TheHorse.com logo
Sign In or Create a Login
for access to 15,300+ articles
News and veterinarian-approved articles on
equine health care from The Horse magazine.



Go to Article #:
 
Adoptable Horse
Sponsored By Exclusively Equine


Get a DVM
Article Library

Please Note: We have put articles into topic categories only when they are focused on those topics, not just if they mention the topic once. If you are having trouble finding something, please use the search box above.

Skip Navigation LinksAll Horse Topics > Breeding/Reproduction > Foal Care and Problems


Articles ( * = TheHorse.com members only )Date Posted
Giguère Receives Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health Applied Equine Research Award
Steeve Giguère, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, a University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine professor and the Marguerite Thomas Hodgson Chair in Equine Studies, recently received the Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health Applied Equine Research Award for his research achievements. The award was presented at the 11th World Equine Veterinary ... Read full story
 11/8/2009
Foal Exercise Might Prevent Future Bone Injuries
Tailored exercise programs involving habitual low-intensity loading during early development could reduce the prevalence of osteochondral injury later in life, said a group of veterinary orthopedic researchers. According to the researchers, "The positive effect of exercise on bone mineral density has been documented extensively in several species, ... Read full story
 10/25/2009
Rhodococcus equi Researcher Receives $200K Grant from USDA   *
David Horohov, PhD, the William Robert Mills Chair in Equine Immunology at the University of Kentucky's Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, has received a $200,000 grant from the USDA-CSREES (United States Department of Agriculture-Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service) Competitive Grants Program to study the development ... Read full story
 9/11/2009
Paralyzed Foal Recovering after Surgery, Therapy   *
A once-paralyzed foal is now up and running about with the help of an equine "walker" following a groundbreaking surgery to remove a cyst from the spinal cord, according to the treating veterinarians in Belgium. The Boulonnais draft horse filly, "Vittel," underwent surgical laminectomy of the L2/L3 vertebrae at one month old on July 3, one week after ... Read full story
 8/25/2009
Articular Cartilage Maturation in Foals  *
During a three-year study on articular (joint) cartilage maturation, researchers at the Gluck Equine Research Center used new genetic techniques to investigate how joint cartilage changes between newborn foals and young adult horses. It is well-understood that bone structure remodels during the first few years of life and as a horse initiates strenuous ... Read full story
 6/20/2009
R. Equi and Extrapulmonary Disorders, AAEP 2008  *
Rhodococcus equi bronchopneumonia is a prevalent cause of disease in foals, said M. Keith Chaffin, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, a professor of medicine at Texas A&M University's vet school, at the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, which was held Dec. 6-10 in San Diego, Calif. (The lead author of the paper was Sarah M. Reuss, ... Read full story
 6/18/2009
Tippy-Toed Foals Might Have Contracted Tendons  *
If you see your mare's newborn filly prancing around the stall like it is wearing invisible high heels, you might be a little concerned that your foal is dreaming of being a ballerina instead of a barrel racer or hunter jumper. But don't worry; one of the most common deformities that equine veterinarians deal with in newborns is contracted digital ... Read full story
 6/2/2009
Feeding the Growing Foal  *
Start your foal out right to help avoid bone and tendon problems later in life. Your foal's growing like a weed at his dam's side, and by all appearances, he's healthy and happy. But you know how important it is to ensure that he's receiving the right levels of nutrients and that he doesn't grow too fast as you establish a feeding program; indeed, ... Read full story
 6/1/2009
Cataracts in Foals  *
Horses can be born with cataracts due to developmental or heritable causes--known as congenital cataracts. Foals with cataracts often present very early in life, usually at 1 to 2 months of age. Typically, the owners will notice the whiteness in the pupil of one eye almost immediately after birth. This change is often followed closely by the other ... Read full story
 5/23/2009
Managing Foal Rejection and Maternal Behavior  *
After more than eleven months of waiting, your mare has finally delivered a fine, healthy foal. Yet shortly after the foal stands, the mare spins around, pins her ears, and attacks her foal. What is happening and what can you do? Foal rejection is a heartbreaking twist to an otherwise normal foaling and unless the mare has rejected a foal before, ... Read full story
 5/11/2009
Building Immunity  *
The foal’s immune system is almost a blank slate at birth; researchers are figuring out how to best protect horses as they grow. The process of building immunity against disease-causing pathogens for a horse begins with a foal's first sip of colostrum after birth. Foals are born without much protection against the world outside the uterus. The mare's ... Read full story
 5/1/2009
AAEP 2008: Diazepam Levels in Foals   *
The combination of ketamine and diazepam (Valium) commonly comprise anesthesia agents in horses, said Lori Bidwell, DVM, of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., at the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 6-10 in San Diego, Calif. However, she added, many surgeons steer away from the combination when ... Read full story
 3/27/2009
AAEP Releases White Paper on Equine Blood Products  *
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has released a white paper to help practitioners make informed decisions regarding the use of equine plasma and serum products. The white paper, titled "Information on Equine Plasma and Serum Products for the Equine Practitioner," provides factual information regarding licensed and unlicensed ... Read full story
 3/23/2009
Marion DuPont Scott EMC Cares for Foals At Risk  *
Welcoming a healthy foal can be a challenge when the mare or the foal has health problems. At Virginia Tech's Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center, expert faculty and staff have experience in helping achieve a good birthing outcome as well as an improved start in life for the foal. "Our faculty who specialize in internal medicine typically care ... Read full story
 3/6/2009
AAEP 2008: Immunostimulants for Foals   *
A product that could stimulate the immune systems of newborn foals to better fight infection of Rhodococcus equi would be very beneficial, said Steeve Giguère, DVM, PhD, of the University of Florida, at the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 6-10 in San Diego, Calif. Pneumonia caused by R. equi is endemic on many ... Read full story
 3/4/2009
Lavender Foal Study Needs Participants   *
Researchers at Cornell University announced plans to conduct a new study focused on Lavender Foal Syndrome/Coat Color Dilution Lethal (LFS/CCDL). The project, led by Samantha Brooks, PhD, and in collaboration with Doug Antczak, VMD, PhD, and Don Miller at the Baker Institute for Animal Health, is funded in part by the Arabian Horse Foundation. The ... Read full story
 3/2/2009
AAEP 2008: Lawsonia Intracellularis Vaccination   *
Infection with Lawsonia intracellularis (most often seen in weanlings) can cause edema (fluid swelling) beneath the abdomen and in the lower limbs, lethargy, anorexia, diarrhea, fever, colic, and weight loss. It is a "true emerging disease with more cases every year," according to Nicola Pusterla, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor of veterinary ... Read full story
 2/27/2009
UF Equine Neonatal ICU Saves Critically Ill Foals   *
When Ocala resident Irene Bryan's Appaloosa mare, Skippa Secret, gave birth to a premature foal last year, both mother and baby needed immediate medical care. Thanks to veterinarians at the University of Florida's (UF) Hofmann Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, both horses survived. "Our personal veterinarian, Dr. Andy Bennett, responded to my call in ... Read full story
 2/10/2009
Emergency Foal CPR  *
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the restoration of spontaneous circulation and breathing and is used in cases of cardiopulmonary arrest, defined as sudden cessation of spontaneous and effective respiration and heartbeat. This most often occurs in foals suffering from asphyxia or lack of oxygen before and during birth. Although you should call ... Read full story
 2/1/2009
Know the Stages of Foaling Mare Labor   *
As foaling season approaches, horse owners who are expecting foals this year should know how to recognize the signs of labor in a foaling mare. The normal gestation length for a mare can range from 320 to 360 days, with the average being around 340 days. Stage One The first stage of labor is generally the longest and might take from one to four ... Read full story
 1/27/2009
Diabetic Foal: Human Glucose Monitor Attempt Fails  *
A continuous glucose monitoring device normally used in humans has proven no match for the typical foal antics of Justin Credible, a foal with the first recorded case of type-1 diabetes. Owners David and Monica Hufana had hoped to use the monitor, which has a sensor that sits under the skin, to help them keep track of Justin Credible's glucose levels ... Read full story
 1/12/2009
Vaccination Yearly Planner  *
Immunizations are the cornerstone of disease prevention if given appropriately and in a timely manner. One of the brightest spots of equine medical care for horses is the availability of many safe and effective vaccines to protect horses from infectious and noninfectious diseases. Sometimes it is confusing as to which ones your horse might need. Let's ... Read full story
 1/1/2009
Dam Wins Battle of the Sexes to Protect Foal   *
After witnessing a rare (and unsuccessful) infanticide attack by a stallion on a one-hour-old foal, behavior researcher Meeghan Gray, PhD, from the University of Nevada, Reno, reported findings from the macabre event. "In this first report of an infanticide attempt in free-roaming feral horses, we learned that mares can successfully protect their ... Read full story
 12/29/2008
Human Medical Tools Might Help Foal Live with Diabetes  *
High-tech medical devices normally reserved for humans might prove helpful in managing the health of Justin Credible, the colt with the first documented case of type-1 diabetes. Under the guidance of their treating veterinarian, owners David and Monica Hufana of Carlisle, Ky., are working with two companies--Insulet and DexCom--to develop a system ... Read full story
 12/18/2008
Kentucky Colt with Type-1 Diabetes Might Be First  *
A colt born with type-1 diabetes might be the first documented equine case of the illness, according to his veterinarian, Nathan Slovis, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Ky. The Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse, aptly named Justin Credible (his owners say the name was picked out before he was born), was born on Oct. ... Read full story
 12/3/2008
Prepare Now for January Foaling   *
Foals start arriving in January, so having all of the necessary equipment organized and ready to go is a project best completed in December. There are basic supplies that are important to have on hand for foaling mares. These should be in a kit or box, readily available at the foaling stall. It is strongly recommended you meet with your veterinarian ... Read full story
 12/2/2008
Impending Arrival  *
Determining when a mare will foal is art and science, but there are tests to help you pinpoint the due date. Gestation in mares is estimated to last about 340 days, but this is just an average, since mares often foal as much as three weeks earlier or later than this standard time. Mares are notoriously unpredictable, and this is why horse breeders ... Read full story
 12/1/2008
Foal Weight Partially Dependent on Parity in New Study  *
Australian researchers based at Coolmore Stud in New South Wales, Australia, reported in a new study that placental weight and parity (number of foals a mare has had) are positively associated with foal weight. In contrast, neither gestation length nor age of mare were implicated in affecting birth weight. "It is widely perceived by the Thoroughbred ... Read full story
 11/29/2008
Drug Protocol Turns Rescued Mares into Nurse Mares  *
