Neonatal Foals

Question 1

1, 2, 3 rule

Answer 1

Stand in 1 hour
Nurse in 2 hour
Meconium pass in 3 hour

Question 2

Meconium

Answer 2

first feces from nutrients from mother, usually hard and brownish; might need to use enema

Question 3

Foal vital signs

• Respiration
• Heart rate
• Temp
• Birth weight

Answer 3

Respiration: early postpartum: 80rpm; decreasing to 30-40 at rest
Heart rate: 70-120 bpm (adult 30-35)
Temperature: 99.5-102 (adult 99-100.5)
Birth weight: 9-10% of expected weight

Question 4

Umbilical stump

Answer 4

• cord breaks couple inches from baby
• disinfect at birth, 2-3 times a day for 2-3 days
• Use dilute chlorhexidine 2% solution; 3 parts water 1 part chlorhexidine
• iodine not recommended anymore b/c too harsh
• Can develop hernia
• want stump to dry out

Question 5

Disease resistance

Answer 5

• Foal is born with limited disease protection

- immune system “naive”

Question 6

Absorption of immunoglobulins

Answer 6

1. 0-12 hours after birth: high gut “permeability”; facilitate absorption of colostrum
2. after 12 hours: gut closure begins; can be earlier in some cases; normal foals: complete by 24 hours

Question 7

Colostrum consumption

Answer 7

• earlier the better

- goal: adequate amount of antibodies absorbed to provide protection

Question 8

How to increase antibodies to common pathogens

Answer 8

1. vaccinate mare

2. move mare to foaling spot to allow her to settle and gain immunity to that location’s pathogens

Question 9

Recommended colostrum intake

Answer 9

2 liters per foal

-1/2 gallon = ~1.9 liters

Question 10

Passive transfer of immunoglobulins

Answer 10

• Assessed using blood from foal
• ~12-24 hours of age
• Low plasma concentration of immunoglobulins is a risk factor from neonatal disease

Question 11

Ig concentration amounts

Answer 11

12 = optimal

Question 12

Reasons of failure of PT

Answer 12

• gut closes too soon

- mare does not have good colostrum

Question 13

Will administration of colostrum after 24 hours increase antibody concentrations?

Answer 13

No

Question 14

Mares milk vs cow’s

Answer 14

• mare’s has less fat and more lactose

- you would go buy low fat and add lactose

Question 15

Nursing frequency

Answer 15

• nurse frequency = foal health
• 3-7 times per hour
• .5-1.5 minutes each
• 2-4 ounces each bout
• bouts become less frequent

Question 16

Recumbent periods

Answer 16

1-2 times per hour

• in stalls ~50% of time
• outside less, maybe because mares are more active

Question 17

Normal neonatal behavior

Answer 17

• investigative
• ingestion of solid food
• coprophagy = totally normal, potentially helps GI tract