filly is drinking the mare’s water?
In the past I have seen that make a very poopy baby, and the solution is to raise the level of the water bucket.
I have some Neorase in the barn, and can check to see if is still good. I could mail it to you, if you would like it.
Good luck with your baby.
[QUOTE=Fred;8555295]
OP, is it possible your filly is drinking the mare’s water?
In the past I have seen that make a very poopy baby, and the solution is to raise the level of the water bucket.
I have some Neorase in the barn, and can check to see if is still good. I could mail it to you, if you would like it.
Good luck with your baby.[/QUOTE]
Today her bum was finally drier, thank goodness! The waterer in the stall is high enough that she’s not in it - I had read that it can sometimes be a cause. Thanks so much for the offer Fred - if she gets poopy again, I may take you up on it!
Be careful with Pepto, as it does contain aspirin. Can cause more GI distress. Fullbucket products are worth looking into as well as the Platinum and Progressive stuff.
Platinum GI is exactly the same and is available in Canada . It’s an amazing product. If it doesn’t help with foal diarrhea then the issue is unlikely caused by a gut imbalance.
I also only use kaopectate if I don’t have Neorase available. I have also heard Pepto Bismal can cause all sorts of secondary GI issues which is the last thing you need with an already compromised baby …
I also only use Neorase if a bacterial infection is suspected or diagnosed, since it does contain an antibiotic and Kaopectate if its just a simple case of the runs when the dam is going through foal heat or something similar … no point in giving them antibiotics if it isn’t necessary to do so
[QUOTE=bugsynskeeter;8554289]
The effectiveness of biosponge depends on what is causing the diarrhea. It is not a “cure-all.”[/QUOTE]
Exactly.
It’s primarily used in cases of bacterial colitis, specifically to bind endotoxins. That was what it was designed for.
Just want to add - if you have problems administering it, add a little applesauce. I never had an issue, my babies loved the flavor (even without applesauce) when I used it.
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