foaling Archives -

My One Week Old Foal Has Diarrhoea. What Should I Do?

Horse Breeding / Dr Louise Cosgrove / March 16, 2023

At one week of age, a compromised immune system can leave young foals exposed to bacterial and viral infections that can severely debilitate their health. In this article, we discuss the common infections in young foals that lead to infectious diarrhoea. We will not discuss diarrhoea caused by the mare coming into season called “Foal Heat Diarrhoea”. During the first 24 hours of life, your young foal has a very open gut that is capable of absorbing large molecules. While nature has provided this to facilitate absorption of antibodies contained in the mare’s colostrum, it can also expose an unprotected immune system to bacteria. Within the first six hours following birth, the young foal relies on colostrum to build a robust and resilient immune system. However, inadequate antibodies and an unclean environment allow entry of bacteria into the gut which, once ingested, may be transferred across to the bloodstream. Bacterial and viral infections can affect foals of all ages. The age of your foal is an important factor — not only for their chances of survival, but also when considering the type of infection present, its treatment and, most importantly, its prevention. Rotavirus Rotavirus is a common cause of diarrhoea in foals older than one week of age. Ingested from the environment, it’s usually shed by other infected foals. Rotavirus can cause severe, fluid-losing (watery) diarrhoea, but can be treated effectively with supportive therapy. Treatment involves fluids to replace lost water and electrolytes. At times, antibiotics may also be given to prevent additional bacterial infections. The infected foal should be isolated until they’ve fully recovered to stop the spread of the virus, and any other bacterial or viral infections. Rotavirus may be prevented with vaccination, given to the pregnant mare at eight, nine and 10 months gestation. The vaccine works by building protective antibodies within the colostrum that safeguard the newborn foal’s immune system from birth. Salmonella & Clostridia Salmonella and two strains of clostridia — C. perfringens and C. difficile — can also affect foals around one week of age. Both of these bacterial infections can be life-threatening to any foal less than seven days old, without immediate treatment. While salmonella is spread by contaminated faecal matter, usually from the mare, the two strains of clostridia survive as spores in the environment. Once ingested, they produce toxins that may invade the gastrointestinal tract, where they can severely harm the young foal. Treatment with antibiotics may be effective if administered early. Antibiotic therapy may also be used as a preventative measure with success. However, it’s imperative all foals receive adequate colostrum at birth for the highest chance of survival in the face of bacterial and viral infection. Treating Diarrhoea Early intervention is critical in the treatment of diarrhoea. At the first signs of diarrhoea, systemic illness or depression, call your veterinarian immediately. In most cases, a young foal with severe diarrhoea will be treated at an intensive care facility, following a veterinary examination.

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How Long Should Foaling Take?

Horse Breeding / Dr Louise Cosgrove / January 8, 2024

You’ve waited patiently for the past 11 months and now it’s time for your mare to foal. In this article, we share how long should foaling take, and the normal process of foaling down, so you know what to expect and when to call your veterinarian should the unexpected arise. It’s hard to believe that after a 335-345 gestation period, foaling can be over in as quick as 20 minutes! Usually, foaling will occur without a hitch, but with such a short timeframe, problems can escalate fast, so it’s best to be prepared. Three Stages of Foaling In a normal foaling, there are three stages: Stage One: 1-4 Hours The foal is on the way! During the first stage of parturition, which can last for four hours or longer, your mare’s cervix is dilating and her foal is re-positioning itself for birth. It’s not uncommon for mares to appear anxious at this time and exhibit signs similar to colic, including: While all of the above signs are normal, if you suspect colic and these behaviors continue for more than four hours, call your veterinarian immediately. Usually, stage one will pass in several minutes to four hours, and often when your mare feels safe and unwatched. Usually between the hours of 11.00 am to 4.00 am of course!! Stage Two: 15 Minutes-1 Hour Once your mare’s waters have broken, birthing won’t stop and time becomes even more critical. When her waters break, you will see a large amount of allantoic fluid released before she lies down. However, some mares will move or even roll during delivery. As birthing begins, you must watch carefully to ensure the foal is in the correct position. First, the amniotic sac will appear, encasing the first front hoof. Next, the second front hoof will appear, followed by the nose. Stage two is usually over within 20 minutes, but it may take up to one hour. If a red membrane appears at the start of foaling, instead of the white amniotic sac, you must call your veterinarian without delay. The placenta is being delivered with the foal and depriving the foal of oxygen. If unable to arrive in time, your veterinarian will talk you through the steps. Stage Three: 1-3 Hours The foal has arrived! Following delivery, your mare may rest for several minutes to regain her strength. During this final stage, she will expel the placenta. Once the placenta has passed, lay it flat to check it’s intact, with only one hole where the foal passed through. Make sure both uterine horns are present and intact. If unsure, place the membranes in a bucket or garbage bag and get your vet to check for you. Often, mares will exhibit signs of colic as they continue to experience uterine contractions to pass the placenta. Again, monitor this behavior for several hours. If you reach three hours post-foaling and the placenta hasn’t passed, you must contact your veterinarian. A retained placenta can lead to uterine infections, predisposing your mare to endometritis, infertility, and laminitis. You mustn’t manually remove the placenta or cut the umbilical cord as these can lead to problems. Instead, alert your veterinarian. How Long Should Foaling Take: Final Words In conclusion, knowing how long foaling should take and what to expect during each stage can help you prepare for this exciting event and ensure the best outcome for your mare and foal. Foaling is a natural and quick process that requires careful observation and intervention if necessary. Always have your veterinarian’s contact details handy and call them if you have any concerns or questions. We hope this article has provided you with useful information on how long foaling should take and what to look for during this amazing event.

