A Pain in the Stump: Umbilical Problems in Foals

This highly specialized system works well in utero but, once on the ground, the newborn foal is no longer dependent on the mare’s blood supply for waste product disposal and instead begins to urinate through the urethra. At this time the umbilical vein atrophies and becomes the foal’s falciform ligament. Both umbilical arteries undergo a similar transformation, turning into the round ligaments of the bladder. The urachus becomes a dried stump within 24 hours of birth and falls off completely by the second week of life when all goes according to plan.
“With the umbilicus, since we’re dealing with internal structures that are being exposed to the outside world at parturition (birth), there’s the potential for infection,” said Laura Javsicas, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM, an internal medicine specialist at Rhinebeck Equine in Rhinebeck, New York , during Cavalcade Education’s 2022 reproduction symposium, in Hyde Park, New York.
The common practice of dipping the neonate’s umbilicus in antiseptic solution such as dilute chlorhexidine (Javsicas’ first choice) or dilute betadine (her second choice) for the first few days of life helps combat this risk of infection and allows the umbilicus to dry up.
Despite such precautions, however, Javsicas regularly admits neonates with fever and a swollen, painful, infected urachus. Some also have discharge from the umbilical stump. Recumbent (down, unable to rise) and septic foals are especially at risk of developing an umbilical infection.
“Aside from the physical exam, our best diagnostic tool for these cases is ultrasonography,” Javsicas said. She uses her ultrasound probe to examine the area surrounding the umbilical stump, measuring the remnants of the umbilical vein and arteries. She also notes the presence of hypo- or hyperechoic fluid or gas bubbles, the latter being suggestive of anaerobic infection. Enlarged umbilical remnants, speckly fluid, edema, cellulitis, and mucopurulent exudate are all signs of infection.
The decision to treat an infected umbilicus medically versus surgically is at the practitioner’s discretion and varies by case. The medical approach involves administering broad-spectrum antibiotics, ideally guided by a culture. “Without a culture, I generally prescribe a course of EquisuIl (the FDA-approved liquid form of sulfadiazine and trimethoprim) combined with rifampin,” said Javsicas. “Another antibiotic option is chloramphenicol, which also has good penetration for the hard-to-reach umbilical structures.”
As for surgical treatment, the appropriate procedure depends on the infected structures. The three main options include:
- Omphalectomy: excision (removal) of the umbilical stump.
- Umbilical remnant resection: removal of infected internal structures, as determined by ultrasound.
- Marsupialization of the umbilical vein: rerouting the base of the infected vein from the liver to the outside of the abdominal cavity to allow it to drain. The surgeon then removes the remainder of the umbilical vein. “We don’t tie off these vessels internally because that could lead to the development of an internal abscess in the liver, where the vein ends,” Javsicas said.
Aside from infections, foals can also suffer from a patent urachus. “If you notice urine coming out of your foal’s urethra and from their umbilicus, call your vet,” she said. “The urachus is still open when it shouldn’t be.”
To cauterize the umbilicus, some caretakers use silver nitrate sticks. Javsicas advised against this practice because the chemical compound greatly irritates tissues, predisposing them to infection. Instead, she recommends continuing to dip the umbilicus in antiseptic solution and generally prescribes a course of the antibiotics procaine penicillin G (PPG) or ceftiofur (Excede).
Luckily, most foals admitted with navel troubles eventually go home without complications. “Research shows that with surgery, 89% of infected umbilicus cases survive,” Javsicas said, referencing a 2019 study published in the Equine Veterinary Journal. “If the foals have concurrent diseases, that rate drops to 60%.”
Javsicas is among members of the veterinary community contributing to the collection of data comparing outcomes of infected umbilicus cases treated medically versus surgically. She encourages horse owners to refer all cases of suspected infected or patent urachus to their veterinarians promptly, for the best outcome.

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