A medication protocol that can induce lactation in "open" mares has changed the way prominent Kentucky Standardbred nursery, Walnut Hall Ltd., manages its nurse mare herd, while giving more than 20 rescued mares a new Walnut Hall's vet, Joe Lyman, DVM, based the technique on presentations by Peter Daels, DVM, PhD, and John Steiner DVM, Dipl. ACT. ... Read full story
 11/13/2008
Researchers: Mare's Condition Appears to Impact Sex of Foal  *
A recent study of wild horses in New Zealand has found that broodmares that are healthiest at the time of conception are more likely to have colts. The study, conducted by researchers Elissa Cameron, MSc, PhD, and Wayne Linklater, PhD, found a striking correlation between the change in a mare's condition and the sex of her foal. In mares that were ... Read full story
 10/18/2008
Foal's Playfulness a Reflection of Gender, Mare's Condition  *
The body condition of a mare and the sex of her foal will determine how much the foal plays, according to a new study by researchers at the Mammal Research Institute at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. The group, led by Elissa Cameron, MSc, PhD, observed the play habits of foals in bands of feral horses on the central north island of New ... Read full story
 10/16/2008
Researchers Study Genetics of Contracted Foal Syndrome   *
The skeletal anatomy of a horse's front and hind limbs is comparable to the anatomy of the human hands and feet. The horse's cannon bone, or metacarpal, is the same as a bone in the palm of a hand. The human phalanges, or finger bones, are comparable to the bones making up a horse's hoof and pastern. Fortunately, most humans and horses are born with ... Read full story
 10/5/2008
Imprint-Trained Trotting Filly Passes $1 Million Mark   *
Buck I St. Pat has been trotting along the road to glory since she was two days old. That was the first time that breeder Ron Fuller, DVM, hooked the Standardbred filly to an old goat cart and let her pull it around. "They'll follow their mother anywhere," Fuller says. "Or maybe, I should say, they'll follow their lunch anywhere." Five years later, ... Read full story
 9/21/2008
New Species of Bacteria Common in Foals  *
A recent addition to a family of bacteria generally associated with human stomach problems could play a part in causing intestinal upset in foals, say Belgian researchers who have found that a disproportionate amount of foals have the bug in their gastrointestinal tracts. In humans, infections with certain Helicobacter species of bacteria are associated ... Read full story
 9/9/2008
Learning Lawsonia's Habits: High Exposure Rates, Low Morbidity  *
It appears most young foals born on farms with endemic Lawsonia intracellularis could be protected from equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE), a spreading intestinal disease caused by the bacterium, provided they ingest colostrum containing antibodies. Nicola Pusterla, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor in the department of Medicine and Epidemiology ... Read full story
 7/28/2008
New Horse Course on Targeting Foal Disease Available  *
Neonate losses are a significant problem for the equine industry. In one study in an equine-dense area, 68% of foal deaths occurred within the first month of life, with 41% occurring during the first week of life alone. Causes ranged from infections and musculoskeletal injuries to pneumonia and gastrointestinal disorders. In the latest Horse Course ... Read full story
 5/29/2008
Perinatology: End of Pregnancy Through Beginning of Life   *
Traditionally, one of the stronger parts of each AAEP convention program is the time devoted to reproduction. The convention held in Orlando was no exception. It began with an in-depth session titled "Perinatology--End of Pregnancy Through Beginning of Life," during which experts in the field presented hour-long lectures on various reproductive problems, ... Read full story
 5/25/2008
Got Milk? Central Kentucky Colostrum Bank in Need  *
Veterinarians with Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., have put out a call for colostrum donations as their supply has dwindled in the midst of foaling season. Colostrum is a sticky, high-protein milk secreted during the first 24 hours following birth and is characterized by a high content of antibodies. These antibodies are a foal's ... Read full story
 5/21/2008
MRLS: Caterpillar Population Up Sharply from 2007  *
Experts with the University of Kentucky (UK) report that Eastern tent caterpillars are now wandering in the area, and population levels are among the highest they've seen since the 2001, when mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS) hit Central Kentucky particularly hard. "The Eastern tent caterpillar populations are dramatically up this year--the ... Read full story
 5/9/2008
Umbilical Issues
Q: My 11-day-old Walking Horse stud colt came down with tetanus, which was apparently contracted through his umbilical cord. His cord was leaking urine. When should a colt be vaccinated for tetanus to prevent this, and does a leaking umbilical cord ever seal off without surgery? Is the mare apt to have another colt with this problem? Should I put iodine ... Read full story
 5/1/2008
Azithromycin Protects Foals Against R. equi in New Study  *
Texas A&M researchers have discovered they can reduce the incidence of foal pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi by giving the antimicrobial drug azithromycin during foals' first two weeks of life. Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) is a pathogenic (disease-causing) bacterium that causes pneumonia in foals. It is a common soil-dwelling bug that results ... Read full story
 4/22/2008
Providing Nutritional Support to Sick Neonatal Foals   *
Harold McKenzie III, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, assistant professor in equine medicine at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Va., discussed the challenge of providing nutritional support to sick neonatal foals in his presentation at the 2007 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 1-5 in Orlando, Fla. Many ... Read full story
 4/18/2008
Making, Placing, and Removing Transphyseal Staples  *
Many methods have been used to straighten crooked limbs on foals, and in the past staples placed across the "long" side's growth plate have received somewhat mixed reviews. However, some researchers suggest that this was due to poor staple choice and resulting complications. Stephanie Caston, DVM, an equine surgeon at Iowa State University, showed ... Read full story
 4/14/2008
Virulent Rhodococcus equi in Soil Not an Indicator of Pneumonia Problems  *
The amount and type of Rhodococcus equi in a farm's soil is not an indicator of an increased likelihood of having foal pneumonia cases caused by this bug, reported researchers from Texas A&M University. Additionally, farms with a greater density of mares and foals on the property are more likely to have cases of foal pneumonia attributable to Rhodococcus ... Read full story
 4/1/2008
Free Webinar on Understanding Foal Care to be held April 17  *
Sign up now to attend TheHorse.com's free live Webinar on Understanding Foal Care, sponsored by Intervet. The seminar will be held April 17 at 8 p.m. EDT. Kimberly Sprayberry, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Ky., will take time out from the crazy reality that is foaling season in Kentucky to discuss the health ... Read full story
 3/27/2008
Raising a Stud Colt  *
I have bred my first colt this year and thus far have followed handling practices we have used on our previous two filly foals with great success. We have a beautiful Welsh Section C colt who is unafraid of most things, is very people friendly, will pick up all his feet for you, doesn't bite, and enjoys a walk on a headcollar. No issues, no problems. ... Read full story
 3/1/2008
Septicemia  *
Everyone is excited about the newest addition on the farm. Care of your neonate should be easy, since foals are just small horses, right? Well, not exactly--especially when it comes to certain medical conditions. For example, foals are more susceptible to septicemia than adult horses. Septicemia is defined as the presence of bacteria or bacterial toxins ... Read full story
 3/1/2008
Foals', Mares' Nutritional Needs Change Over Time, Milk Study Says  *
The nutritional needs of mares and foals in the first six months following birth are becoming better understood following recent scientific and mathematical research in Portugal. New curve graphs of mares' milk generated from milking samples show the variations in levels of protein, fat, and lactose in the first 180 days of lactation. Total milk ... Read full story
 2/24/2008
Pretty as a Picture After 'Wry Nose' Surgery   *
Researchers from the United States and Sweden successfully collaborated to modify a surgical technique to correct wry nose (an abnormal nasal deviation) in the horse. The new technique necessitates only one operation and results in a positive functional and cosmetic outcome with few postoperative complications. Wry nose is a birth defect, most commonly ... Read full story
 2/14/2008
Readers Respond: Hold Your Horses  *
More than 1,000 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, "Do you use imprinting or desensitization techniques with your foals?" Results were as follows: Always: 53.96% (579) Sometimes: 23.58% (253) Never: 22.46% (241) All comments submitted by poll respondents are listed below. Results of weekly polls from TheHorse.com ... Read full story
 2/13/2008
Hands Off: New Research on Impact of Human Intervention on Foal Behavior   *
Human interaction with foals at a critical early developmental age appears to be a stressor, whereas positive human interaction with the dam creates a strong model for the observing foal, according to a series of ongoing research projects at the University of Rennes in northwestern France. The team's new findings are raising questions about the 15-year-old ... Read full story
 2/2/2008
Causes of Foal Mortality: a One-Year Snapshot   *
Neonatal losses are a significant problem for the equine industry. Of the 1,294 fetal, neonatal, and juvenile equine cases presented to the University of Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center from September 2004 through August 2005, 259 cases of neonatal mortality were evaluated for this study. Cases included only those that resulted from a ... Read full story
 12/31/2007
2007 Morris Animal Foundation Equine Research Wrap-Up  *
The results of equine research funded by the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) in 2007 added to scientists' understanding of foal pneumonia, hereditary muscle disorders, laminitis, and pharmacology. Summaries of MAF-funded equine studies completed in 2007 are listed below. The Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) will fund about 120 animal health ... Read full story
 12/14/2007
Lawsonia Infections: An Emerging Problem  *
Over the past decade, Lawsonia intracellularis, the bacterium responsible for proliferative enteropathy (a spreading disease of the intestines), has been diagnosed with increasing frequency in horses and is now a significant problem in the industry. L. intracellularis infections cause diarrhea, depression, fever, inappetance (anorexia), weight loss, ... Read full story
 11/24/2007
Blog Update: Making a New Mom for a Rejected Filly  *
This is a test. As you'll find out, it's a test in more ways than one. For the next few weeks, I would like to share a little bit of my life with you. It's a story that you won't find in a veterinary text, but I think it might help save a few foals' lives. In Spring 2007, the excitement and joy of a newly-arrived foal turned into the heartbreak and ... Read full story
 8/26/2007
Caring for Critically Ill Foals at Virginia Tech's Equine Medical Center   *
During the first 30 days of life, foals are especially sensitive to bacteria and other dangers commonly found in their surroundings. Each year between January and June, dozens of these foals are brought to Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center for treatment where the hospital staff works diligently to return the critically ill young ... Read full story
 8/15/2007
Are Mares a Source of R. Equi For Their Foals?  *
A study of one Lexington, Ky., Thoroughbred farm showed that on average, 30% of the farm's foals developed Rhodococcus equi pneumonia during the 2004 and 2005 foaling seasons. Researchers searching for a source of the disease questioned if R. equi in the mare's feces was a source of infection for her foal. Information from this study was presented ... Read full story
 7/17/2007
Healthy Horses Workshop: Reproduction Tips   *
People are always looking for tips on how to do things better--particularly horse breeders looking for ways to get healthier foals. At the recent Healthy Horses Workshop, an owner education session held Dec. 2, 2006, in San Antonio, Texas, in conjunction with the 52nd annual American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, Benjamin Espy, DVM, ... Read full story
