Pregnant donkey with loose stool

Question
QUESTION: Hi there. I bought a bred donkey.  We believe she is in her 10th month.  The previous owner did not know the due date, just a guestimate.  Last night she developed slightly loose stool. She is on good quality grass hay, just a smidge of sweet feed. (She is overweight) I am giving her free choice hay.  The stools start out a bit watery and then end normally.  I am not sure if I should be concerned or not. She has been dewormed and is not on pasture right now due to our pasture being infested with fescue.  She is acting fine and eating well. I really dont think she is sick, due to the way she is acting, eating and drinking. We had some major weather changes, from the 50's all the way to negative 30 with the windchill. Could a change in weather cause this?  Thanks.

ANSWER: Hi Jill,

A drastic change in weather can affect an equine's digestive system causing a change in their stools.  When it gets extremely cold, they will not drink nearly as much water as normal, which can cause a blockage.  I know you would think that with a blockage no manure at all can come through, but I have seen horses with severe impactions have extremely watery stools.  The reason for that being, that the only thing that is getting through is the liquid, not the actual solid matter.

A mare's stool will change right before delivery, anywhere from a couple of hours to a day or so, but it goes to a cowpie consistency, not watery.

You didn't tell me how long you have had her, so it's hard to know whether it could be a change in diet.  If she had not been getting any sweet feed with her old owner, and if you've only had her a couple of days or so and she is now getting sweet feed, (even just a smidge) that can also cause loose stools.

You're doing the right thing by watching for her to act "off."  Any sign of going off feed, acting lethargic or just not herself, will be a reason for concern.

Best of luck,
Sandy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: She is actually doing better. Stools are more consistant. I got her back in mid July. I really hate not having a due date on her.  When we had the really cold spell, we lost power for three days, so the donkey was having to drink bottled water (luck her!).  She has been on basically maybe a 1/2 cup of sweet feed for the last month.  I am really unsure what to feed an obese pregnant donkey.  One question I did have, I can feel her baby move very well and see it move.  What is the gestation that is normally seen?  I am trying to figure out when she is due. I had her ultrasounded at the end of Sept to confirm pregnancy, but couldnt really get a good estimate on due date. I am watching her like a hawk, no udder changes and her ligaments are still tight (I breed pygmy goats and have become an expert at watching the ligament changes).  Would it be common for a donkey to give birth in Jan or Feb in Ohio??????????  She is so big, I dont see her waiting until April or may.  I have a stall ready and a camera system set up so hopefully when she does decide to drop the foal, I will be able to get it dried off before it freezes.

Answer
That's good news that she is doing better.

The "normal" gestation for equines is 340 days... but that can vary quite a bit.  Anything born prior to 320 days is considered premature, and it is not uncommon for a mare to go as long as a full year.

You can generally start seeing foal movement about the 7th or 8th month of pregnancy and then very noticeably by the 9th month.  Udder changes can start to occur as early as 8 weeks prior to delivery.  I start watching for udder changes in my mares around 290 days.

It would be unusual for an equine to foal in Jan if she had not been put under lights for an early breeding.  It is the amount of daylight that will bring them into heat and encourage ovulation.  If she were bred the first week of say April, she could be due anywhere from the middle of Feb to the end of March.  Most mares will start having good, breedable heat cycles by the end of March, beginning of April.

As for what to feed an obese, pregnant donkey, it sounds to me like you're feeding her right.  But, obesity can cause problems when it comes to actual foaling.  They are just so out of shape that they can't handle the workout it takes to keep pushing, so keep that in mind.  You may have to pull the baby to assist with delivery.

Just keep watching her and look for udder changes and her croup area starting to soften up... but it sounds like you are not too far away from the foaling date if you're seeing good foal movement.  Maybe a couple of months.

Let me know how it goes,
Sandy