Our colt is a week old. I watched him pass 2 piles of meconium within an hour or so of birth. The following 3 days he had typical orange mushy manure. Then everything stopped; no poop! He has always nursed well, and the vet advised giving him a child's enema. He then passed a small amount of dark stool- much like a small dog's; then nothing more that day. Vet said to give a warm water enema later that day, but nothing. Vet came to check him, didn't feel a blockage digitally, saw his lively attitude and that he was nursing fine, and said to wait another day. Next day another dark small stool, so vet said to up mare's grain, and give colt 2.5 cc of mineral oil twice a day and hopefully manure would return to soft orange. 12 hours after the first dose, he passed yet another small dark stool.
Would you guess the small dark stool was retained meconium?
Vet said sometimes there can be a blockage, but didn't detail how we'd know. He also said if mare enters foal heat in the next few days, the colt would likely have diarrhea.
The colt didn't pass any manure today at all, but continues to nurse and is lively. I thought his sides seemed a bit bloated and firm though.
What do you think is happening and what would you do if it was your foal?
LG
Would you guess the small dark stool was retained meconium?
Vet said sometimes there can be a blockage, but didn't detail how we'd know. He also said if mare enters foal heat in the next few days, the colt would likely have diarrhea.
The colt didn't pass any manure today at all, but continues to nurse and is lively. I thought his sides seemed a bit bloated and firm though.
What do you think is happening and what would you do if it was your foal?
LG
