( ASK THE VET) First Year of Foal’s Life
So your long awaited foal has finally been born. What do you do now? by Dr. Stephanie Barnett BVMedSci BVM BVS (hons) MRCVS
Hernias:
Hernias can be a very common finding in new-borns and so all foals should be checked soon aſter birth.
Frequently a finger sized defect can be felt initially where the umbilical cord has been attached. This is very normal but there should not be any associated swelling and it should be fully closed between 4-6 weeks. If healing has not occurred and swelling is present then your foal should be assessed by a Vet for potential repair of the hernia.
Angular Limb Deformities:
Foals are commonly born with a degree of angular limb deformity (ALD) where the leg deviates from the normal midline. The knee, fetlock and hock are the most commonly affected joints. These can range from very mild deviations to severe deformities. The majority of mild ALDs will resolve naturally within the first 2-3 weeks of life with controlled turnout however the more extreme deformities need to be assessed early on (before closure of the growth plates within the bones) with a view to possible surgery. The age of the foal must be kept in mind when treating these conditions as the growth plates close in different joints at different times. Once they close then bone growth stops and so any required correction is very difficult to achieve.
Contracted Tendons:
Foals can sometimes be born standing up on their toes, or knuckling forward at the fetlock. In mild cases when the foal can stand and the legs can be ex- tended into a normal position, the prognosis is good for improvement over a few days/weeks aſter birth with minimal intervention.
If the condition is more severe or if
foals don’t improve shortly aſter birth then this can usually be alleviated by a simple intravenous injection in most cases.
Handling:
Foals should be handled and introduced to human contact very shortly and consistently aſter birth. The healthiest environment to raise a foal is in the paddock at grass with other mares and foals of a similar age. This allows good socialisation and proper musculoskeletal development. Foals can be extremely curious
16 SUMMER SPECIAL 2019
and inquisitive so all paddocks need to have good post and rail fencing with no loose wires or bailer twine for them to chew!
Passports & Microchipping:
It is a legal requirement to identify all foals with a passport and micro- chip. This must be done before the foal reaches six months of age or by December 31st in the year it is born (whichever is later).
Worming:
Worming is a vital part of foal management because if leſt untreated foals can quickly lose condition and become ill.
lA single dose of Fenbendazole (Panacur) should be given at 2 and 4 months old, to control ascarids (the most common worm to infest foals).
lA worm egg count (WEC) should be done at 5 months old, to ensure the efficacy of the previous worming (this can be done 2 weeks post worming).
lWorm egg count every 3 months from then on as in adult horses.
lMoxidectin and praziquantel (Equest Pramox) must be care- fully dosed according to weight and cannot be given before foals are 6 ½ months old. A dose can be given in late autumn/early winter to control tapeworms and encysted redworms but please call your Vet for advice as this can vary depending on a case by case basis.
lGood management is essential: clean foaling boxes regularly to prevent the build-up of Strongyloides westeri, do not overstock paddocks/barns and do not use the same paddocks for foals/yearlings in successive years. If possible, remove dung from paddocks at least twice a week (foal and yearling paddocks should be prioritised for this).
lGrazing sheep alongside horses or in a paddock rotation is an excellent way to reduce the worm burden on the land and reduce the likelihood of worm in festation in your youngsters.
Vaccination:
For pregnant mares that are up to date with their tetanus vaccinations, a pre-foaling tetanus vaccine should be given 4 to 6 weeks before foaling. This protects the mare and increases the
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