Preventive health care of the newborn foal

Foals are particularly vulnerable in the six months of life. A study of all veterinary interventions for 343 foals during their first year of life found that 36% of all veterinary attention occurred within the first month of life, and 60% in the first 3 months. 82% of deaths occurred within the first six months of life (Galvin and Corley, Irish Vet J 63:37, 2010). Early preventative care aims to reduce the incidence and severity of disease during this vulnerable period.

Hygiene at time of foaling

A simple, yet very effective way to prevent disease in newborn foals is to be meticulous about hygiene in the foaling box. In the field, mares will generally choose to foal in a quiet area that is not contaminated by feces. In the box, the mare has no choice but to defaecate and foal in the same place. Preventative measures include meticulous cleaning of the box and washing the mares udder and back legs (particularly around the stifle folds) once the mare has stood following foaling, prior to the foal beginning to seek and nurse.

Ensuring adequate colostral transfer in foal

Foals are born without a fully functioning immune system. Their immune defense in the first days of life depends on the absorption of antibodies that are present in the colostrum from the mare. This transfer of antibodies (so-called passive immunity) is absolutely vital to preventing disease in the neonatal foal and therefore needs to be monitored. Any mare that has dripped milk prior to foaling (a relatively common occurrence) is at high risk of not having a high concentration of antibodies in the colostrum or first milk. Some mares appear to have poor quality colostrum every year. [...]