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Need help watching Ditto

Andrea April 21, 2009 February 22, 2011

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Hi all. My name is Andrea and I am a first time foal owner. I'm worried Ditto is acting strange. She seems to be up and down a lot. She seems spry and is eating, but since she's only 5 days old, I don't know what normal is with a foal. Do they eat and rest so often? She seemed so active the first couple days in her stall. Now she's all calm. I hate to badger my vet again. I swear I wasn't this bad with my own kids! Could someone with some spare time watch her on MareStare for a bit and let me know if she seems normal? Thank you! http://www.marestare.com/cam.php?alias=phoenix" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Jenks Tue, 04/21/2009 - 13:41

I see them snooze a lot. I don't even know what would be too much....but let us know what the vet says! Going to check out your cam!

Paintlover Tue, 04/21/2009 - 13:45

Andrea,

Two things. First off babies can go down hill fast. So if you even have the slightest concern that something isn't right calling the vet is a good idea. Like you have all ready done. :)

Second, it is very normal for foals to get up nurse, run around, and then go back to sleep. Foals nurse in small amounts very often and tend to sleep afterward. Sometimes they will eat then sleep, while other times they will eat and play then go back to sleep. I have been around both calves and foals. Calves tend to go off and sleep for long periods of time then come nurse and practically empty the cows bag. Foals are very different and take short naps and have small meals.

I hope all is well with little Ditto. (((HUGS)))

Monsterpony Tue, 04/21/2009 - 13:52

Foals normally nurse 7-10 times every hour. My neonatal professor says that foals sleep, get up, nurse, pee, run around and then sleep again. But as Paintlover said, if you have any worries, it is safer to call the vet than wait it out if something really is wrong.

Andrea Tue, 04/21/2009 - 15:20

Vet confirms I'm an idiot! :laugh1
I went at lunch to see how she was took Silo and her out to graze. Girl ran for the whole time. Now I worry she'll get dehydrated in this heat. It's been 90-100 the last couple days.

I was watching her this morning and she would eat then sleep, eat and sleep. I didnt' see her playing at all. Then she started laying prone and I started to wonder if she was colicing.
Do foal colic? I've only seen her poop the night she was born, so I have no clue how often she poops. She does pee a lot.
I'll need a labotomy by the time she's weaned! :?
I also confirmed when I went out there that she's cute!

Sara Tue, 04/21/2009 - 15:30

Foals do colic but yours sounds fine. As long as you don't see her straining to go, I wouldn't worry that you're not seeing her poop.

Make sure Silo has plenty of fresh water at all times and that there is shade for Ditto to get into. The weather was wicked hot when Diana was born too. I ended up dragging another trough right into the pasture shelter because Rosalynn would not let Diana out into the sun during the day so Rosalynn would end up not going out to the trough to drink.

Monsterpony Tue, 04/21/2009 - 15:32

Yes, foals colic and you would see the same sort of signs you'd see in an adult. Pain, kicking, rolling excessively, etc. As to the dehydration, as long as she is eating a lot, it is pretty hard for her to get dehydrated. Her diet consists almost entirely of water. You do want to keep an eye on Silo though, as she is dumping a lot of her water into baby formula.

lipigirl Tue, 04/21/2009 - 16:19

Foals are a little mad, running around like lunatics and then resting that is very normal but like the others said, it's always better to be safe then sorry.

Andrea Tue, 04/21/2009 - 16:51

Yeah, that's what I figured. $100 insurance policy. Better than letting a year go to waste!

Still looking for foals with the same coat color. I saw one close but he turned black :shock: I see a marked difference between her knee/hock color and her body color so I don't see that she'll be black. Maybe dark bay? Fun to guess, though testing is looking better and better...

Paintlover Tue, 04/21/2009 - 16:59

I am glad she is fine. :bounce Their piles are so little that they get lost easily. Like Sara said as long she doesn't look like she is straining she should be fine.

Andrea Tue, 04/21/2009 - 17:29

That is one fancy foal! WOWZA!
I've noticed the foal pictures most have short hair. So maybe that's what is skewing her color so much. It's not winter hair long, but it is quite thick.
Did I mention she's cute? LOL. I could stare at her for hours and hours :love

critterkeeper Tue, 04/21/2009 - 17:38

Andrea - no you have never mentioned that Ditto is cute - you really ought to tell us something that important .... :love I noticed with Akina (maybe because she was blind) but when Destiny would poo, Akina would go behind and poo over top of it to cover it up (hiding her smell from preditors?) x_x ... I thought it was strange, but Doc said some mares do that... :idea: :))

Andrea Tue, 04/21/2009 - 17:42

:lol: Can't help it. She's a doll! Only with Frodo have I actually look at pictures to reafirm, yes, he's that cute. Now I'm doing it with Ditto! Her little head is so extreme right now, I can't help but smile. She looks like a stuffed animal!
I've noticed when Silo poos, Ditto will pee on top of it. I thought that was really strange!

Monsterpony Tue, 04/21/2009 - 17:46

[quote="Andrea"]That is one fancy foal! WOWZA!
I've noticed the foal pictures most have short hair. So maybe that's what is skewing her color so much. It's not winter hair long, but it is quite thick.[/quote]

Shedding her foal coat:
http://monsterpony.deviantart.com/art/F…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

With her dark bay/seal dam:
http://monsterpony.deviantart.com/art/F…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I am 90% sure this is the sire, if I recall correctly:
http://www.foxfirefarm.us/pages/foxfire…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sara Wed, 04/22/2009 - 10:15

Andrea, the foal photo we really need to see is Silo's. Any chance you can get one from Eos? I can't find anything of her any earlier than that yearling pic.

Andrea Wed, 04/22/2009 - 12:02

I just sent Sarah a message asking. Not sure if they'll have any. They didn't have a website when I bought her. Worth a try!