Health problems in the first phases of life require prompt attention. Equine nurse Samantha Feighery RVN discusses common disorders in newborn foals
NEWBORN foals in their first hours to days of life are vulnerable to illness and injury. This susceptibility is increased in incidences where the mare has been unwell during her pregnancy, for example with conditions such placentitis (infection in the placenta). Other risk factors that play a part in foals’ general health are:
● if the foal is born prematurely
● when there is a prolonged or difficult birth
●if the foal is delivered by caesarean section
This article will give a brief overview of some common conditions that can affect a neonatal foal.
FAILURE OF PASSIVE TRANSFER
FOALS are born without a fully developed immune system. The mare’s colostrum (first milk) is full of important antibodies to provide the foal with immunity against infectious pathogens. If a foal does not ingest enough good quality colostrum in the first 12 hours after birth, it will not be protected from bacteria and viruses and is at an increased risk of developing serious medical conditions.
Failure of passive transfer (FPT) is the name of the condition when a foal has not received an adequate amount of colostrum, or has received low-quality colostrum. Reasons why either of these might happen include:
● the mare did not produce enough good quality colostrum
●she may have been running milk before her due date
●the foal may not be able to stand up and nurse due to weakness
To attempt to prevent FPT it is important to monitor the mare and the mare’s udder closely before her due date for milk running, and to ensure that the foal stands and nurses within the first three to six hours of birth. If the foal is unable to stand, nurse or both, colostrum can be provided with care by bottle if the suckle reflex is strong.
The quality of the colostrum can be checked with a Brix refractometer – colostrum that gives a reading of 22% or above on the refractometer indicates a good level of immunoglobulin (IgG). A blood sample can be taken by your vet to test the foal’s IgG concentration if you are concerned that they have not received enough good quality colostrum within eight to 12 hours of birth.
Treatment for FPT can include a vet placing a nasogastric tube in the foal to administer the colostrum if the foal is unable to stand and nurse within the first three to six hours of life. The foal is less able to absorb immunoglobulins after 24 hours from birth, at which point treatment of FPT becomes a plasma transfusion via an intravenous catheter.
With appropriate treatment and nursing care the majority of the