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The First 48 Hours: Part 1

Horse Breeding / Dr Louise Cosgrove / March 16, 2023

Your new bundle of joy has arrived and the most stressful part, the labour, is thankfully over. However, now, there are more things to worry about. Identifying problems early is critical. In this article, we discuss the first milestones, standing and nursing. A Healthy Foal When your new foal arrives, there are two important milestones which take place within the first two hours. Firstly, has your new foal been able to stand within an hour of birth? Secondly, has your new foal been able to nurse within two hours of birth? Once these have taken place, you should expect the passing of the meconium (first manure), followed by urination. The meconium is usually firm, ranging from black to mustard in colour and can measure up to 50cm in length. Standing Your new foal should be standing within two hours of birth. However, this may be inhibited if your foal has contracted tendons, which prevent their legs from fully extending. This condition can range from mild to severe where the foal can’t extend their legs at all. Other problems that prevent your foal from standing can be prematurity of the foal where the joints haven’t properly formed, or a stressful labour with the foal being exhausted or starved of oxygen during birth. The First Meal When your foal first nurses, they receive colostrum (a sticky creamy, yellow or white milk) from the mare, which gives them immunity until their own immune system starts to function at around three months of age. The foal may not be able to receive colostrum if they have a cleft palate, making it difficult to nurse, or if the mare doesn’t allow the foal to nurse at all. If your foal doesn’t receive an adequate amount or quality of colostrum, they are considered to have a naive immune system and this condition is called Failure of Passive Transfer, or FPT. A serious and potentially deadly condition, your foal requires immediate administration of plasma, possibly with oxygen and antibiotic therapy.

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If You Are Expecting: Part 2

Horse Breeding / Dr Louise Cosgrove / January 11, 2024

A mare’s gestation is normally between 320 and 345 days – that’s a long time to wait for something to go wrong. Before your precious bundle arrives, there are three important areas of your mare’s health that you need to consider. In this article, we discuss the second, If You Are Expecting: Her Housing. In case you missed Part 1, click here Mare Care: Housing To ensure a safe and uneventful delivery for the mare and foal, it’s important that you decide on where your mare will foal down before the day arrives. Choosing the Paddock The ideal environment for foaling is a flat, grassed area with appropriate fencing to protect the newborn foal from predators. The paddock should also be free of manure and hazards. It should be rested for several weeks before your mare goes in to foal down. This will allow her to become accustomed to the pasture and pass on the antibodies to protect her foal after birth. You should also select a paddock away from other horses, so your mare can concentrate on the task at hand without the burden of nosey paddock mates. Choosing the Stable If you opt to stable your mare for foaling down, the stall needs to be at least 6 x 7 meters to prevent your mare from casting herself and give her ample room during labor. If the stall is too small, there is a risk of your mare injuring her foal during contractions or after birth. However, the advantages of stabling are protecting the mare and foal from the elements if it’s too rainy, windy, or cold, and supporting your foal’s body temperature. Foals can quickly use up their energy reserves when struggling to regulate their body temperature. Coming Up If You Are Expecting: Part 3

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Foaling Time or Time to Call the Vet?

Horse Breeding / Dr Louise Cosgrove / March 16, 2023

When all goes to plan, foaling is stress free and usually over in 30 minutes to an hour. However, things can go wrong. In this article, we explain the situations you may encounter during foaling that mean it’s time to call the vet. Stages of foaling There are three distinct stages to a normal foaling: Stage One (30 minutes – 6 hours): This stage involves uterine contractions and cervical relaxation. The normal signs of stage one are rolling, pawing, kicking at the abdomen, anorexia, sweating and frequent urination. Stage Two (10 minutes – 1 hour): This stage is where the water breaks. You will see a sudden release of tan- or red-coloured fluid, followed by active abdominal contractions as the foal is delivered. The mare will usually lie down for this stage. Stage Three (1 – 3 hours): This stage is where the placenta is expelled. When the placenta has passed, you must check to ensure its intact. There should be one hole and no signs of tearing. When to interfere Immediate advice from a veterinarian is vital if: The mare has been streaming milk for 12 hours or more with no sign of labour The waters have broken, but there’s no sign of contractions or no further progress There’s malpresentation of the foal The placenta has appeared at the vulva before the foal The foal’s hoof is emerging through the mare’s anus The foal is unwilling or unable to stand within one hour after birth The foal is unwilling or unable to suckle within two hours after birth The mare is showing signs of colic post-foaling The placenta has not passed within four hours after birth You have concerns the entire placenta hasn’t been passed The placental membranes is covering the foal’s muzzle outside the pelvic canal During foaling, you should only intervene if you notice a problem. Seeking advice from a veterinarian is imperative if something goes wrong. It may be the difference between life and death for your mare or newborn foal.

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