 7/13/2007
Gallium to Control R. equi Foal Pneumonia  *
In order to survive, R. equi requires iron from the foal's body to replicate and survive. Researchers at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine recently examined the use of a semi-metal (gallium) that mimics iron as a means to disrupt R. equi's replication process. They concluded that gallium does interfere with R. equi's uptake ... Read full story
 7/3/2007
Septicemia: Early Detection Is Important  *
A recently published study could help veterinarians predict the causative agents of a deadly bloodstream infection (septicemia) common in newborn foals by characterizing clinical signs associated with different types of bacteria. "Infection in the bloodstream is the number one cause of death in foals less than seven days old," explained Kevin Corley, ... Read full story
 6/22/2007
Nutrition For Critically Ill Foals  *
A major challenge in veterinary hospitals is providing nutrients to critically ill foals that are weak or unable to nurse. In these situations, parenteral nutrition (PN) is provided via an IV catheter. In a recent study researchers found that adding lipids (fats) as a source of energy to intravenous nutrient infusions didn't increase the risk of complications ... Read full story
 6/5/2007
R. equi Foal Pneumonia: Support for Research Sought   *
Infectious respiratory diseases constitute one of the major causes of death in the horse industry. In addition to the sorrow caused, they also are major economic threats. One of the most common diseases in foals six months and younger is pneumonia. Although many different organisms can cause foal pneumonia, Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) is considered ... Read full story
 5/29/2007
Ultrasonography Effective for Detecting Foal Rib Fractures   *
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Montreal has revealed that ultrasonography is more effective than radiography for detecting rib fractures in foals, and that the fracture rate is higher than previously reported. Researchers performed physical, radiographic, and ultrasonographic examinations on 29 Thoroughbred foals admitted to ... Read full story
 5/18/2007
Manna Pro: Milk Replacer Recall Not Linked to Melamine Contamination   *
The recall of a batch of milk replacer commonly used for foals is not related to the widespread pet food recalls, according to a report released by the company. A batch of Unimilk milk replacer was withdrawn after customers reported that the formula turned light gray, rather than white, when mixed with water. Manufacturer Manna Pro worked with retailers ... Read full story
 5/7/2007
Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium: New Treatments for Foal Deformities  *
Isn't it just a rotten feeling to look at your foal and notice for the first time that he's crooked? Even if you have your veterinarian and farrier on speed dial and they're already on the way to work miracles, you can't help but worry if the foal will straighten out enough to make a good sale and/or a good athlete. Angular and flexural limb deformities ... Read full story
 5/1/2007
The Quest to Conquer Laminitis  *
"Owners and trainers worldwide have the feeling that every veterinarian and every farrier have years of experience and vast knowledge about laminitis and podiatry (foot care). Unfortunately, this is not the case," said Ric Redden, DVM, founder of the International Equine Podiatry Center in Versailles, Ky., and host of the Bluegrass Laminitis Symposium, ... Read full story
 5/1/2007
Upright Foals
Q: A friend of mine has a new stallion, and his first crop of foals was just born. When they were born, all seemed fine. As they have been brought in to be weaned, we have started to notice that the foals all have the worst-shaped feet we have ever seen. They are all walking on their tiptoes, and their feet are very upright. One foal has been put down, ... Read full story
 3/1/2007
Rhodococcus equi  *
From the moment a newborn foal exits the warm fluid environment of its gestation and draws a first postpartum breath of air, it is exposed to millions of would-be invaders that would do it harm if not for the components of the foal's immune system, which are myriad in number and elegant in their complex yet coordinated interactions. Foals are born ... Read full story
 3/1/2007
Neonatal Nuances  *
The first days of a foal's life can be risky; there are a number of things that can go wrong. Some problems can be dealt with easily (such as constipation), while others are life-threatening (such as a ruptured bladder). In this article, Bonnie Barr, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM, an internist at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., Jennifer Davis, ... Read full story
 2/1/2007
Diagnosis, Management, and Diagnostic Investigation of Abortion  *
Careful management of pregnant mares and preparation for parturition is essential to help prevent cases of equine abortion--losses of pregnancy between 150-300 days of gestation. "The incidence of abortion in mares ranges from 5-15%, and this has a severe economic impact on the equine industry," said Karen Wolfsdorf, DVM, Dipl. ACT, a veterinarian ... Read full story
 2/1/2007
Induction of Lactation in the Non-Pregnant Mare  *
Poor milk production or the loss of a mare in the peripartum period (occurring in the last month of gestation or the first few months after delivery) can jeopardize the health and viability of the foal. To provide the foal with an alternate source of milk, the horse owner might opt to hand-rear the foal using a milk replacement formula, or pair the ... Read full story
 2/1/2007
Orphans and Families  *
I wanted to share with you a horse behavior experience that I had after I lost my best broodmare. "Janet" died overnight on May 30, 2006, at age 22. She looked remarkably great for her age, so we were breeding her back to our stallion. She was living at the farm where the stallion stands. The farm owner said when he took Janet's body out of the pasture ... Read full story
 1/26/2007
Pneumonia's Fatal Grip  *
Pneumonia is, simply put, inflammation of the lungs. It can be mild or life-threatening (and quickly fatal) depending on its cause and the age of the foal. Pneumonia can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Many foals are susceptible to developing pneumonia because of a lack of adequate maternal antibodies contained in colostrum. Very ill foals ... Read full story
 12/1/2006
NAHMS Survey Reports Top Foal Health Concerns   *
Wounds and trauma were the most common foal health problems reported by participants in the National Animal Health Monitoring System's Equine 2005 study. Over 9% of foals were reported to have sustained wounds or trauma. Digestive issues other than colic (such as diarrhea) were the second-most-common, with 6.3% of foals affected, while neurologic ... Read full story
 11/25/2006
Proliferative Enteropathy in Horses  *
Lawsonia intracellularis, a well-known pathogen of swine and hamsters, is now frequently recognized within the equine species. It is an obligate, intracellular, curved, gram-negative bacterium that resides freely within the apical cytoplasm of infected intestinal enterocytes, resulting in a proliferative enteropathy. L. intracellularis has been reported ... Read full story
 11/19/2006
Foals are Interferon-Gamma Deficient at Birth  *
Newborn foals are deficient in a certain protein released by white blood cells that is essential for protection against the bacterium Rhodococcus equi and other pathogens, stated scientists at the University of Kentucky's Gluck Equine Research Center. Pneumonia caused by R. equi can be costly to treat, and fatal. The researchers collected blood samples ... Read full story
 9/1/2006
Orphans and Twins in Horses  *
People new to the breeding and raising of horses probably have never experienced the challenge of raising an orphan foal or feeding a foal whose mother is producing little or no milk. The solutions to both problems can be time consuming and somewhat of an ordeal. A foal can become an orphan after losing its mother to sickness such as colic or uterine ... Read full story
 7/24/2006
Virginia Equine Medical Center Records Successful Year for Neonatal Foals  *
"It's been quite a successful year," said Dr. Martin Furr, the Adelaide C. Riggs Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and the clinical faculty member who coordinates Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine's Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center's neonatal care service. "We've had a number of really intensive and atypical ... Read full story
 6/29/2006
Veterinary Education Abroad  *
Owning horses is, by default, continuing education. Veterinarians are required to receive a certain number of hours of continuing education to maintain their licenses. Many practitioners take training above and beyond what is required by law simply because they want to learn, and because there are so many new developments in various areas of equine ... Read full story
 6/1/2006
Fortified Plasma Benefits Sick Foals  *
Critically ill foals are seven percent more likely to survive if they receive plasma with higher concentrations of antibodies as opposed to traditional plasma, according to results of a recent study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine's Large Animal Hospital. "The most critically ill foals, those with septicemia, were ... Read full story
 5/12/2006
Book Excerpt: Premature Foals  *
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from Understanding Equine First Aid by Michael A. Ball, DVM. This book is available from www.ExclusivelyEquine.com. Normal gestation in a mare lasts anywhere from 320 to 360 days. The average is about 341 days. A foal born at less than 320 days will display immature characteristics such as silky hair coat, overly ... Read full story
 3/27/2006
AAEP Convention 2005: Foal Imprinting--A Research Review  *
While horse owners worldwide want a simple answer to the question of whether foal imprinting works or not, it's hard to give a simple answer to what really isn't a simple question. This was the message of an imprinting research review presented by Nancy Diehl, MS, VMD, assistant professor of equine science at Pennsylvania State University, at the American ... Read full story
 2/17/2006
Dealing with Dummy Foals   *
At first, everything seems fine: Your foal was born without incident and started nursing as he should. But two days later, the baby quit suckling and began acting strangely--wandering around and pressing his head against the stall wall. Your youngster could have "dummy foal syndrome," one of the most common and costly problems requiring intensive foal ... Read full story
 2/1/2006
Growing Problems   *
Horse breeders have long known that problems can develop in the bones of young horses as they grow. The term developmental orthopedic disease (DOD) was coined in 1986 to encompass all orthopedic problems seen in the growing foal and has become a generally accepted term, says Wayne McIlwraith, BVSc, PhD, DSc, FRCVS, Dipl. ACVS, director of orthopedic ... Read full story
 2/1/2006
Fractured Ribs in Foals   *
Surgically repairing or stabilizing fractured ribs in a newborn foal can reduce the risk of further complications such as puncturing a vital organ, say Robert Hunt, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, and Fairfield Bain, DVM, MBA, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVP, ACVECC. The practitioners explained two methods of repair on Oct. 20, 2005, at the Hagyard Bluegrass Equine Symposium ... Read full story
 1/1/2006
Make a Lasting Imprint   *
It's been 14 years since the concept of foal imprinting hit the equestrian world's collective consciousness. Since then, the notion has been marketed, written about, practiced, modified, and even studied in scientific research. In short, it's been put to the test. So how has foal imprinting stood up over time and under scrutiny? Today, numerous breeders ... Read full story
 12/1/2005
Joint Injury Prevention in Foals   *
Developmental and traumatic joint injuries are a significant problem in Thoroughbred foals. These injuries, such as osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and fetlock joint lesions, often require costly medical treatment or surgical repair. Polysulphated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG), are commonly used to treat degenerative and traumatic joint diseases in performance ... Read full story
 11/29/2005
Vaccinations for Youngsters  *
