A mare goes into labor. Powerful and swift contractions expel a foal that, for a short time, lies helpless in the straw or on the grass. A handler quietly approaches the wet creature that is drawing its first breaths. This
Final preparations will need to be made so that the newborn foal gets the best chance at life.
Foals, just as infants, are vulnerable to disease and infection because their young bodies are naive to the world of germs and bacteria. The inclination, particularly for horse owners who choose to vaccinate their own horses, is to
My veterinarian says my filly has a cleft palate. Does this mean the same as it does in humans?
The birth of a long-awaited foal is an occasion to celebrate. But what if the unthinkable happens?
The first thing to address in this story is that most bone cysts are not typically cysts, by strict definition. The medical dictionary definition of a cyst is, a structure lined with epithelium (a special cell type) and”he first thing to address in this story is that most bone cysts are not typically cysts, by strict definition. The medical dictionary definition of a cyst is, a str”e first thing to address in this story is that most bone cysts are not typically cysts, by strict definition. The” first thing to address in this story is that most bone cysts “first thing
Fetal monitoring in horses is similar to the methods used for humans — ultrasound, EKG machines, and blood tests on unborns all are part of monitoring the health of the fetus. Advances in these areas for equines have allowed for
The necessity of foals being shipped can arise for a variety of different reasons, including traveling with the mare to a breeding farm, moving to a new farm after purchase, or traveling to a hospital due to illness or injury of the foal or mare.
Developmental orthopedic disease (DOD) remains one of the top concerns of breeders worldwide. Not one condition, but rather a series of related syndromes, DOD encompasses anything that contributes to poor skeletal development in foals: angular
It is a sad sight when it happens. The newly born foal struggles to its feet and stands there wobbling on forelimbs and/or hindlimbs that can’t seem to bear the weight. There might be a knuckling over at the pastern with the foal literally
Ask six veterinarians what causes developmental orthopedic disorders in foals and you might get six different answers. According to Tina Kemper, DVM, there could very well be six causes, and possibly more. Kemper specializes in equine internal
What are the best things to do to prevent pneumonia and other problems from happening in the first place?
(Author’s note: Sera, Inc., who markets oral and IV equine IgG products approved by the USDA, sponsored a roundtable discussion on Biological Solutions for Biological Problems in Lexington, Ky. Participating in the roundtable were: Michelle
My mare suffered a dystocia and the foal had to be taken to a local veterinary hospital for care. The veterinarian termed him a dummy foal, but said his chances of being a normal adult were very good. What can you tell me about a dummy foal?
In humans you tape them. In dogs you can fix them with a cage that fits outside the chest. But in foals, cracked or fractured ribs can be hard to find, present no easy solutions, and can be life-threatening.
Each winter and spring as foals
Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with
