Mule ate chicken feed

[greybeard]

Ok so the vet said that I should keep him locked up in the barn so he doesn’t he too much grass and limit the amount of water he takes. If she has trouble walking or anything like that then im supposed to call the vet immediately.

That, is pretty much the standard procedure when this happens. I assume the vet explained why a lot of grass is a bad thing right now..
You may not be completely out of the woods, but so far, so good.
Usually, if colic doesn't appear in the first 12-24 hrs, then the next hurdle is hind gut toxins being released from dead and dying bacteria and then a hoof related problem properly called laminitis, which many (myself included) call founder.
good luck

 

[LlamaGirl4]

That, is pretty much the standard procedure when this happens. I assume the vet explained why a lot of grass is a bad thing right now..
You may not be completely out of the woods, but so far, so good.
Usually, if colic doesn't appear in the first 12-24 hrs, then the next hurdle is hind gut toxins being released from dead and dying bacteria and then a hoof related problem properly called laminitis, which many (myself included) call founder.
good luck

Thanks!

 

[greybeard]

A suggestion..If something of this nature happens again, (not necessarily feed related), and you have even minimal concerns that the animal's life may be in jeopardy, put your question in the Emergency Section.
It will get more views and more input there, as well as being more easily available for future references by anyone searching the net or BYH in relation to similar circumstances.

 

[LlamaGirl4]

A suggestion..If something of this nature happens again, (not necessarily feed related), and you have even minimal concerns that the animal's life may be in jeopardy, put your question in the Emergency Section.
It will get more views and more input there, as well as being more easily available for future references by anyone searching the net or BYH in relation to similar circumstances.

Will do thanks!

 

[Bunnylady]

Good to hear that things are so far, so good. It may actually play in your favor that this was a mule, not a horse, that got into the chicken feed. For a long time, I have heard people with waaay more experience with mules than I have say that while a horse might eat itself to death, a mule won't. Now, how exactly an animal is supposed to know that "I'd better stop now, one more bite will founder me," I can't imagine, but the reputation among longear lovers is that a mule is too smart to eat too much rich feed. I wouldn't count on it, of course, but that's the "old timers'" take on it.

 

[Simpleterrier]

If your mule is broke to ride get on and ride her. Best things you can do if it happens again is make them move a lot. The more they move the more they poop the better they be. I have had horse's do the same thing and my vets always tell me to make them move walk run ride for a couple of hours. And I never had a problem.

 

[greybeard]

Best things you can do if it happens again is make them move a lot. The more they move the more they poop the better they be. I have had horse's do the same thing and my vets always tell me to make them move walk run ride for a couple of hours. And I never had a problem.

This is what I was taught and what we always tried to do as well, tho mostly just kept them walking as much as we could..every few hours at least for the first 12 hrs or so.
I do the same with cattle if they get bloat from clover and it's reccomended to do it once you get one up from being cast.

 

[Rammy]

When I had a horse, she got into the chicken feed alot. She was smart and knew how to pop the lids on the trash cans. Luckily, she never had a problem. It was mostly my stupidity for forgetting to block the area with a gate or just close the barn door. She would not get her grain that night because of it. I got lucky. Unfortunately, I worked at a hunter/jumper barn where several horses got into the feed quite a few times despite the door being bolted to the feed room. One horse knew how to lift it and open it. She foundered bad. Didnt end well for her. After that, the barn moved all the feed out and into a more secure building where you had to go to get the feed for each horse. I hope your four-legged baby is and will be ok.