Protecting tender immune systems against disease is the surest way to ensure the young horse doesn't fall victim to either temporarily uncomfortable or life-ending infections. Even though foals receive some immunity by drinking colostrum within the first 12-24 hours of life, lack of exposure and the naiveté of the immune system sooner or later leave ... Read full story
 11/1/2005
Detecting Rhodococcus equi Faster   *
Rhodococcus equi pnemonia is an insidious disease of foals--by the time one sees clinical signs, the pnemonia can be well advanced. Thus, tests that have greater sensitivity for R. equi are needed because they might permit earlier diagnosis. Texas A&M researchers have described a test that could detect and quantitate virulent R. equi faster than ... Read full story
 10/1/2005
At What Age to Shoe?  *
Questions involving the ifs and whens to shoe horses have been debated for years. There are those who will argue that a horse's foot should not have metal attached via nails under any circumstances, while others will opt for shoeing certain horses at a very early age. As is often the case, the proper approach is somewhere in between. There are horses ... Read full story
 9/1/2005
Eating Poop  *
Our first foal is 10 days old and has already been spotted eating manure. We have accepted the fact that eating manure is normal foal behavior and are trying to ignore it. A quick question: When should he get over this behavior? via e-mail Coprophagy, as it is called, is most commonly seen in foals from a week or two of age to a month or two ... Read full story
 8/1/2005
Puberty in Thoroughbreds  *
Puberty is a transitional period for horses, from a time of reproductive immaturity to a time where sexual behavior is demonstrated and sperm is ready for release in the colt, and the filly starts to cycle. Unfortunately, very little information is available about puberty in horses, including at what age and what weight most horses reach this important ... Read full story
 7/1/2005
Umbilical Cord Length and Foal Health  *
A long umbilical cord increases the risks for abortions and stillbirths in horses. Complications include strangulation of the foal and excessive cord twisting, writes Karin Bosh in a recent edition of Equine Disease Quarterly, a newsletter published by the University of Kentucky (UK). In a recent study by UK and veterinarians from Hagyard Equine Medical ... Read full story
 5/23/2005
Innovative Mare Milker  *
A new invention by Buck Wheeler called the Udderly EZ mare milker is helping breeding farms manage colostrum collection and the sometimes difficult task of milking a mare. The device is a hand-held, trigger-operated pump that fits on a flanged plastic cylinder that screws onto a clear plastic bottle. To use it, wipe the mare's udder clean, squeeze ... Read full story
 5/12/2005
Rhodococcus Equi Pneumonia Linked to Large Farms, Lots of Horses   *
Farms with large acreage and many mares and foals are more likely to have cases of Rhodococcus equi foal pneumonia than smaller farms with fewer horses, according to a recently published Texas A&M University (TAMU) study. Additionally, farms that are intensively managed and use what are considered desirable practices to prevent disease are more ... Read full story
 5/1/2005
Foals of Non-Milking Mares   *
I have a gorgeous palomino Quarter Horse mare that I would like to breed, but I have a problem. She ran into barbed wire as a yearling and she cannot produce milk as a result of that accident. The man who owned her before bred her twice, and he bottle-fed the babies and they did fine. I really want a foal out of this mare, but I am wondering if it ... Read full story
 4/1/2005
R. Equi Pneumonia Linked to Large Farms, Lots of Horses  *
Farms with large acreage and many mares and foals are more likely to have cases of R. equi foal pneumonia than smaller farms with fewer horses, according to a recently published Texas A&M University (TAMU) study. Additionally, farms that are intensively managed and use what are considered desirable practices to prevent disease are more likely to ... Read full story
 3/31/2005
Developmental Orthopedic Disease (DOD) and Mare Nutrition  *
A seminar for veterinarians on developmental orthopedic disease (DOD) in horses and ways it can be controlled through feeding and management practices was presented by Dan Burke, PhD, director of equine nutrition for Buckeye Nutrition, on Feb. 9 in Lexington, Ky. "DOD is a broad term representing a number of clinical syndromes affecting the musculoskeletal ... Read full story
 3/24/2005
Diarrhea in Young Foals   *
Infectious diarrhea in young foals can be fatal without prompt treatment, and the age of the foal can make a difference in his vulnerability to certain pathogens and how deadly they might be. In foals less than a week old, the cause is often salmonella or a clostridium bacteria. Sam Jones, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, associate professor of equine medicine ... Read full story
 3/3/2005
Amikacin Therapy in Newborns   *
Aminoglycosides, including amikacin, are known for their potent activity against bacteria that cause sepsis in newborn foals. Dosage protocols for aminoglycosides have been extensively studied in humans, and conventional dosing at eight- to 12-hour intervals is now giving way to high-dose, once-daily administration. Human studies have shown that amikacin ... Read full story
 3/3/2005
AAEP Convention 2004 Wrap-Up: Horseman's Day   *
Horseman's Day, as part of the annual American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, just keeps getting better and better. And attendance is strong no matter where the convention is held. Most recently, the locale was Denver, Colo., on Dec. 8, and nearly 275 horse enthusiasts showed up for the day-long session. In addition to presentations ... Read full story
 3/3/2005
AAEP Convention 2004 Wrap-Up: Medicine/Treatments   *
Equine Malignant Hyperthermia We've all heard of people and animals that are "sensitive" to anesthesia. Monica Aleman, MVZ, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, head of the neuromuscular disease lab at the University of California, Davis, reported on a genetic problem called equine malignant hyperthermia (EMH) that can make simple anesthesia deadly for some horses. ... Read full story
 3/3/2005
AAEP Convention 2004 Wrap-Up: Milne Lecture (Foals)  *
The Frank J. Milne Lecture was presented by Peter Rossdale, OBE, MA, PhD, Dr. (h.c.) Berne, Dr. (h.c.) Edinburgh, DESM, FACVSc, FRCVS. The title of his talk was "The Maladjusted Foal: Influences of Intrauterine Growth Retardation and Birth Trauma." Rossdale's primary area of research is equine reproduction, and he has won many awards and honors for ... Read full story
 3/3/2005
AAEP Convention 2004: Sunrise Session--Colic  *
As one might expect in a gathering of equine veterinarians discussing colic, much of the Sunrise Session dedicated to the topic covered evaluation of the colicky horse to determine severity and decide on medical vs. surgical management. Moderators Dana Zimmel, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ABVP, assistant professor of equine extension at the University of ... Read full story
 2/16/2005
AAEP Convention 2004 Milne Lecture: The Maladjusted Foal  *
The Frank J. Milne Lecture at the Denver AAEP Convention was presented by Peter Rossdale, OBE, MA, PhD, Dr. (h.c.) Berne, Dr. (h.c.) Edinburgh, DESM, FACVSc, FRCVS. The title of his talk was "The Maladjusted Foal: Influences of Intrauterine Growth Retardation and Birth Trauma." Rossdale's primary area of research is equine reproduction, and he has ... Read full story
 2/14/2005
AAEP Convention 2004: Horseman's Day--Neonates  *
Dana Zimmel, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ABVP, assistant professor of equine extension in the department of large animal clinical sciences at the University of Florida, discussed both routine and emergency care of the newborn foal at Horseman's Day at the 50th annual American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in Denver, Colo., Dec. ... Read full story
 2/14/2005
AAEP Convention 2004: Medicine I--Rhodococcus equi  *
Rhodococcus equi is the most common cause of severe pneumonia in foals, said Keith Chaffin, DVM, MS, associate professor of medicine at Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, at the 50th annual American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Convention in Denver, Colo., Dec. 4-8, 2004. However, despite intensive research, the ... Read full story
 2/13/2005
AAEP Convention 2004: Medicine I--Neonatal Septicemia  *
Septicemia is loosely defined as bacteria or bacterial components in the bloodstream. In foals, septicemia is the most common cause of death in the first week of life, noted Simon Peek, BVSc, MRCVS, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, clinical associate professor of large animal internal medicine, theriogenology, and infectious diseases at the University of Wisconsin's ... Read full story
 2/13/2005
A Rare and Fatal Disease
What can you tell me about Tyzzer's disease? I've heard of only two cases in the last 20 years. Bill Tyzzer's disease is a fatal liver disease affecting foals from nine days to six weeks old, commonly seen in the first two to three weeks of age. The cause is a Clostridium bacterium, recently renamed from a Bacillus. Some foals die suddenly, ... Read full story
 2/1/2005
GI Disease in Foals   *
Despite advances in veterinary medicine, the first few weeks of a foal's life can still be risky. Many health problems can arise, including myriad gastrointestinal (GI) disorders that can quickly drain a youngster of health, vigor, and sometimes life. Explains Brady J. Bergin, DVM, assistant professor and rural veterinary practice clinician in the ... Read full story
 2/1/2005
Sick Baby? Calories Count!   *
You agonized over selecting the right stallion for your mare. You waited patiently for 11 months until the foal was born. You fell in love as soon as those little hooves hit the ground. And now, you're worried sick because that precious baby isn't thriving as he should. Luckily, a focus on proper nutrition can play a key role in getting your foal back ... Read full story
 2/1/2005
Silent Cycling of EHV in Foals   *
Since 1997, a multivalent equine herpesvirus vaccine (EHV-1/EHV-4) has been available in Australia, but only in killed formulation. While this vaccine is considered safer for pregnant mares, it provides only short-term protection. Before the widespread use of this vaccine in Australia, some researchers had described the emergence of a "silent cycle" ... Read full story
 2/1/2005
Growing Pains--Physitis  *
Some of you might recognize this syndrome as the disease formerly known as epiphysitis. This disease--or more correctly disturbance of growth--is most commonly recognized as that problem when foals get the enlarged, often painful areas just above their knees (carpi) or hocks. But as my clients have been asking me: What is it, and what does it mean ... Read full story
 1/1/2005
Jumping Evaluation of Foals  *
Researchers from Utrecht University in the Netherlands have documented a method to evaluate the jumping ability of horses as young as six months of age to see if their athleticism continues with them as they grow older. While breeding plays an important role in the athletic abilities of a horse, determining the jumping ability of a foal before large ... Read full story
 12/6/2004
Canadian Breeders Devastated by Disease   *
Veterinarians in western Canada report that 2004 has been a disappointing year for many breeders because of an increase in cases of fatal congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in foals. Newborns with the disease can exhibit clinical signs such as contracted tendons, protruding lower jaws, and an inability to stand. While researchers haven't been able to pinpoint ... Read full story
 12/1/2004
Septic Arthritis  *
Septic arthritis in a Thoroughbred foal significantly reduces the likelihood the animal will race, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Glasgow in Scotland and veterinarians with Rossdale and Partners in England. The scientists evaluated the medical records of 69 foals treated for septic arthritis. They compared each foal’s ... Read full story
 11/10/2004
Congenital Hypothyroidism Devastates Western Canada Breeders  *
Veterinarians in western Canada report that 2004 has been a disappointing year for many breeders because of an increase in cases of fatal congenital hypothyroidism in foals. Newborns with the disease can exhibit clinical signs such as contracted tendons, protruding lower jaws, and an inability to stand. While researchers haven't been able to pinpoint ... Read full story
 11/1/2004
Age-Related Parasites: Scourges of Foals and Young Horses  *
