How to recognise a sick newborn foal

Many problems affecting foals in the first week of life have similar and subtle symptoms.

A newborn can deteriorate within hours, so seek immediate veterinary advice if your foal:

• Fails to stand within 2hr of birth, or to suckle good-quality colostrum within 4hr
• Seems less alert, has little interest in feeding or spends excessive time lying down
• Appears to fall asleep on his feet
• Is lame (even if you think this is because the mare has trodden on him)
• Has diarrhoea or colicky symptoms
• Has milk on his head, or if the mare has a tightly distended udder or milk on her hindlegsCall the vet if a foal more than a week old:
• Is “off suck” — that is, no longer drinking milk
• Seems quiet or depressed
• Has diarrhoea
• Is breathing more rapidly at rest (more than 30 breaths per minute)
• Is lame, or has swelling around the joints
• Is not gaining weight and condition as expectedRead more about foalsRead more about breeding