The Importance of the Newborn Foal Check
Assessment of the newborn foal soon after birth enables the early identification of any abnormalities and prompt intervention if required.
Veterinary examination of the foal within the first 24 hours of life is considered best practice. Earlier examination is particularly important for foals with perinatal risk factors, such as premature birth (less than 320 days gestation), birthing difficulty (dystocia), mares diagnosed with placentitis during pregnancy or if foals fail to meet specified milestones (standing, nursing and passing faeces).
A newborn foal check involves the thorough examination of the foal, assessing for the presence of any congenital problems, including but not limited to eye abnormalities, presence of a cleft palate, hernias, limb deformities. With early intervention, many detected conditions can be managed effectively and decrease the risk of complications later in life.
The veterinarian can also conduct an examination of the foetal membranes and where indicated, a post-foaling examination of the mare. The early diagnosis of any retained placental tissue is crucially important as the mare can become critically ill very rapidly if she has not passed the membranes in entirety.
Indications of a problem?
Observe your foal from a distance. Their interaction with their mother and environment provides important information, with abnormal behaviour being an early indicator of sepsis or neurological problems. Foals should be actively attempting to stay with their dam, able to find and nurse from the udder and not trying to suck walls or other objects.
Normal foals nurse for approximately 1.5 minutes at a time, roughly 7-10 times per hour. Pay close attention to the size of the mare’s udder, duration and frequency of nursing and for the presence of milk at the foal’s nostrils after nursing.
What is IgG and why do we recommend testing it?
IgG is the main antibody that is responsible for fighting infections in the body. There is no placental transfer of immunity from the mare to the foal in utero, and all transfer of immunity (or IgG) is passed through the mare’s colostrum. The foal must drink a sufficient quantity of quality colostrum in the first 12-24 hours of birth to receive sufficient immunity.
A foal may fail to achieve sufficient IgG concentrations for several reasons, including:
- Reduced colostrum quality
- Reduced ability of the foal to suckle
- Reduced affinity of the mare for the foal (not allowing nursing)
- Prematurity or reduced gastrointestinal motility
Failure of passive transfer of IgG means the foal has limited immunity for fighting infection and is at a much greater risk of becoming systemically ill. This may be in the form of generalised sepsis, diarrhoea, or an umbilical, joint or bone infection.
We strongly recommend testing IgG concentration at 24 hours of age. If failure of immunity is diagnosed, it can be treated effectively with a plasma transfusion and where appropriate, antibiotic coverage may be required.
If you have any concerns, we are always available to discuss your horse on 03 5725 1464.
