Google... powers... fading

[xenokattz]

I need a geneticist. Specifically one that specialises in hybrids, hopefully interfamilial although intergeneric ones will do. I swear, all I find about it are how cool and nifty hybrids are but, woe, they is infertile. Or gigantic. Also, animal hybrids tend to "speak" in both their parents' "languages

Comments

[xianghua]

Um.... I know a lot about mules and horses, if that's any help at all. :) The death rates for them are pretty low- not significantly higher than horse preganancies..) Um.... That's probably not helpful.

[xenokattz]

Oh, every little bit helps. Do you know much about health problems that hybrids could have?

[xianghua]

In mules? Very few- fewer than horses and donkeys, in fact. They tend to be VERY easy keepers, stronger pound-for-pound than horses, incredibly tough (with excellent feet as a rule). Slightly more prone to colic as a result of what easy keepers they are. Main drawback is they tend to be really different temperamentally from both horses and donkeys and hence need a different type of handling and training.

[xenokattz]

Hmmm... that actually helps quite a bit, thanks.

Is the colic you refer to the same gassy problem as babies?

[xianghua]

Sort of. Horses can't regurgitate. It's actually a little more similar to bloat in dogs, except that it's the intestine that can become twisted. I don't know enough to know beyond "These symptoms, call vet." And they're not any more prone to it than easy keeper ponies, really. The temperament issues are the biggest things. Most mules are very smart, and there are some that are just NUTS- not safe to be around and not safe to train.