Post-Foaling Observations
Inese Benks
Congratulations! You have just delivered a foal after
sitting up all night. This does not mean,
however, that your role is done, and you can go home. There are still several important steps
that need to be followed in order to insure the health and safety of the
foal.
Step
1: The 1-2-3 Rule of Thumb
Make a note of the time that the
foal was delivered. As a rule of
thumb, he should stand within one hour and nurse within two
hours. If the foal is not progressing
at this rate, it could be an indication of a problem. The mare should pass the placenta within three
hours. If the mare has not yet
passed the placenta, the veterinarian should be called. A retained placenta will cause infection
in the uterus, and compromise the general health and well-being of the mare.
Step
2: Checking Immunity
A sample of the mare’s colostrum,
or first milk, should be collected and tested for antibody level being passed
on to the foal. When collecting, it
is important to make a visual observation of color and consistency. Some variation is normal, and it can range
from a thick, yellow-white color to a watery white liquid. Colostrum that is watery can often be
considered poorer quality. The
colostrum can be assessed by using a colostrometer, as pictured below. The specific gravity of the colostrum, as
measured by the Colostrometer, is correlated with antibody concentration.
  
It
is important to follow the directions provided by the manufacturer of the
product. The foal’s antibody level also
needs to be tested by drawing blood from the foal, after the foal has had
adequate time to nurse, usually between 12-24 hours after birth. This is called the IgG test, and can be
obtained from your veterinarian.
Step
3: Preventing Disease
Once the umbilical cord is broken,
the stump that is left behind on the foal should be dipped in iodine or
Nolvasan® solution to prevent any infections from setting in. The iodine dip can be repeated three or
four times, as needed, over the next 24 hours.
Step
4: Mare and Foal Behavior
The mare and foal should be
monitored for several hours after foaling to note any abnormal behavior. Make sure that the foal continues to
nurse. It is important to be sure that
the mare, especially a maiden mare, is accepting her foal. The foal needs to be observed for any
serious abnormalities, such as limb conformation defects, “dummy foal” signs
of neurologic disease, or gastrointestinal difficulties. An enema may be given to the foal shortly
after birth to decrease straining associated with passing meconium, or the
first feces.
 Step 5: Check the Placenta
Spread
the placenta out to check for any missing pieces or other abnormalities. After looking at the shiny, smooth,
pink/purplish colored side, you should invert the placenta, so that the
velvety red side is spread out in front of you. This side of  the
placenta should be red throughout; it is important to look for large areas
with no villi (missing the velvety texture). The amnion, which is the
membrane that directly enclosed the foal, should be a clear white with
multiple blood vessels running through it.
Your veterinarian will usually want to examine the placenta when he or
she comes to do a new foal exam, so save the placenta and be sure to point
out any abnormalities you saw when it was still “fresh.”
Pictured
below are an amnion with plaques, and a placenta with an area missing villi,
where the placenta was not attached to the uterus normally (note the rest of
the placenta is a correct color and texture).
 
Placenta with
abnormality
Amnion with plaques
Photos
courtesy of Ralph Conti
Step
6: First day, next few days
It
is best to have your veterinarian come to do a physical exam on the foal
within the first day of life. During
the first few days, it is especially important that if you suspect something
is wrong with the foal, do not hesitate to call your veterinarian, as young
foals can become gravely ill very quickly.
Regularly monitor the foal’s well-being, making sure he is active and
nursing. Watch the umbilical stump to
be sure that it becomes small and dry.
Watch the foal’s legs and assess if any minor leg conformation defects
are improving or worsening.
Photo courtesy of Lola
Hubler
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