Congratulations on your new foal! A veterinarian will perform a newborn foal exam to ensure the foal is healthy and has the best start to life. This blog will explain the timing, components, and importance of a newborn foal exam.
Timing of a newborn foal exam
The foal should be examined at 12 hours of age if it appears normal. The foal should be evaluated sooner than 12 hours if it is abnormal from the time of birth.
Components of a newborn foal exam
1. Obtain history information
A newborn foal exam starts with obtaining a history of the foaling. Your veterinarian might ask; was the foaling observed?; were there any complications during foaling?; how long did it take for the foal to be born after stage 2 labor began?; was the foal full term?; was the mare a maiden?; how long did it take for the mare to pass the placenta, and was the placenta intact?; and how long did it take for the foal to stand and nurse?
A retained placenta is when the mare does not pass the placenta or it takes longer than 3 hours to pass the placenta. A retained placenta is a potentially life-threatening condition and should be treated immediately by a veterinarian.
2. Examine the foal
The next step is to examine the foal. The exam includes everything from head to tail.
Distance Exam
Assess the foal’s mentation, attitude, and behavior. The foal should be bright, alert, and responsive to visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli. The foal should get up quickly when approached and might run to the far side of the mare or might be curious about its handler.
Start at the head
A neonatal foal’s nose should be clean and dry. Milk should not be exiting the nostrils during or after the foal has nursed. The hard and soft palate are assessed for a cleft palate. Milk exiting the nostrils after nursing is a possible sign of a cleft palate. The newborn’s mucous membranes (gums) should be light pink and moist. The foal’s eyes should be held wide open with no tearing, and the cornea (the transparent first layer of the eye) should be clear. Assess the eyes for discharge, corneal ulcers, and entropion (inward turning of the lower eyelid), as this can lead to corneal ulcers. The ears of a normal foal are erect at the time of birth, clean and dry. Drooping of the ear is most commonly associated with prematurity. Additional signs of prematurity include a small body size, a short silky hair coat, and a domed head.
Move to the body
A 1-14 day old foal’s heart rate is 80-120 beats/min, and respiratory rate is 30-40 breaths/min. Auscultate (with a stethoscope) the heart, lung, and gastrointestinal sounds. A heart murmur can be normal in the early neonatal period as the cardiac embryonic structures (ductus arteriosus) continue to close. The joints are meticulously palpated for joint effusion or abnormalities. Joint effusion can be suggestive of an infection. Immediately after birth, the newborn’s umbilicus will be fresh with contracted umbilical vessels (one vein and two arteries). The umbilicus should be dipped immediately after birth with a dilute betadine or chlorhexidine solution to keep it clean and help protect it from infection. There should be no bleeding from the umbilicus. Within 24 hours, the umbilicus should be dry and have no heat, pain, swelling, or discharge. Check the newborn foal for hernias (e.g., umbilical and inguinal) and each individual rib for any rib fractures.
End at the tail
A neonatal foal’s temperature is 99.0-102.0*F. A temperature >102.5F is a concern for a fever. Inspect the anus, under the tail, and perineum. These areas should be clean and dry and have no diarrhea.
3. Immunoglobulin G (IgG)– Why it is so critical the foal nurses and consumes the mare’s colostrum
IgG is an antibody within the mare’s colostrum (the first mammary secretions) that enhances the foal’s immunity in the neonatal period. The foal must nurse to obtain this immunity.
Check IgG when the foal is 12 hours old. The gastrointestinal tract best absorbs immunoglobulins by 4-6 hours. After 12 hours, the gastrointestinal tract has a reduced ability to absorb IgG; after 24 hours, the gastrointestinal tract closes and does not absorb IgG. There has been an association between low serum IgG concentrations and foal illness and death.
If the foal has an IgG concentration of <800mg/dL by 12-24 hours of age, then plasma is given by the veterinarian to provide additional antibodies needed for immunity to reduce the risk of neonatal illness. IgG can be checked again to confirm the concentration is >800mg/dL.
Importance of a newborn foal exam
A newborn foal exam can give peace of mind that your foal is healthy at that examination, or it can identify problems before they get too severe. Early treatment of illness can increase the chance of survival in a sick foal and reduce the cost of treatment.
Newborn foal care frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What do you do with a newborn foal?
Immediately after birth, if there is amnion over the foal’s nose, pull it off, so the foal can breathe properly. The foal should immediately sit up into sternal (righting reflex). The umbilical cord will usually break naturally as the foal begins to move after birth or when the mare stands up. Check the foal’s umbilicus for bleeding, and if there is continuous bleeding, then an umbilical clamp or tape can be applied to the umbilicus, approximately 1 -1.5 inches from the body wall, to stop the bleeding.
Immediately dip the umbilicus with dilute 2% betadine or a 0.5% chlorhexidine solution to keep it clean and protect it from infection. Monitor the foal and mare for the 1-2-3 rule. The foal might need some assistance to stand after making several good attempts to stand. The foal might need a little guidance in learning to nurse if the foal has made several attempts and isn’t quite there yet.
If it is safe and possible, it is best to be as hands-off as possible but still close by for observation in the immediate post-birth period to allow the mare and foal to bond.
Passage of meconium and does the foal need an enema?
Monitor the foal for passage of meconium (usually within the first 1-4 hours, but it can take longer). If the foal is straining to pass meconium, then the foal may require an enema. Two types of enemas are phosphate enemas bought at the store and homemade soapy water enemas made with ivory soap and water. Do not use more than one phosphate enema in a day or for multiple days because it can cause high phosphate levels in the foal.
To perform a soapy warm water enema, mix a small amount of ivory soap with warm water (approximately 120-250ml), place lubrication onto a soft, narrow rubber tube, and insert gently into the foal’s rectum. Be careful not to cause injury to the rectal mucosa. Connect a funnel or open syringe to the other end of the tube and pour the water in by gravity.
Can you touch a newborn foal?
Yes, you can touch a newborn foal. Wash your hands with soap and water; alternatively, wear latex gloves when handling the foal immediately after birth to protect the foal from bacteria.
How long can a newborn foal go without nursing?
A newborn foal can go three hours without nursing. A foal is born with a glucose supply of approximately three hours.
What is the 1 2 3 rule for foaling?
A normal foal should have stood by 1 hour, nursed by 2 hours, and the mare should have passed the placenta by 3 hours. If it takes the foal longer than 2 hours to stand, longer than 3 hours to nurse, or if the mare has not passed the placenta in 3 hours, then call a veterinarian.