orphaned foal

Question
I have a paint colt orphan.  My mare was just put down yesterday due to a severe case of colic.  The colt is 11 days old and really healthy up to the death of mama.  I haven't been able to get him to eat any from a bottle and it is going on twelve hours since he has last had any amount of milk.  I have both goat's milk and a formula that I have tried.  He is in the pasture with a gelding pony that he keeps trying to succle on.  What is the amount of time that I should start worrying about his food?  He nibbles on grass and hay that is out.  Has drank lots of water but barely any milk.  Just a small amount from squirting it in his mouth.  He lets most of it dribble out on the ground.  Any help in this matter would greatly be appreciated.  Thank you.

Answer
Hi Teresa,

I'm so sorry to hear about your mare!  So let's see what we can do to get this little one eating.  Mine wouldn't take a bottle either, so I ended up using a black rubber flat pan (the wide Fortiflex ones) and that worked.  Sometimes, they won't take a nipple after being on a real horse because it feels so different.  But don't worry - using a bucket or pail is preferable anyway.  Try the flat rubber pan if you have one, or a bucket if you don't.  

Also, using a mare's milk replacer is the best for him since it has all the nutrients he needs.  But, at this point, any milk is better than none at all.  Babies dehydrate very rapidly, so make sure he's got plenty of water, but keep offering the milk until you can get him to take it.  He may be confused by all of the things that have happened with his mom.  Don't give up - he'll come around.

Hope this helps!  Good luck with your baby, and don't hesitate to write back if you have more questions.

--Susan