36 Diarrhea of Foals 



DYSENTERY 



{Bloody Flux) 



Diarrhoea 

 CAUSES 



This is usually caused by feeding the mare too laxative, rich or 

 irritable a feed. This disease may be caused by the mare having access 

 to a foul water supply. The mare may have received a sudden change 

 of feed. A diseased condition of the mare, exposure or allowing the colt 

 to nurse when the mare is hot. Working the mare too soon after foal- 

 ing may cause dysentery. 



SYMPTOMS 



The passages from the bowels are frequent and thin. The colt strains 

 and shreads of blood are found in the passages in more advanced cases. 

 The passages have an offensive odor. There may be lumps of feces in the 

 passages. The colt gets weak and lies down a great deal. 



TREATMENTS 



A gradual change of diet of the mare is about the first thing to do if 

 the mare has been receiving a diet of corn and hay without proper ex- 

 ercise or if the mare's colt has been allowed to nurse while the mare is 

 warm see to it that this is remedied. If nothing is wrong with the diet 

 or the care of the mare then, if possible, procure a mare giving milk 

 about thte same length of time and place the sick colt on her. A change 

 of mothers may help. A good feed for the mother in this disease would 

 be a bran mash with a few oats and a limited amount of clover 'and 

 mixed hay. Check up all feeds for a few days. I have had very good 

 results by giving 6 tablespoonsful of castor oil followed in 12 hours 

 by securing 1/2 pint of white oak bark (get the inner bark of smallfer 

 limbs) ; steep it in 1 quart of water, strain it through a cloth. After the 

 same cools add raw wheat flour continually stirring till a thin paste is 

 formed tlien add 1 teaspoonful of nutmeg. 



Give 3 tablespoonsful of the above 3 times daily till the bowels 

 check. If the bowels check suddenly it will cause fever. In that case 

 give 2 to 3 tablespoonsful of castor or olive oil every 12 hours. Some- 

 times oil (castor) is given for diarrhea followed by laudanum l/o to 1 



