Foals: The Critical First Two Days

The highest death rate for horses is in the first two days following birth so it is a critical period. Experienced owners and veterinarians describe three things that can dramatically increase your foal’s chance of survival.

(the three Ps of young foal management)

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1. Preparation

To avoid the potential for panic should something go wrong it is best to be well prepared. A number of things can be performed before, during and immediately after birth.

Before Birth

• Identify high risk mares and provide appropriate veterinary care during pregnancy
• Vaccinate (5th, 7th, 9th month and 30 days prior to birth) and worm the mare
• Provide good nutrition to the mare (avoid fescue)
• Prepare a foal emergency kit (see below)
• Clean the stalls and use clean bedding materials (not sawdust)
• Install a foal (birthing) monitor
• Understand how to perform foal CPR (close off one nostril and breathe into the other ensuring that the lungs inflate)
• Prepare a frozen colostrum bank, or the easier option
• Have frozen plasma on stock
• Observe the mare for colostrum leakage and vaginal discharge (signs of placentitis)
• Wash down the mare’s hindquarters before delivery

During Birth

• Be unobtrusively present and observant during the birth process
• Observe for “red bagâ€? delivery (an emergency)
• Keep and weigh the placenta (normal is 10% of foal weight – approximately 5kg)

Following Birth

• Call your veterinarian to ensure the foal is examined within 12-24 hours of birth
• Wash down the mare’s hindquarters before suckling
• Observe foal for colostrum ingestion, or the easier option
• Ensure the veterinarian administers a litre of plasma
• Perform an enema
• Leave umbilicus intact for as long as possible. If is usually broken by the foal attempting to stand. If you must break it pull the cord apart while holding close to the abdomen
• Turn out the mare and foal for one hour per day increasing per day. By 10-12 days the mare and foal can run with other mares and foals.

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2. Problem Recognition

The key to problem recognition is having an understanding what is normal. The following tables provide a general guideline to normal and abnormal foal signs in the first 48 hours.

Normal Foal Signs

Sign	Normal
Breathing	Within 30 seconds of birth
Standing	Within one hour of birth (some heavy breeds are slower)
Suckling	Within two hours of birth
Pulse rate	130/minute in first hour. 95/minute up to 48 hours (at rest)
Respiratory rate	70/minute in first 10 minutes. 35/minute for first 48 hours (at rest)
Passing of meconium	Black, dry and tarry stools within 12 - 24 hours of birth
Nursing frequency	3-5 times per hour
Placental weight	10% of foal weight (average is 5kg)
Behaviour	Alert, active, suckling
Urinating	Straw coloured within 12 hours and every time it suckles

Abnormal Foal Signs

Sign	What it might mean
Milk coming from nose	Cleft palate, risk of pneumonia, too much milk in one session
Orange fluid from nose	Meconium aspiration, risk of pneumonia
Behavioural changes	Dummy foal (lack of oxygen during birth)
Milk on face	Not nursing
Yellow gums	Neonatal isoerythrolysis, jaundice
Brick red gums	Septicaemia
Eyes sunken or teary	Dehydration, malnutrition or an eye problem
Swollen joints	Infection, septicaemia
Bloat	Colic
Weak or lethargic	Sick, septicaemia
Urine from umbilicus	Patent urachus
Abdominal enlargement	Ruptured bladder
Arched back	Straining to defecate, meconium retention
Sunk back	Straining to urinate
Pain on breathing	Potential broken ribs

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3. Prompt Intervention

Once a problem has been identified it is always best to err on the side of caution and intervene quickly. Having an emergency foal kit available will help, as will a routine examination by your veterinarian within the first 12-24 hours of birth. It is also important to know that the biggest cause of death in foals is related to infection – through wounds, trauma, injuries and failure of passive transfer. Foals are born with an immune system that is largely a “blank slate� incapable of fighting infection and they absolutely must have colostrum, or if that fails, intravenous plasma until their own immune system matures. Colostrum provides essential infection-fighting antibodies and administration of plasma, high in antibody content and other infection-fighting agents, provides extra insurance and peace of mind.

Emergency Foaling Kit Contents

Item	Use
Umbilical tape	Tie the umbilicus if it is bleeding
Antiseptic navel dip (not neat iodine)	Twice daily immersion of the umbilical stump
Large syringe with the end cut off and reversed	Obtain colostrum from the mare
Small syringe or bottle with nipple	Administer colostrum to the foal
Examination gloves	Handling umbilicus and placenta
Large plastic bag with tie	For keeping the placenta
Antibiotics	For administration twice daily for 3 days
Enema materials-warm soapy water and catheter	Prevention of retained meconium
Towels	Drying the foal
Clean containers	Collection of colostrum
Bucket of warm water	Cleaning of mare’s perineum and legs
Elasticised bandage	Tying up the placenta off the mare’s hocks
Frozen colostrum	Administration to foal
Frozen plasma	Administration to foal
Scales	To weigh the placenta
K-Y	Lubrication for enema

Key Points