Is it normal for a new mini horse mom to lay down a lot after birth?

Horses need to pass the afterbirth within 1 hour or the placenta is considered retained. This can lead to serious infections of the uterus or reproductive tissues. Please call your vet right away because it is important that she have an examination. They can be sure that she passed the complete placenta or they will flush her out and administer antibiotics.

Yes, that’s normal. Mattie should be spending most of the day and night with the puppies at this point. When they get several weeks old she will leave them more but it is normal for mother dogs with new puppies to only leave them to potty and come right back to stay with them. If she’s eating and drinking and the incision looks normal then this is nothing to be overly concerned about. If she seems dull, not eating or inattentive to the pups then bring her in for a recheck. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Bella! I think you need to bring her in to your vet again and have her rechecked. I specifically would ask them to check her calcium levels. Low calcium can manifest as very bizarre behavior and can be life threatening if not treated. If it isn't low calcium and she isn't better, it is still best to have her looked at again. Sometimes it can take some time for first time Mother's to accept their babies. Just keep putting her in the whelping box and allow the baby to nurse. I hope this helps and I wish you the best!

What sweet little kittens! Those pictures are so adorable! I would not be too concerned about the mama cat just yet. She is probably exhausted from giving birth and nursing. You may want to move her to a location where you can keep a better eye on her so you can check on her regularly. Place a litter box within easy reach so she doesn’t have to travel far away from her kittens to use the bathroom. Try palpating her abdomen as well. It should be soft and doughy, not firm or hard or painful. If it feels abnormal you should probably take her in to the vet to make sure there are no kittens remaining inside of her. You can also try taking her temperature at home. If it is greater than 103 or less than 99, she needs to be seen by a vet. Finally, continue offering her fresh food and water. Keep in mind she will need a lot of extra calories since she is nursing 6 kittens. Feeding her a kitten food would be best. You can also try feeding her canned food or moistening her food with water to ensure she is getting enough. If your cat still refuses to move after 48-72 hours there may be something wrong and you should take her in to be checked out. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Good luck with the kittens!

Hello. If the breeding date is accurate, Butter can indeed foal any day. But I have seen them go 30 days over. Her milk should thicken up any day now, so if you are testing the udder you must stop. You d not want to inadvertently waste any of the colostrum, or first milk. Usually, once the colostrum develops, the teats will develop almost a waxy cap, but this is not always apparent. There are some concerns if she carries the dwarf gene as this predisposes the foals to have larger than normal heads, & somewhat boxy bodies. This could cause a problem during delivery called dystocia. Things to watch for with an impending birth are mild colic, loss of appetite, mucous-like discharge from the vulva. Watch her as closely as you can. You should have towels, ropes, & a tube of lubricant handy in case you need to help pull the foal. Also, have your veterinarian's number on speed dial in case you need help. Fingers crossed for an easy delivery. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’ve seen it take up to a week for a new Mom to accept the puppies. Just calmly encourage her to lay with them. You can take a warm soft cloth after the feedings and stimulate them to urinate and defecate. And gently wipe them down two times per day until she starts doing it. If she never accepts the puppies I wouldn’t breed her again. I hope this helps! Good luck!

If Sophie is sweating and trying to lay down or appears in distress at all I would recomend calling an equine vet now. Sweating, protruding veins can be signs of pain or discomfort and if she is constantly trying to lay down that is not typical behavior. She may be colicky or possibly miscarrying the foal. Try keeping her on her feet and walking as you get in touch with a vet. Do not let her down to roll. If she is kicking or biting at her flank those are further signs that she has abdominal pain. Good luck I hope she's better soon.