Editor's Note: This is part eleven of a 12-part series on internal parasites of horses. BY KAREN BRIGGS, WITH CRAIG REINEMEYER, DVM, PHD; DENNIS FRENCH, DVM, MS, DIPL. ABVP; AND RAY KAPLAN, DVM, PHD For the past 10 months in this series, we've examined a host of issues relating to equine parasites and their control. Now it's time to get down to ... Read full story
 11/1/2004
Champion Thoroughbred Fosters Orphaned Foal  *
Maybe it was an overwhelming maternal instinct. Or maybe it was that headstrong, competitive spirit. Brown Bess wanted another baby. Retired from life as a broodmare, the 22-year-old champion had the roam of a grassy pasture with other pensioned mares and some cattle at John Harris' River Ranch near Fresno, Calif. When a heifer unexpectedly gave birth, ... Read full story
 10/13/2004
Taming an Aggressive Foal   *
We recently were blessed with a healthy filly. However, the breeder we bought the mare from had her due date wrong. She came five weeks before we were expecting her. She was born in the pasture with another mare present. The other mare tried to take the baby as her own and wouldn't let the mother near her. As soon as this was discovered, we removed ... Read full story
 9/1/2004
AAEP's Focus on Joints  *
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) held its annual Focus meeting on July 22-24 at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Ky., to commemorate the first gathering of the group 50 years ago at that site. A plaque was given to the hotel to hang outside the room where veterinarians met to form the AAEP. Two of those founding veterinarians attending ... Read full story
 8/2/2004
First Look Inside the Live Equine Heart (video added)  *
On July 9, a human interventional cardiologist and an equine veterinarian in Lexington, Ky., successfully completed the first step of a landmark procedure to repair a heart problem in a 5-month-old Thoroughbred foal called a ventricular septal defect (VSD). At best, the problem could cost the colt his athletic career if not corrected. At worst, it ... Read full story
 7/12/2004
Fatal Genetic Quarter Horse Disease Identified  *
An inherited disorder called glycogen branching enzyme deficiency (GBED) in American Quarter Horses and related breeds that appears to be the cause for many unexplained stillbirths and deaths of young foals was identified by the University of Minnesota's Stephanie Valberg, DVM, PhD, Department of Clinical and Population Sciences, and Jim Mickelson, ... Read full story
 6/9/2004
Patent Urachus
I have a 10-day-old orphaned foal. When she urinates, it also comes from her navel. I have talked to our vet, but would like to read more about this condition. via e-mail Patent urachus is the term used to describe the condition of urine dripping from the navel. When the fetus is in the uterus, urinary waste is excreted (backwards, ... Read full story
 6/1/2004
Foot Care for Foals  *
A foal's future performance in competition, or as a pleasure riding companion, depends in large part on how his feet are cared for in the first six months of his life. Normally, hoof care for a foal is best started at 30 days, according to Stephen O'Grady, DVM, MRCVS, a professional farrier with Northern Virginia Equine in The Plains, Va. ANNE ... Read full story
 6/1/2004
Too Sore to Nurse
Q: I have an 8-year-old mare which delivered a filly recently and since the second feeding, she is protective of her teat area. She is constantly nipping when the baby tries to nurse from her. Is there anything I can do to make this a little less painful for my mare? I am afraid the foal might end up discouraged and stop trying to nurse. Nancy ... Read full story
 4/1/2004
Nurse Mares for Hire  *
It's a crisp February afternoon at Diamond A Farm near Versailles, Ky., and Emmett Davis backs his red pickup truck and trailer up to a foaling barn. Inside the trailer is a 6-year-old Rocky Mountain mare named "George." As Davis puts his truck in park, an 11-year-old Thoroughbred broodmare named Yekaterina (by Strawberry Road) is led blindfolded out ... Read full story
 3/23/2004
Prematurity in Foals: Short- and Long-Term Problems   *
"Gestational age (the maturity of the fetus) varies very widely--some are very mature at 312 days, while some have a ways to go at 380. The question to answer is: Will the foal be a $10,000 money pit with no idea of his chances, or will it have a good athletic career?" posed Robert Franklin, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital in Victoria, ... Read full story
 3/19/2004
The Depressed Foal  *
"We all know this little guy--he's the one who will stand under the mare getting milk dumped on his face without nursing, sleep too much, just look 'off,' and often be in the hospital," said Robert Franklin, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, of Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital in Victoria, Australia, during the Western Veterinary Conference held February 15-19 ... Read full story
 3/17/2004
Fever of Unknown Origin in the Foal  *
"Take an organized approach to elucidate causes of fever of unknown origin in the foal," said Robert Franklin, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital in Victoria, Australia, during the Western Veterinary Conference held February 15-19 in Las Vegas, Nev. Normal foal body temperature is up to 102°F, he said, and it can be elevated by ... Read full story
 3/11/2004
Neonatal Ultrasonography  *
Using ultrasound to diagnose problems in the horse is not a new concept, but it is not as often used in foals as it is in mares. Rob Franklin, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, of the Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital in Victoria, Australia, discussed ultrasonography of the neonatal foal at the Western Veterinary Conference, held February 15-19 in Las Vegas, Nev. "You ... Read full story
 3/9/2004
AAEP Wrap-Up: Foal Care  *
Failure of Passive Transfer When a newborn foal fails to obtain the antibodies he needs from his mother in his first hours of life, he can become very sick or even die from septicemia (body-wide infection). Quick identification of failure of passive transfer (FPT) is key to his survival, but the "gold standard" RID IgG test for FPT takes 18-24 ... Read full story
 3/1/2004
AAEP 2003: Genetic Variability of Rhodococcus equi and its Clinical Implications  *
If there are any two words that can cause a foaling operation’s manager to shudder, they are probably “Rhodococcus equi,” since the bacterium is considered the most common cause of severe pneumonia in foals. According to Noah D. Cohen, VMD, MPH, PhD, of Texas A&M University, there’s often a push to identify the farm or region where the foals became ... Read full story
 2/12/2004
AAEP 2003: Testing for Failure of Passive Transfer  *
When a newborn foal, for whatever reason, fails to obtain the antibodies he needs from his mother in his first hours of life, this often results in a very sick or even dead foal from septicemia. Quick identification of the problem (failure of passive transfer, or FPT) is key to his survival, but the "gold standard" test for the problem takes 18-24 ... Read full story
 2/3/2004
Transporting Mares and Foals   *
Transporting a horse is always fraught with potential problems. The potential for trouble increases when a foal, only weeks (or days) of age, is added into the mix, such as at breeding time when a mare must travel away from her home farm. In some cases, the transportation is only down the road a short distance to the breeding barn. In other instances, ... Read full story
 2/1/2004
Feeding Orphan Foals   *
Orphan--the name itself evokes sadness and sympathy. A baby without a mother, in this case a foal. Whether it occurs through the death of the mare, or just that the mare cannot produce milk or will not take care of her foal, it all leads to one problem: how to care for the foal. In the past, there have been two standard options: Raise the foal ... Read full story
 2/1/2004
R. equi on Breeding Farms   *
Rhodococcus equi is an organism that lives in soil, requiring warmth and nutrients found in horse manure to grow and spread among equine populations. It is the most common cause of pneumonia in foals one to four months of age, bringing costly losses on affected breeding farms. Recently, a study was conducted at Texas A&M University in an effort ... Read full story
 2/1/2004
AAEP 2003: Jump-Starting the Dummy Foal  *
In his presentation "Jump Starting the Dummy Foal" at the 2003 American Association of Equine Practitioners' convention, Bill Bernard, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., began by saying that the term "dummy foal" is being used less and less. A more accurate term for the foal exhibiting behavioral or neurologic abnormalities ... Read full story
 1/31/2004
AAEP 2003: Foal Care From Birth to 30 Days  *
Foal care from the first few hours of life to one month can be critical in the overall health and welfare of the newborn foal. With experience caring for 300-500 Central Kentucky foals per year since 1985, Scott Pierce, DVM, MRCVS, of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, summarized his knowledge on "Foal Care From Birth to 30 Days" in his presentation ... Read full story
 1/31/2004
AAEP 2003: Abdominal Pain in Foals  *
Abdominal pain in the foal can have many different causes, making it difficult to diagnose a cause. However, with knowledge of the different causes, a proper physical exam, the use of diagnostic tools, and common sense, a veterinarian can pinpoint a diagnosis from which decisions on treatment can be based, said Bill Bernard, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Rood ... Read full story
 1/31/2004
AAEP 2003: When a Foal Needs Surgery  *
If your new foal develops a disease or medical problem that requires surgery, then time is of the essence. In his AAEP Convention presentation "Surgical Disease of the Neonate," Rolf Embertson, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., discussed a few abdominal and upper respiratory problems that might require surgery and ... Read full story
 1/31/2004
Septic Arthritis and Racing Potential   *
Septic arthritis in a Thoroughbred foal significantly reduces the likelihood the animal will race, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Glasgow in Scotland and veterinarians with Rossdale and Partners in England. The scientists evaluated the medical records of 69 foals treated for septic arthritis and compared each foal's ... Read full story
 1/1/2004
Equine Placenta and Possible Problems  *
A two-day exclusive gathering of leading reproductive researchers and practitioners from around the world convened at the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center in Lexington, Ky., Dec. 5-6, to discuss the equine placenta. From the evolutionary development of the placental layers to mare reproductive loss syndrome, no topic was left untouched if it ... Read full story
 12/8/2003
Ivermectin/Praziquantel Safe For Pregnant Mares And Foals   *
A recent study completed by French and Brazilian veterinarians showed that administration of ivermectin/praziquantel paste, a common equine dewormer combination, is safe for pregnant mares and their foals. Dewormers of this type have not yet been labeled for safety in pregnant mares and their foals in the United States. Patrick Mercier, DVM, of the ... Read full story
 12/1/2003
Newborns Out of Breath
I'd like to know more about foals who after being delivered, dried, and rubbed well, quit breathing in 10-20 minutes. We have done resuscitation by blowing into their nostrils and pumping their rib cages, and have rubbed them vigorously. The foals were both fine, with no further problems--it was just scary. We worried if we hadn't been there to revive ... Read full story
 11/1/2003
Diagnosing Septic Foals   *
No one test can reliably diagnose septicemia (systemic infection) in a foal. The clinician must wait for the results of blood cultures, which can take days. However, preliminary studies of a blood protein called serum amyloid A (SAA) have shown it to rapidly increase in response to inflammatory diseases. Until now, fibrinogen (soluble plasma protein) ... Read full story
 11/1/2003
High-Tech Horse Raising  *
Tracking the growth of young horses is going high-tech with a computer program called Gro-Trac. Developed by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), the program allows breeders to compare the growth rates of horses on their farms to others of the same age and sex on farms in various states and countries. By using a database of growth records created by KER ... Read full story
 8/13/2003
Foal Temperature Regulation
Q: I recently clipped my 1-week-old Norwegian Fjord colt as he was having a hard time with the 95-97-degree heat here in Florida. We at first thought he was really sick with a fever, but after ruling out everything else we (me, my veterinarian, other Fjord breeders, and the University of Florida vet school) felt it was the heat. His temp went up to ... Read full story
