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Problems in the Newborn Foal

by Heather Smith Thomas

The first days, and even weeks of life are a critical time for the young foal. That's why it's a good idea to closely observe your mare and foal to make sure all's well. This will allow you to act quickly before a problem becomes serious or life-threatening.

Some problems are immediately apparent after birth, such as external congenital defects, limb deformities, and prematurity. If anything seems abnormal about your foal, don't hesitate to have the veterinarian examine the newborn to assess its condition. Prompt treatment may be vital to your foal's survival.

Occasionally a foal will be born covered with yellow material. This means he passed a bowel movement just before or during birth; indicating he was stressed during birth. Have your vet check such a foal for possible problems.

Some foals are born with a cleft palate or crooked head. Crookedness may be a result of lying against the mare in an abnormal position. Unfortunate foals are born with incomplete digestive systems; the intestine is closed off before it gets to the rectum or anus and the foal is unable to pass bowel movements. Weakness may be an indication of a heart defect. Some of these problems can be surgically corrected; others cannot.

Abnormalities such as crooked legs or weak tendons will correct themselves with time. Occasionally a male foal will have trouble urinating, if his sheath and penis have not come down. Such a foal will standing in urinating position and dribble. This condition usually resolves within several days and the foal is perfectly normal.

If the birth goes well and the foal appears healthy, it's still a good idea to monitor him closely for a few daysmuch can go wrong in this crucial time. Be aware of subtle signs of trouble. Intervention can prevent serious problems from arising.

The newborn foal's nervous system is immature and is easily damaged by infection, oxygen deprivation, stress, or trauma. In developed mammals the brain is protected by a system known as the Blood Brain Barrier. This system keeps diseases and poisons in the bloodstream from damaging the brain. In the first month of life, the Blood Brain Barrier is not completely functional in the foal. As a result, diseases can have a devastating effect. A foal suffering from diarrhea or even one who was stressed during birth could experience neurological consequences and collapse if the brain is adversely affected.

Several problems that can affect newborn foals are not readily apparent. Among these is a ruptured bladder. Sometimes this condition is present from birth, either as a congenital condition (a small defect before birth) or from trauma during birth. In some cases, a weakness in the bladder wall may give way later.

In such a case, the foal may appear normal at birth but lose vigor as the day goes on, losing his desire to nurse. He may raise his tail and stand in urination position, trying unsuccessfully to pass urine. His abdomen may become distended and tender to the touch, since fluid is seeping out of the ruptured bladder into the abdominal and/or pelvic cavity.

A very tiny hole or tear in the bladder will not keep the foal from passing some urine normally, but small amounts will continue to leak into the abdominal cavity. A large tear will prevent him from passing any urine normally. This condition will be apparent before he is a full day old. A smaller leak may take two to three days to become apparent.

Such a foal will appear listless and dull as waste products are absorbed into his system. This results in uremia (retention in the blood of materials normally excreted), which soon creates a toxic condition. In addition, fluid buildup will put pressure on the diaphragm and lungs. The foal will breath shallowly, panting for air. If the condition is not corrected quickly through surgery, the foal will go into shock and die.

Your veterinarian can confirm the diagnosis by the lying the foal on his side and inserting a needle into the abdominal cavity to drain some of the fluid and check it. Urine will flow freely out the needle and smell of urine. Blood tests can also confirm the presence of urine products and give an indication of electrolyte concentrations and imbalances. Prompt surgical repair of a ruptured bladder usually results in rapid and complete recovery of the foal.

Perhaps the most common problems that beset a young foal are infections. Not only is the young foal very susceptible to certain pathogens due to his immature immune system, but the viruses or bacteria can gain the upper hand very swiftly, causing serious damage or death, sometimes within a few hours. Foals can gain temporary immunity from several serious diseases via the antibodies in the mother's colostrum if she has recently been vaccinated and has good immunities herself.

A few viruses can affect young foals, but the most common causes of infectious disease in this age group are bacteria. Some cause disease by proliferating swiftly in the bloodstream and overwhelming the body tissues (such as bacterial septicemia); others can kill will just small amounts of toxin, such as botulism. Others, such as Salmonella, damage the foal with both toxins and septicemia.

Most of the infectious organisms that can be damaging or deadly to foals are commonly found in the environmentespecially where horses congregate. Pathogenic bacteria enter the foal through the ingestion of contaminated material, such as bedding; through the respiratory system if airborne; or through the umbilical stump if it is not quickly sealed off.

Bacterial infections can usually be treated with antibiotics if treatment is begun early in the course of illness. However, as in humans, viral infections do not respond to antibiotics. The best treatment is good supportive care, such as extra fluids to prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, keeping the foal warm and dry, and reducing stress. Good supportive care will help the foal's body fight off the infection.

When a foal is ill, it is helpful to treat the symptoms: reduce fever and discomfort. In the case of a high fever, drugs such as Banamine or Butazolidin can be used to bring it down. Even though drugs such as these are known to cause ulcers in foals, the choice is the lesser of two evils when the foal is suffering from a life-threatening condition. In addition, reducing fever and pain may encourage the foal to begin nursing again, taking in much-needed nutrients and fluids.

In severe infections the veterinarian will usually put the foal on a round the clock schedule of antibiotics administered intravenously. For ease of treatment and to prevent repeated damage and pain when inserting needles into the vein, it is a common practice to put a catheter into the foal's jugular vein and secure it with a small suture, so that medication can be administered every few hours as needed. Intravenous fluids can also be administered through the catheter to prevent dehydration. Dehydration is a major problem in sick foals who stop nursing when they don't feel well; in addition, fever and diarrhea quickly dehydrates them.

The veterinarian may choose to administer fluids and medications via a stomach tube if the foal can absorb enough fluids through the gut. This is possible if his body systems are not in a state of shock.

A stomach tube may also be used if the infection is in the digestive tract and will respond to oral medications. It may also be used to deliver Milk of Magnesia, mineral oil, or other treatments to help soothe the gut lining.

If a foal must be confined to a stall for treatment, your vet may also prescribe an antiulcer medication such as Zantac or Tagamet. In earlier years many foals were successfully treated for infectious disease only to die later from the effects of a gastric ulcer brought on by the stresses of stall confinement and aggravated by the medications used to treat the primary illness.

Happily, most foals have no problems. For those who do suffer complications from birth or experience life-threatening conditions during the first crucial weeks of life, an owner's diligence and attention can make the difference between life and permanent damage, or death to the foal.

NOTICE: This article may not be reproduced or quoted in whole or in part by any means, printed or electronic, without the written consent of the author or Flying Changes magazine. Feel free, however, to print out a copy for reading offline!

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