b'SAVE THAT FOALNursingGreen Light Foals should be nursing very soon after standingwithin two to three hours after birth, says House. After that first suckling they should nurse four to six times per hour. Their tongues need to create a visible seal on the teat with effective swallowing, adds Gough. Gently put your hand under their throat to feel if theyre swallowing, she says.Red Flag Signs a foal isnt nursing correctlyaside from simply avoiding theudder altogetherinclude a full and tight udder that hasnt been properly stripped out, says Gough. Milk coming from the nostrils while nursing, or udder-seeking SHELLEY PAULSONbehavior that doesnt include actually latching onto the teat, are also bad signs.Urine and Stool Output Foals should be nursing soon after standingwithin two to three hours after birth.Green Light Meconium is the thick, tar-ry, pelletlike stool thats the first materialTheir gums can give a good indica- Any body temperature outside that nor-to exit the foals digestive system. Breed- tion of general health, says House. Theymal range should trigger a vet visit, she ers should see the meconium pass withinshould be pink, moist, and slippery.says. The same is true for heart rate.four to six hours after the first suckling,Handlers can check capillary refill timeAs for respiratory rates, anything out-says House. Once the neonate eliminatesby pressing gently on the gums with theside the normal range should also raise the meconium, he should create three topad of a thumb for about a second untilserious concern, says House. In particu-five piles of pastytoothpaste consis- the spot turns white, then releasing. Thelar, high respiratory rates or significant tency, she saysstool per day.gums should get their pink color back inbreathing efforts could indicate pneumo-As for renal (kidney) function, foalsless than two seconds, she says. nia or other serious respiratory diseases.should urinate for the first time withinRed Flag Foals that look a little dull, the first nine to 10 hours, she says. Moni- arent up bouncing around, or dontWhen Things Go Wrongtor foals for straining to urinate, and con- look like theyd be able to keep up withIf you notice any of these red flags, tact your veterinarian if you notice this. a herd on the run could have somethingdont wait. Our sources say to contact Red Flag An absence of stool is causewrong, Gough says.your veterinarian immediately. Even if the for alarm, says House, as is any form ofDry or whitish-gray gums are anotherfoal appeared normal and healthy initially, diarrhea. Diarrhea can look more like abad sign, adds House. Capillary refill ofthings can change within a few hours. puddle consistency, she says. If you donttwo seconds or more or having sunkenWhen young foals health parameters start see the stool itself, you might notice fecaleyes suggests dehydration, for which thegoing downhill, time is of the essence.stains on the foals hind legs. Some foalsfoal needs immediate intervention.Over the phone, give your veterinarian get diarrhea at around 10 days old, due toBaby horses can also colic, so be on thethe specific red flags youve seen. After the mares first heat after foaling, but any- lookout for rolling, lying on the back, orthat, your role is primarily to be patient, time before that I dont expect to see anytucking up the legs while lying on the side,our sources say.diarrhea at all, she explains. Diarrheasays Gough. Any of these signs requireIn the absence of knowing whats go-in the first few days of life is one of theprompt veterinary attention, she says. ing on, just watch the foal, says House. primary things were concerned about. IfYou can take the foals temperature theres any blood or if its more fluid thanVital Signs every hour or two, says Gough. And you toothpaste (in its consistency), get anGreen Light Foals vital sign measure- can try to ensure hes dry and comfort-evaluation immediately. ments arent the same as adult horses,able. Keep the foal warm in cold weather so its important to know whats normal,or cool in hot weather and essentially General Appearance says House.protected from inclement weather, she Green Light Healthy foals sleep a lotTemperature should run anywheresays. If the foal is recumbent (unable and frequently. But when theyre awakefrom 99 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit, sheto rise) and the veterinarian will take a theyre very active and should react quick- says. Pulse can range from 80 to 120 beatswhile to arrive, then turn the foal over ly to stimuli, says Gough. In the wildper minute. And respiratory rates fallevery two hours and make sure hes dry, foals will keep up with the herd withinbetween 20 and 40 breaths perminute.particularly drying up any urine he might a few hours of birth, so they should beRed Flag Sick foals body temperatureshave passed, to reduce the risk of bed quite lively, she says. can be too high or too low, House says.sores and lung injury.12February 2020The Horse|TheHorse.comSaveThatFoal V2.indd 12 1/3/20 11:38 AM'