Kasie’s Korner
Newborn Foal
by Kasie Morgan
Newborn Foal If you are present during the birth of the foal, your first step after the delivery is to make sure the foal is breathing. Quietly approach the foaling area and remove the birth sack from the foal’s head. If the foal is breathing, your job is complete. You should leave the foaling area and observe the mare and foal from a distance. This allows the mare and foal time alone to recover from the delivery and bond to each other socially. A normal, healthy foal lifts its head and neck and rolls onto its chest within several seconds after delivery. Then the foal begins to make creeping movements away from its dam. If the mare has not stood up yet, the foal’s movements usually break the umbilical cord. You should wait for either the mare or foal to break the umbilical cord.
Once the umbilical cord breaks, the stump should be dipped in a mild, 1 to 2 percent iodine solution. The iodine dries the umbilical stump & prevents bacteria from traveling up the stump & entering the foal’s body. Bacteria that enters the foal through the umbilical stump caus- es a systemic infection.
You should examine the naval stump for several days after birth to make sure that it remains dry. Urine dripping from the stump indi- cates that the fetal urine passage from the bladder to the umbili- cal has not closed. Normally the urachus closes at birth. If it fails to close, the foal should be treated by a veterinarian.
Usually, foals stand within one hour after birth. During the first standing attempts, the foal is unsteady and constantly shifting its head, neck, and feet in an attempt to remain balanced. This unsteadi- ness is normal, and you should let the foal stand by itself. Lifting the foal onto its feet before its legs are strong enough to support it may
strain tendons and ligaments, and it interferes with the bonding pro- cess between the mare and foal.
Nursing When it stands, the foal should begin nursing attempts. The foal in-
stinctively searches at the junction of the mare’s legs (both front and back) and body for the udder. The exploratory process involved with finding the udder is normal and again, you should resist the desire to “help” the foal. However, if the foal has not nursed by two hours after birth, or if the mare aggressively rejects the foal’s attempts to nurse, then it is time to interfere and help the foal.
Colostrum It’s important for the foal to receive colostrum soon after birth be-
cause it contains antibodies needed for disease protection during the first few months of the foal’s life. It’s important that the foal receive colostrum before the 36 hour mark has passed. Your veterinarian can perform a simple test to determine if the foal has received ade- quate protection from colostrum. This test should be done about 6-12 hours after birth. This gives you an opportunity to correct potential deficiencies in immunity during the time the foal can absorb antibod- ies from its intestinal tract.
Colostrum has a laxative effect on the foal, which helps it pass the fetal excrement (meconium). Most foals pass the meconium within 4 hours after birth. If the meconium is not passed, the foal can become constipated. A constipated foal frequently stops moving, squats, & raises its tail trying to defecate. Constipation can be relieved easily by giving the foal a warm, soapy water enema (1- 2 cups) or a pre- packaged human mineral oil enema. You should observe the foal for several days for signs of constipation and correct any problems.
HORSE & AG MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2017 11
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