 8/1/2003
Wetting the Bed
I just started raising a few minis. This year I have a colt which was born with a urinary problem. He keeps dripping urine, not every minute but especially when he lies down. His genital area will be wet, just like kids when they sleep and just forget to wake up. He is about nine months old now. Can you help me? The veterinarian told me he had never ... Read full story
 7/1/2003
Effects of Imprinting   *
Results of Texas A&M University's research into imprinting's effects on six-month-old foals conclude that neither the frequency of imprinting sessions nor their timing after birth influenced foals' later behavior. Some veterinarians disagree with the findings. The study, published in the Equine Veterinary Journal, was conducted by Jennifer L. ... Read full story
 7/1/2003
Limb Deformities: Congenital or Acquired?   *
As the foal takes his initial stance, a proud owner takes stock to see how straight and strong the youngster's legs are. Many foals are born with seemingly crooked legs (congenital). Most of these crooked legs straighten by the time the foal is a couple of weeks or months old. Some limb deformities develop after birth, as the foal grows (acquired). ... Read full story
 7/1/2003
Life Without Mom  *
One of the most traumatic times in a young horse's life is when he is separated from his mother at weaning time. From birth, he has been dependent on the mare for sustenance and protection. At weaning time that changes, and the youngster must cope with the world, minus his mother's protective presence. True, the youngster has become less and less ... Read full story
 7/1/2003
Conservative Therapy for Crooked Foals   *
The most common angular limb deformity in foals is carpus valgus (sometimes called toeing out) in which affected foals have limbs that flare outward below the carpus (knee). This deformity can be corrected surgically with hemi-circumferential periosteal transection and elevation (HCPTE). The procedure involves lifting the fibrous layer, called the ... Read full story
 4/1/2003
AAEP 2002: Botulism in Foals: A Survivable Disease  *
Historically, botulism has usually been seen as a fatal problem for the young foal. However, Pamela Wilkins, DVM, PhD, of the Graham French Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, said that she has had a positive experience in treating affected foals. In her AAEP Convention presentation “Botulism in Foals: ... Read full story
 2/13/2003
AAEP 2002: Failure of Serologic Tests to Detect Rhodococcus equi Foal Pneumonia  *
In the past, some veterinarians have relied on commercially available serologic tests to establish, confirm, or rule out a diagnosis of foal pneumonia caused by the soil-borne bacteria Rhodococcus equi. A recent study at Texas A&M University has proven that these tests are not a reliable indicator of the disease. Ronald Martens, DVM, of Texas A&M ... Read full story
 2/13/2003
AAEP 2002: A Review of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Rhabdomyolysis in Foals  *
We hear a lot about a horse experiencing rhabdomyolysis (tying-up) during or after exercise. However, foals are also susceptible to muscle damage. Stephanie Valberg, DVM, PhD, of the University of Minnesota, presented "A Review of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Rhabdomyolysis in Foals" at the 2002 American Association of Equine Practitioner's Convention. ... Read full story
 2/13/2003
AAEP 2002: Reproduction  *
The reproduction session at the annual AAEP meeting in Orlando, Fla., was something of an A to Z seminar with an international flavor. It started with speakers from North America presenting discussions on endometrial echotexture (ultrasound results) and using computer analysis to determine when a mare will ovulate, or has ovulated, and along the way ... Read full story
 2/4/2003
High-Risk Pregnancies and Sick Foals  *
The January meeting of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Manager’s Club featured a topic that many in the room had seen all to much the past two foaling seasons. Fairfield Bain, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVP, ACVECC, said, “After two years of MRLS (mare reproductive loss syndrome), we all need a break!” Bain, who is a board certified specialist in internal ... Read full story
 1/9/2003
WNV Vaccination in Mares and Foals   *
There were nearly 14,000 reported cases of West Nile virus (WNV) in the United States in 2002 by the end of November, and many broodmares were exposed to the virus even if not clinically affected. As the country begins its fifth year of handling the disease, broodmare owners have many questions about how to vaccinate mares and foals appropriately. ... Read full story
 1/1/2003
West Nile Virus Vaccination in Mares and Foals  *
There were nearly 14,000 reported cases of West Nile virus (WNV) in the United States in 2002 by the end of November, and many broodmares were exposed to the virus even if not clinically affected. As the country begins its fifth year of handling the disease, broodmare owners have many questions about how to vaccinate mares and foals appropriately. Rob ... Read full story
 12/4/2002
Exercise and Bone Development   *
Beneath the smooth surface of articular cartilage, subchondral bone gives structural support to joints. Normally, newborn foals have a lot of water in this layer, which is slowly replaced by calcium and collagen as the foal weights his joints. Research has shown that abnormalities in subchondral bone precede abnormalities in articular cartilage. Therefore, ... Read full story
 12/1/2002
Clostridia-Associated Enterocolitis in Foals  *
Clostridia-associated enterocolitis (inflammation of the small intestine and colon) affects both humans and horses, young and old alike. According to Nathan Slovis, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Hagyard-Davidson-McGee (HDM) Associates veterinary clinic in Lexington, Ky., more than 20% of foals within the first six months of age will have an infectious diarrhea. ... Read full story
 11/25/2002
Clostridium in Mares and Foals   *
Newborn foals are especially susceptible to gastrointestinal diseases such as clostridial enterocolitis, which is characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, toxemia, shock, or death without prior signs. While this disease occurs only sporadically, it is highly fatal. Clostridium perfringens is one of the most common species of this organism to cause ... Read full story
 10/1/2002
Separating Mare and Foal for Work   *
A young breeder asked me if she could take a mare from her foal for one hour every day. That young breeder would like to ride the mare; therefore she'll leave the foal in the box. I am not a fan of that. I told her that it would be a significant daily stress for the mare and her foal. Am I right? Kate This is a great question that we haven't ... Read full story
 8/1/2002
Bute Toxicity in Neonates
My wife and I were told that giving Bute (phenylbutazone) to a mare in foal can cause heart defects in the foal, similar to aspirin taken by women in early pregnancy. Is there any connection? Tom Signs of phenylbutazone toxicity in foals whose dams are treated with the drug are rare. However, some researchers have reported that the blood levels in ... Read full story
 5/1/2002
LSU Foal Study On Viral Infections and Recurrent Airway Obstruction  *
Louisiana State University researchers in the School of Veterinary Medicine have begun a study to investigate the effect of viral infections on the immune response of neonatal foals, specifically if exposure to influenza virus reduces the risk for developing recurring airway obstruction (RAO) later in life. "This study is an evolution of many things ... Read full story
 5/1/2002
Foal Hyperbaric Chamber Studies Commence  *
Two landmark clinical studies examining the effects of treating foals with septic (infected) joints and “dummy foals” (those which suffered from lack of oxygen during delivery) in hyperbaric chambers have begun in Lexington, Ky. Hagyard-Davidson-McGee veterinary hospital has two of these devices that deliver 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber to ... Read full story
 4/12/2002
Some NY Farms Experiencing Foaling Problems  *
Some New York breeding farms have experienced an unusual number of foaling problems so far this breeding season, and slightly higher incidences of sickness and herpesvirus abortions. There is evidence to suggest a slight connection between the premature separation of the placenta in foaling, known as red bag, and the mare reproductive loss syndrome ... Read full story
 4/5/2002
Straightening Crooked Legs   *
It is not unusual for foals to be born with some level of angular limb deformity, but this becomes a problem when the deformity is severe and doesn't self-correct quickly. If the deviation is relatively minor, it might be resolved with stall rest, corrective shoeing, and/or a splint. However, if the conservative approach fails, the solution might involve ... Read full story
 4/3/2002
Common Foal Eye Problems  *
The foal's eyes are fully developed at birth. Disorders of the foal eye might be noted at birth, or they can be inherited or acquired after birth. Low tear film production, a round pupil, reduced corneal sensation, and a temporary lack of some neurologic eye reflexes are found in all newborn foals, but the values become adult-like with time. These ... Read full story
 3/1/2002
Foal Elimination Behavior   *
I am doing a poster report for our middle school science fair this year on foals. I am working on the part about what they can do at each hour and each day after they are born. I read somewhere that it takes a couple of days for a foal to learn how to go to the bathroom. The book said that when a foal is standing like he wants to go, that's when he's ... Read full story
 3/1/2002
Links to the Future  *
"Go with your strengths, and collaborate as effectively as possible." Those were the two baseline rules that Bill Moyer, DVM, head of the Department of Large Animal Medicine & Surgery at Texas A&M's College of Veterinary Medicine, and Bryan Johnson, PhD, head of the Department of Animal Science in Texas A&M's College of Agriculture and ... Read full story
 2/1/2002
Investigating Respiratory Disease  *
At the American Association of Equine Practitioners convention in Dec. 2001, Debra Sellon, DVM, PhD, of Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, presented guidelines for systematically investigating and treating foal respiratory disease outbreaks. "While many outbreaks of respiratory disease in foals are infectious in nature, this ... Read full story
 1/9/2002
Turnout Time for Warmblood Foals
I am being told by "professionals" that warmblood foals should be turned out a limited amount of time. The "professionals" were a farrier (who shoes Olympic-quality horses) and a respected veterinarian. Their reasoning is that warmblood babies grow too fast and this would slow his growth down. This colt is trying to canter in a 12-foot by 12-foot stall ... Read full story
 12/1/2001
Testing Passive Transfer of Antibodies
Q. In an article about the newborn foal’s care (article #287), Christina Cable, DVM, talks about the CITE test as one of the most frequently used tests for foal antibodies in her area. Could you please give me more information about this test? Sergio A. The CITE test was one of several “foal-side” or field screening tests developed for assessing ... Read full story
 12/1/2001
Gait To Gate  *
The scene at a horse sale is familiar. The smell of coffee fills the air as early morning enthusiasts walk through the barns. A "first-time-off-the-farm" filly whinnies as her dam is trotted down the aisle for a group watching her stride. A man watches a strong chestnut mare extend at a trot around an arena. A woman crouches down before a colt as he ... Read full story
 10/18/2001
Foal Hoof Care  *
Among the many factors that determine the success of a foal as a sales yearling or as a mature athlete are management decisions about its feet and limbs during its first four months of life. Because a solid foundation for performance in the future begins with foot care in the foal, many leading breeding farms use programs that combine the knowledge ... Read full story
 10/18/2001
Rotavirus Vaccine  *
While it seems that the wheels of progress spin slowly, progress does get made. Sometimes without fanfare or accolades. Generally with the hard, dedicated work of a few people. Oftentimes because of a simple question. In this case, 10 years ago a question was asked: What is causing foal diarrhea outbreaks in Kentucky? Many farms would have 70% or ... Read full story
 10/16/2001
Nothing Better Than Mother's Milk  *
