| You have waited eleven months for your foal | | | | built up during the foal's time inside the |
| to arrive. Now he is here what can you do to | | | | mare. Colt foals, in particular, can have |
| ensure he gets off to the best possible start | | | | problems passing this because their pelvis is |
| in life? | | | | narrow. Your vet may recommend giving an |
| | | | enema. |
| Make sure that the foal sucks. A normal foal | | | | |
| should stand and drink from the mare within | | | | It is a good idea to have the vet to give the |
| two hours. If the foal is having difficulty | | | | foal a check-up. The vet can give an |
| sucking, or is not interested, he may have | | | | injection to protect the foal from tetanus. |
| serious problems. Call an experienced horse | | | | This is especially important if the mare has |
| vet sooner rather than later. | | | | not been vaccinated recently. A blood sample |
| | | | can be taken from the foal to check that |
| Colostrum, the first milk, is very important. | | | | adequate antibodies have been absorbed. |
| It contains all the antibodies your foal | | | | |
| needs to protect him from infectious disease. | | | | Probiotics may be useful in preventing "foal |
| A foal needs between 1.5 - 2 litres of good | | | | heat scours", which often occur about 10 days |
| quality colostrum. It is most important to | | | | of age. The diarrhoea is probably due to the |
| make sure he gets enough. | | | | digestive system adapting to life outside the |
| | | | mare rather than anything to do with the |
| If the foal won't suck you can collect some | | | | mare's hormones. |
| colostrum from the mare and give it by | | | | |
| bottle. Or the vet can put it directly into | | | | Carefully monitor the foal's progress. Even |
| the foal's stomach using a tube. Colostrum | | | | those foals that appear normal at birth can |
| substitutes are available if the mare doesn't | | | | develop problems later on. Foals should |
| have any milk. | | | | become brighter and more active over the |
| | | | first few days. One of the first signs of |
| The foal's intestines can only absorb | | | | serious infection is that the foal becomes |
| colostrum for the first 24 hours or so. After | | | | dull or spends more time sleeping. |
| that, the vet can give a plasma transfusion | | | | |
| to boost the antibodies if necessary. | | | | With good care and attention from an early |
| | | | age you and your new foal can look forward to |
| Check that the foal is passing meconium. | | | | an exciting future together. |
| Meconium is the firm dark feces that has | | | | |