Vitamins are also required for many functions. Good qual ity forage is an excellent source of many vitamins. Excess vitamin a and vitamin d can be toxic.

Water is frequently neglected. Clean, fresh water should be provided.

Pediatrics

Pediatrics is the branch of equine medicine that deals with health of the foal from birth until weaning. To successfully raise a foal, it is essential to have a basic knowledge of the normal anatomy, physiology and behaviour of the foal. It also helps to understand the terminology that describes both nor mal and abnormal conditions that affect foals. In most cases the diagnosis and treatment of foal diseases is best done by the veterinatian but the horse owner needs to recognise early signs of illness in order to know when to call the vet.

Unlike the newborn human, a foal is born without protec tive antibodies in its circulation. The foal must acquire

-an- passive immunity to disease by absorbing antibodies from the mare’s first milk, colostrum, by way of the digestive system. The reason for this is that the equine placenta will not permit the passage of antibodies from the mare’s circulation to the fetal circulation.

Passive transfer of antibodies to the foal occurs during the first 24 to 48 hours following the foal’s birth. After this time the colostral antibodies diminish significantly, as does the foal’s ability to absorb them.

It is easy to understand why it is so important for the newborn to receive the antibody-rich colostrum soon after birth. Veterinarians and horse owners have learned to take advantage of this mechanism of passive transfer by boosting the mare’s antibody titers with certain vaccines a month before foaling to provide an adequate supply of antibodies in the mare’s colostrum.

Following a foal’s birth, treat the naval stump with an antiseptic (a 50:50 mixture of strong iodine and glycerine is excellent). The stump should be treated by dipping it in this mixture once a day to prevent infection and to encourage proper drying of the naval cord stump.

The neonate (newborn) foal should be very active shortly after birth and will struggle about the stall before it is able to stand, which usually takes 30 minutes to an hour. After the foal is on its feet, it should begin looking for the mare’s udder to nurse. It is not uncommon for the foal to make attempts at nursing the mare’s flank or leg before it actually finds the teats. In most cases, the foal will have nursed ain

2. To 3 hours after birth.

A veterinarian should examine the newborn foal to check its state of health and recommend any special care or treat ment needed.

Abnormalities, Illness. Musculoskeletal abnormalities are very common in newborn foals. Some require immediate therapy, others only need observation as they will correct spontaneously with time. Foals that have severely contracted tendons and scoliosis (lateral curvature) of the spine — con tracted foal syndrome — respond very poorly to therapy and generally require euthanasia. Mildly contracted tendons with out skeletal defects respond to casting or splinting. Foals born with very weak tendons that allow hyperextension of the ankle and carpal joints improve dramatically with con trolled exercise.

Umbilical and scrotal hernias occur frequently and do not usually require immediate attention. Most of these hernias will disappear as the foal develops. If they persist at weaning age, surgical correction may be required.

As mentioned earlier, it is important to recognise the symptoms of a sick foal so proper therapy can be started. Usually the first sign of any illness in the foal is its failure to nurse, which is indicated by the mare’s udder being full and distended. When this is observed, the foal’s temperature should be recorded with a rectal thermometer. The foal’s normal temperature is 99.4 to 101.5 F.

A foal with a significant fever usually will be depressed and inactive. A healthy foal generally will jump to its feet when approached. The normal foal’s respiration is usually rhythmic and thoracic. Panting, pumping or breathing ab dominally is abnormal unless the foal has been running. Fol lowing are brief descriptions of several diseases and condi tions that affect foals.

Rhinopneumonitis. Occasionally a foal will be born to a mare that experienced equine herpes virus-1 during pregnan cy. Usually the fetus will be aborted during the later part of pregnancy but when the fetus is carried to term, it is born very weak and is unable to stand or nurse. Despite the most diligent care, these foals fail to survive more than 24 to 48 hours. There are several vaccines that prevent this disease but they must be given during the mare’s pregnancy.

Sleeper or Septic Foal. This condition is seen in the neonate and is caused by a bacterial septicemia. The foal is lethargic, reluctant to nurse, and has a moderate fever. Ag gressive antibiotic therapy and intensive nursing care is re quired in treating this condition. The prognosis is guarded but treatment is often successful.

Neonatal Isoerythrolysis, a condition often referred to as the jaundice foal syndrome, occurred when the mare develops antibodies against the foal’s red blood cells (RBC’s) and the foal is allowed to nurse the mare’s colostrum.

Symptoms include jaundiced (yellow) mucous membranes and sclera (white of the eye), listlessness, yawning, accelerat ed heart rate and respiration, weakness, and occasional red urine. The primary clinical symptoms are anemia and jaun diced plasma.