There might be ongoing debate as to the value of a woman's colostrum versus commercial colostrum products, but for a foal, nothing is better than a mare's milk. Colostrum is specialized milk secreted during the first 24 hours following birth and is characterized by a high content of protein and antibodies. These antibodies are a foal's first line of ... Read full story
 10/16/2001
Foal Rejection  *
Your prized mare has just given birth to her first, long-awaited foal. The whole family and several of your friends have stayed awake to watch the event. The new filly foal appears healthy and strong as she quickly begins her attempts to stand. The foal, after several spectacular crashes, finally makes it to her feet. As flashbulbs go off, your mare ... Read full story
 10/11/2001
Combined Immunodefiency in Arabians  *
A newborn Arabian foal is possibly one of the most beguiling creatures on Earth. Elegant of feature and blessed with beauty, he's full of promise for the future--and often descended of royal blood and worth many thousands of dollars. Imagine how crushing it is for a breeder to discover that a seemingly healthy foal has inexplicably died from what, ... Read full story
 10/9/2001
Failure of Passive Transfer in Horses  *
Infectious disease is a major cause of death in neonatal foals. The foal is born immunocompetent, meaning it probably is able to initiate an immune response to organisms to which it is exposed. However, a newborn foal lacks protective immunoglobulins at birth, and that lack of protection can allow organisms to overwhelm the foal before it can mount ... Read full story
 10/8/2001
Wry Nose
I would like information on wry nose (laterally deviated rostral maxilla). I had a foal born with it and never heard of it before then. I would like to know what causes it and any other information about this condition. Also, how common is it in horses? Virginia BECKY FRANKENY, DVMWry nose, or deviated rostral maxilla and associated ... Read full story
 10/1/2001
Are You My Mother?: Maternal Behavior  *
Anyone who has witnessed a foal's first few minutes in this world might agree that one of the most miraculous parts of the process is the way a mare greets and bonds with her newborn. With a deep sniff at the baby's nostrils, that distinctive deep "chuckling" nicker (answered by the foal's higher-pitched response), and some broad strokes of her tongue ... Read full story
 9/12/2001
Lives In The Balance--Botulism  *
Botulism, an often-deadly disease in foals, can be prevented easily and inexpensively with proper management. Botulism is a familiar term to most of us as a disease that humans get from eating improperly preserved food. In horses, botulism causes extreme muscle weakness, and foals affected with the disease often are called “shaker foals” because their ... Read full story
 6/1/2001
Mare Savages Foal  *
We run a small operation where we foal out about a dozen broodmares each year, mostly Arabians and Quarter Horses. Last spring, one of our maiden mares attacked her foal. It was a filly which was born with no problems. For the first couple of days the mare was great; the foal nursed and seemed perfectly normal. All of a sudden on the third day, the ... Read full story
 6/1/2001
The Essential Elements of Equine Reproduction  *
Understanding some of the evolutionary history of horses is helpful when pondering their reproductive complexities. After evolving into a grazing animal with great agility and speed (about a million years ago), the modern horse migrated to various parts of the Earth in response to changing physical and weather conditions. After near-extinction 10,000 ... Read full story
 6/1/2001
Administering Foal Enemas  *
With a newborn foal, you observe a checklist of progressive behaviors: Regular breaths, ears up, standing, and nursing. Once the foal has survived these adjustments to life after birth, you're tempted to sigh with relief (and go back to bed!). But to thrive, the foal's digestive system must function in both ingestion and excretion. A newborn can ... Read full story
 6/1/2001
Young Foal Exercise
When do I start my foal on an exercise program? My champion show jumper just gave birth to a foal a couple of weeks ago, and I want to give him every advantage possible since I have plans for him to be my next champion show jumper. What type of exercise should I start him with, and when? An exercise program designed to build muscle mass is not ... Read full story
 6/1/2001
Elective Cesarean Sections: Who Needs Them?  *
Many horse breeders and owners are familiar with the circumstances that necessitate an emergency cesarean section. Those circumstances involve the mare and/or unborn foal being in imminent danger due to birthing difficulties (also known as dystocia). Less commonly, though, a veterinarian might recommend an elective cesarean section (C-section) for ... Read full story
 5/1/2001
Orphan Foal Farm Directory  *
The following farms raise orphan foals. If your orphan care service is not listed here or your listing needs to be updated, fax us at 859/276-4450 or e-mail editorial@TheHorse.com. Updated April 20, 2001 Colorado Spitfire Creek Ranch Larry Bass 251 Miller Ranch RdIgnacio, CO 81137970/731-5660ltbass@pagosa.netwww.pagosayouthfoundation.org ... Read full story
 4/20/2001
Joint Savings  *
It's a classic situation. "Hey Doc, can you come and look at my new colt? I think the old mare stepped on him 'cause he's a bit gimpy today." When the foal is evaluated, you find a swollen joint or two, and the colt also has a slight fever. At this point, you've most likely got your diagnosis--septic arthritis. In foals, it often is called joint ill, ... Read full story
 4/1/2001
Castration In The Horse  *
Becoming educated on the entire process of castrating horses can only help you make decisions that are best for your horse. Castration has been used to control masculine/aggressive behavior in the male horse for hundreds of years. In medieval times, kings rode stallions, and people of less stature often were described as riding geldings. Castration ... Read full story
 4/1/2001
The Trouble With Twins  *
Mother Nature clearly does not favor the birth of equine twins, as a significant number of twin embryos spontaneously abort within the first six weeks of pregnancy. Of the twin conceptions present after 40 days of pregnancy, about 80% will subsequently abort, most often after the eighth month of pregnancy, according to the University of California, ... Read full story
 3/1/2001
Ready, Steady, Grow--Feeding Young Horses  *
We don't have all of the answers when it comes to feeding young horses. A nutrition program that doesn't promote--and possibly helps prevent--developmental orthopedic disease (DOD), including osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), is critical at this stage. Researchers now are steering away from the belief that excess protein is a major culprit in DOD, excess ... Read full story
 3/1/2001
Baby Teeth  *
Perhaps one of the most neglected aspects of equine health, until a problem manifests itself, is the monitoring and care of a young horse's baby teeth. After all, they are only temporary and are shed at various stages to make way for permanent teeth. Right? True, but there is more to the story. Baby teeth can have problems along the way that might ... Read full story
 3/1/2001
Umbilical Hernias
I am currently looking at a filly to purchase. She had an umbilical hernia, which the owner had repaired. I was wondering if this is a heritable condition. What is the likelihood that if this filly was used for breeding purposes in the future, she would pass on umbilical hernias to her offspring? Could a former hernia affect her future athletic performance? ... Read full story
 3/1/2001
Guide To Nurse Mare Farms  *
The following farms provide nurse mares. If your nurse mare farm is not listed here or your listing needs to be updated, fax us at 859/276-4450 or e-mail us at editorial@TheHorse.com. Also contact clinics and veterinarians in your area for their ability to handle foal emergencies. Updated February 27, 2001Alabama Magnolia Farms Christi Parsons ... Read full story
 2/27/2001
Guide To Foal Critical Care Clinics (U.S. and Canada)  *
The following university and private clinics are equipped to accept and treat critically ill foals. If your clinic is not listed here or your information here needs to be updated, please send us your information by fax at 859/276-4450 or e-mail it to editorial@TheHorse.com to be added to the list. Contact other clinics and veterinarians in your area ... Read full story
 2/7/2001
Neonatal Isoerythrolysis--The Silent Stalker  *
Neonatal isoerythrolysis is a silent stalker of foals. At birth, the foal is normal. In some cases, the foal shows subtle signs as an internal enemy attacks and the disease progresses to a point of no return; in others, it takes only hours for the foal to go down. Neonatal isoerythrolysis (NI) debilitates the foal through the destruction of his red ... Read full story
 2/1/2001
The Risk of EIA In Foals  *
From Equine Disease Quarterly, a publication funded by Underwriters At Lloyd's of London, Brokers, And Their Kentucky Agents Although it seems counter to logic, acquiring equine infectious anemia (EIA) by being alongside an infected carrier horse may be reasonably rare for a foal. Foals of EIA-positive dams with clinically inapparent infections have ... Read full story
 1/5/2001
Imprinting Foals  *
Editor's Note: Nothing is without controversy, especially in the equine world. Some equine behaviorists question certain aspects of Dr. Miller's theories and practices, and their opinions regarding foal "imprint training" appear below. Most owners have been through it at one point or another in their horse-raising careers. That little foal ... Read full story
 1/1/2001
Foal Eats Manure  *
One quick question. What about our foals that eat manure? Why do they do it? I find it completely disgusting. My little filly paws and chows down mouthfuls of fresh, warm poop. Terry Alabama Dear Terry, This charming behavior is called coprophagia, from the Latin for "feces eating." In young foals of any equid species, it appears to be just ... Read full story
 1/1/2001
Overo Lethal White Syndrome  *
Overo Lethal White Syndrome (OLWS) is a condition that occurs in newborn foals. The condition is genetic, and both parents carry the defective gene. Horses which carry this gene are most commonly overo white patterned horses (frame overos), but there are exceptions. The defective gene has been found in American Paint Horses, American Miniature Horses, ... Read full story
 1/1/2001
Playful Rearing  *
We recently received an orphaned colt from a very reputable breeder friend who had neither the time nor facilities to raise the baby. We picked him up when he was five hours old, and he is now three weeks old. Health-wise he is doing fine. He drinks his milk from a bucket, is eating a little grain and gaining weight, and his muscle mass is developing ... Read full story
 12/1/2000
Beware The Bacteria: Salmonella  *
We tend to hear about Salmonella, a bacteria, in relation to lectures on kitchen hygiene; it's one of the main reasons why we're warned to wash our hands vigorously after handling raw chicken. But you might recall being forbidden to have a pet turtle as a kid because of the risk of it carrying Salmonella. Truth is, not only might that turtle or chicken ... Read full story
 11/1/2000
Fescue Toxicosis And Treatment  *
When tall fescue first arrived in the United States during the 1940s, it was considered a wonder grass. It was easy to establish, it yielded a good amount of forage, it was tolerant of a wide range of management regimens, and it could handle a variety of climatic conditions as well as sustain heavy foot traffic. Farmers and ranchers embraced the new ... Read full story
 7/1/2000
Rotavirus in Foals  *
"But we've never had rotavirus in our foals." Read on and consider yourself lucky if your foals have never had rotavirus and you have breezed through the past foaling seasons sans diarrhea. With the increasing transportation of horses comes the increasing risk of any infectious disease occurring on your farm. As you will see, once you have rotavirus, ... Read full story
 3/1/2000
Foal Handling And Restraint  *
This scenario is all too familiar to veterinarians; it seems like I hear it at least once a year: "I decided today would be a good day to teach my foal how to lead. We had just weaned her a few days ago, so we led her out of the stall, and she just started pulling back on the lead rope. I thought I could out-muscle her, but then she just went straight ... Read full story
 3/1/2000
Foal Heat Diarrhea
Can you please tell me what foal heat diarrhea is, and what causes it? Some people say it's because of the mare's hormones being transferred in her milk during foal heat, but other people have said that is an old wives' tale. Foal heat scours (diarrhea) is a term used to describe the diarrhea that occurs in foals between seven and 10 days of age. ... Read full story
