Great your foal has arrived! That’s one stressful part over for your mare and new-born. We now recommend that you book a post foaling check with your vet to help you keep an eye on any post foaling complications which can occur in the first four days of life.
Your veterinarian will offer a thorough physical examination of mare and foal checking temperature, heart, faeces, eyes, and bloods. They will ensure the pair have adequate colostrum, check placenta, and repair tears or caesareans to mare. With a new-born early detection can be critical to avoiding disaster and they can address any issues and administer tetanus prophylaxis, vitamin E & antibiotics if required.
Some common defects in foals that your vet will look for include;
- Parrot Jaw
- Contacted tendons
- Hernias
- Cleft palate
- Eye abnormity or absence
- Prematurity
- Neonatal maladjustment
- Retained Meconium
- Inadequate colostrum
- Colic
- pneumonia
- Bladder
- Pleurisies
- Ruptured bladder
- Joints ill
- Peritonitis
- Umbilical infection
They will check for the following in your mare.
- Post-partum haemorrhage
- Retained membranes
- Mastitis
- Poor milk production/colostrum
While it’s impossible to be 100% certain that one of these conditions aren’t lurking but at least a veterinarian is trained and has some foals to detect any early signs and minimise the effect. Early prevention and detection is better than intensive care therapy or a trip to Massey!