 2/1/2000
Growing Up: Estimating Adult Size  *
You look at that little 14-hand cutting mare which you have decided to breed. She's a dandy, you think, but just a little small for general ranch work or pleasure riding. So, you take her to that 16-plus-hand Thoroughbred in the next county and breed her. Eleven months later, you walk out to the barn and there in the stall is a newborn foal which has ... Read full story
 1/1/2000
Gastric Ulcers  *
Stomach ulcers and lesions can be an affliction in horses young and old. The presence of ulcers often causes severe discomfort to the horse and, in radical cases, can result in death. Attempting to describe ulcers is a bit like trying to describe colic. In both cases, one word describes a disorder that is multi-faceted and which varies from case to ... Read full story
 11/1/1999
Foal Diarrhea
I am a new owner of a broodmare who just had her first foal, which now has diarrhea. What can I do about it? How serious is it for him? How do I keep this from happening again? The causative agents for diarrhea can be bacteria, viruses, parasites, or a range of non-infectious agents or conditions such as toxins, lactose intolerance, or "foal heat" ... Read full story
 9/1/1999
Foal Limbs And Feet  *
(Editor’s Note: The following is excerpted from Understanding The Foal, a book by Christina S. Cable, DVM, Diplomate ACVS, and one of the series of books in The Horse Health Care Library.) I’ll never forget the night I received a phone call from a very unhappy man about his three-day-old foal. He said the legs weren’t made right, and he wanted reassurance ... Read full story
 6/1/1999
Congenital Cleft Palate  *
Congenital cleft palate in horses is an uncommon deformity affecting approximately 0.1-0.2% of the equine population. The condition is a malformation of the soft and sometimes hard palate where the left and right side fail to unite, forming a cleft. It is usually recognized shortly after birth when the foal starts nursing. The most common clinical ... Read full story
 5/1/1999
There Was a Crooked Foal  *
A newborn foal, teetering on spidery legs, has a knock-kneed, awkward charm that can melt the hardest of hearts. But it's not so charming if, after a couple of weeks, his legs still look as if they're bending in all the wrong places. Some crookedness of the limbs is to be expected in most newborns, but generally it resolves of its own accord within ... Read full story
 5/1/1999
Testicular Descent  *
A discussion of cryptorchidism in young stallions is fraught with controversy. Everyone agrees on what constitutes cryptorchidism, but that sometimes is as far as agreement goes. We know that the condition involves the retention of one or both testicles in a stallion, either in the abdominal cavity or the inguinal canal. Just exactly why the descent ... Read full story
 4/1/1999
Foals and Meconium Impaction  *
With foaling season rapidly approaching, many people are checking their foaling kits, and preparing for the big delivery. You've got your thermometer, stethoscope, umbilical tape, disinfectant to dip the umbilicus, and lots of towels. The foal is delivered and thankfully, no problems--he's up and nursing in no time. A few hours later, you go back out ... Read full story
 2/1/1999
Foal IgG  *
By Michael A. Ball, DVM, and Christina S. Cable, DVM We will start this story on foal IgG with a more general discussion of the immunoproteins, or "Igs," in an effort to give a better understanding of what these terms stand for and the importance of what they do. The term IgG stands for "immunoglobulin" type G, sometimes referred to as gamma globulin ... Read full story
 2/1/1999
Feeding The Orphan Foal  *
Every breeder dreads finding himself or herself with an orphan foal--a baby left alone when his dam dies of foaling complications or from a later, unrelated injury or illness; or a foal rejected by his mother or for some reason, unable to nurse. Even a foal which can't derive enough nourishment from nursing his dam (as when she is a poor milk producer), ... Read full story
 1/1/1999
Fetal Development and Foal Growth  *
Procreation in any species borders on the miraculous. How else can one describe a phenomenon where two microscopic entities intersect, join forces, and grow into a living, breathing creature that, in the case of the horse, will weigh 1,000 pounds or more at maturity. Science, of course, does not deal in miracles. It involves itself in no-nonsense facts ... Read full story
 1/1/1999
Premature Foals  *
It's nearing the best time of the year again--foaling season. Although most foals are born in the spring of the year, between February and June, sometimes we see foals in late December or early January. Often these tiny newborns delivered to our hospital around Christmas are preemies (premature foals), but of course, premature foals can be delivered ... Read full story
 12/1/1998
Foal Pneumonia  *
Your three-month-old foal has made it through the birthing process and the vulnerable neonatal period and now seems to be carefree--your little one just has to grow up to fulfill his destiny as a performance horse. Although tonight he was a little quiet in the stall, he was eating well and seemed to have just a little yellow discharge from his nostrils--nothing ... Read full story
 10/1/1998
Weaning Strategies  *
No one looks forward to weaning time. There's nothing quite as heart-rending as the sound of a panicky foal, galloping up and down the fence line calling desperately for the mother who's been taken away--unless it's the sound of his dam calling back! It's no wonder so many horse owners dread this duty; it pushes the guilt buttons like nothing else. ... Read full story
 8/1/1998
Umbilical Hernia
I have been told that my horse has an umbilical hernia. What exactly is an umbilical hernia and what can be done to correct it? A hernia is defined as a "protrusion of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening." The common hernias affecting the horse involve the herniation of intestine and are inguinal, scrotal, or umbilical in location. The ... Read full story
 5/1/1998
A Deadly Cough  *
When foals get sick, horse owners can sometimes face many sleepless nights, as well as weeks or months of intensive management, to get these babies through the rough spots. One of the most common problems in the ill foal is pneumonia, caused by a bacteria called Rhodococcus equi, which attacks foals between one and six months of age. Most foals will ... Read full story
 3/1/1998
Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Manager's Club: Keeping Mares and Foals Healthy  *
The middle of foaling season was an appropriate time for farm managers in Central Kentucky to brush up on some of the finer points of keeping foals and mares healthy. Veterinarian Karen Wolfsdorf of Hagyard, Davidson, & McGee, and reproductive physiologist Bob Douglas shared some of their knowledge with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Manager's ... Read full story
 2/17/1998
Tyzzer's Disease   *
Tyzzer's disease affects many species of animals. It was originally described as an illness of mice, but has also been reported to cause disease in dogs, cats, rats, gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, monkeys, muskrats, hamsters, and foals. Tyzzer's disease is caused by a bacterium named Clostridium piliforme (Bacillus piliformis). This organism is an ... Read full story
 1/9/1998
Newborn Knowledge  *
With the new year upon us, it is getting very close to foaling season, my favorite time of the year. For those of you with mares which are pregnant, final preparations soon will need to be made so that the newborn foal gets the best chance at a healthy start to life. Vaccinations will be given to the mare to protect the foal, ultrasound examinations ... Read full story
 1/1/1998
Foal Imprinting  *
A mare goes into labor. Powerful and swift contractions expel a foal that, for a short time, lies helpless in the straw or on the grass. A handler quietly approaches the wet creature that is drawing its first breaths. This human, foreign to the foal, as is everything else in its environment, kneels beside it and begins toweling the newborn dry and ... Read full story
 1/1/1998
Cleft Palate in Horses
My filly, which is only a few days old, dribbles milk from her nose when she nurses her dam. The veterinarian who delivered her has been back out to check this, and he tells me that she has a cleft palate. Does this mean the same as it does in humans? What kind of problems am I going to have with this filly? A cleft palate is an uncommon congenital ... Read full story
 1/1/1998
Baby Boosters  *
Foals, just as infants, are vulnerable to disease and infection because their young bodies are naive to the world of germs and bacteria. The inclination, particularly for horse owners who choose to vaccinate their own horses, is to administer vaccines as early as possible or as recommended by over-the-counter products. New research, however, seems ... Read full story
 1/1/1998
The Orphan Foal  *
The birth of a long-awaited foal is an occasion to celebrate. All of the planning, breeding dates, pregnancy checks, and hopes finally are realized. But what if the unthinkable happens--the mare becomes ill, or she doesn't produce any milk, or worse, she dies. What do you do with the foal? How do you care for him/her? How and what do you feed the little ... Read full story
 12/1/1997
Transporting Foals  *
The transport of mature horses by road is a routine event for professional horse people, but even in the hands of experienced haulers, there are certain risks involved with the shipping of horses. The necessity of foals being shipped can arise for a variety of different reasons, including traveling with the mare to a breeding farm, moving to a new ... Read full story
 4/4/1997
Focus: Physitis  *
Developmental orthopedic disease (DOD) remains one of the top concerns of breeders worldwide. Not one condition, but rather a series of related syndromes, DOD encompasses anything that contributes to poor skeletal development in foals: angular limb deformities, osteochondrosis, osteochondritis dessicans (OCD), contracted tendons, cervical malformations, ... Read full story
 4/1/1997
Flexural Deformities  *
It is a sad sight when it happens. The newly born foal struggles to its feet and stands there wobbling on forelimbs and/or hindlimbs that can't seem to bear the weight. There might be a knuckling over at the pastern with the foal literally walking on the dorsal portion of the hoof, or the flexion might be radically the other way so that the youngster ... Read full story
 3/1/1997
DOD: Developmental Orthopedic Disorders  *
Ask six veterinarians what causes developmental orthopedic disorders in foals and you might get six different answers. According to Tina Kemper, DVM, there could very well be six causes, and possibly more. Kemper specializes in equine internal medicine and recently shared her knowledge, research, and experiences during the bi-annual meeting of the ... Read full story
 9/1/1996
Respiratory Disease In Foals
What is the first thing I look for to tell if my foal has a respiratory problem, and what are the best things to do to prevent pneumonia and other problems from happening in the first place? The most important signs of respiratory disease in neonatal foals are an increased respiratory rate (breathing hard), occasionally a cough, sometimes discharge ... Read full story
 4/1/1996
Breaks At Birth  *
In humans you tape them. In dogs you can fix them with a cage that fits outside the chest. But in foals, cracked or fractured ribs can be hard to find, present no easy solutions, and can be life-threatening. Each winter and spring as foals are born, a small percentage--maybe one in 500--will be born with one or more ribs that are cracked or broken. ... Read full story
 1/1/1996
Jaundice  *
Each year a small percentage of foals are born to mares whose immune systems, in an odd twist of nature, are prepared to battle their own foals. Antibodies from the mare, delivered to the foal in the colostrum it drinks soon after birth, attack the foal's red blood cells. The condition that results is neonatal isoerythrolysis, more commonly known ... Read full story
 1/1/1996




AAEP Media Partner AAEVT Partner WEVA
Seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian before proceeding with any diagnosis, treatment, or therapy.

Facebook | Twitter | RSS | Site Map | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2009 BLOOD-HORSE PUBLICATIONS. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without written permission of BLOOD-HORSE PUBLICATIONS is prohibited. THE HORSE, THE HORSE logo, THEHORSE.COM and THEHORSE.COM logo are trademarks of BLOOD-HORSE PUBLICATIONS.