Colostrum question in newborn foal

[4horses]

This is mare’s first foal. She was affectionate towards the foal but would not let him nurse. Finally had to sedate her and help get the foal started nursing. They seem to be doing better now. Foal has been nursing a lot in just the last hour. But it probably was at least 4 hours before we got any colostrum in him, other than the small amount I syringed him.

The foal was born around noon. The sedation has worn off and mare is currently standing up and dozing while the baby nurses. So I think they are okay now.

Just wondering if I should be concerned about failure of passive transfer? Vet is coming tomorrow morning.

Very stressful for me because I have never had a mare kick at her foal. She wasn’t actually trying to hurt him - none of the kicks connected but she would not let him nurse.

[Highflyer1]

While you won’t know for sure until the IgG results are done, if he got colostrum within the first 4-6 hours it may well be okay. Giving plasma isn’t cheap but it isn’t terrible either.

[JB]

@4horses

Vet is coming tomorrow morning.

IMHO that’s too late, or at least borderline too late, but if it’s first thing, that may still be ok. You want to do the IgG test within about 12 hours, so you can see if you can wait another couple hours of nursing or, if that 24 hour window is closing too quickly, whether you need to give tested frozen colostrum, or potentially plan on doing a plasma transfusion.

Passive transfer happens in the first 24 or so hours of nursing. The amount of colostrum taken in, hours nursed, etc, have little to do with it, as you can’t see its quality and you can’t tell what the foal is taking up

Since he started nursing by around 4 hours or so, and assuming he’s been nursing normally since then, it will likely be fine, barring some uptake issue on his part. I’d definitely keep an eye on them for a while longer to make sure the mare is still allowing him to nurse. It sounds like the sedation allowed her to get the nursing done on udders that might have been really sore, and now she’ll be fine - fingers crossed!

[4horses]

The colt is nursing well now. He is very bright and active. Only laid down for a 20 minute nap once today. I am hoping for the best. He was up almost immediately after being born. Like his back legs were still in the mare and he wanted to stand!

I don’t remember the last few foals being this active except for Lilly. So I’m hoping that’s all a good sign.

My mare is currently eating and he is nursing some more. She still squeals but the kicking has subsided. This is her first foal and I really don’t think her belly felt too good with him bumping into her.

[JB]

fingers crossed for a great IgG reading!

[NancyM]

Should be OK. But in case the IgG test does not come back good, line up an adult, healthy gelding NOW as a donor, who you can bleed off a couple bags of blood from, to get the plasma. Some vets don’t have plasma on hand, and it is quicker if you can provide the blood from a good donor. The blood has to settle for a day to get the plasma drawn off, a transfer can’t happen on the same day the blood was taken, so it is handy to not have to go looking for the right donor, if you need one. Perhaps your vet will have plasma on hand, but perhaps not. It’s not a big deal to do a plasma transfer if it’s necessary, but vets do seem to charge adequately for the service. Good luck.

[bingbingbing]

How was the IgG?

[4horses]

IGG was 400. He had to go in for plasma. Is currently on Excede (antibiotic). He’s back home now and so far so good. His joints were looking a bit puffy before the antibiotics. He looks much better now. The vet said I could turn him out with his mom, but I’m keeping him stalled except for limited exercise . I’m still worried he might get sick again when the antibiotics wear off. Or that he might pick up an infection. He nibbles on everything. Nibbles mom’s feed, nibbles on the hay net, the log pile out in the pasture, and was even taking a mouthful of dirt earlier. Tonight he was trying to eat the mare’s manure.

How do foals with low Igg levels tend to do after the plasma infusion? I have not seen much manure from him either, although he isn’t acting sick. I’m hoping his stomach is just somewhat empty. The mare has some milk, just not a ton. He has already had an enema at the vets on Friday. He may be passing manure and I’m just not finding it.

[Texarkana]

I’m glad he’s home!

The nibbling on everything is totally normal. That’s what they do. Eating manure is also normal.

Normally (unless you are me), an otherwise healthy foal who receives plasma for failure of passive transfer has a very good prognosis.

There’s a good chance you may be missing the manure. They don’t go all that often and it can be hard to find in a deeply bedded stall. The first few days it is peanut butter-like and easily gets mixed in with bedding. Then it transitions to small fecal balls more consistent with what you would expect for a horse, which can be even harder to find sometimes because it looks like pieces of the mare’s manure. If your foal is nursing regularly but isn’t tail flagging, isn’t straining, the belly isn’t becoming distended, and isn’t acting colicky, you are probably just missing it. Any day now he will likely break with mild diarrhea, which is also normal so long as there is no behavior change or dehydration.

If the vet says turn him out, I would make sure he gets some turn out. Exercise is critical for healthy bone, joint, and tendon development.

Apart from growing up on a breeding farm and working for several breeders, I worked in the neonatal intensive care unit of a large animal vet hospital. These sick foals were my life for a long time. Of course, that doesn’t mean I want to be dealing with my own right now!

[JB]

Agree with Tex on all accounts! If his IgG was re-checked after the plasma to be healthy, then I would let him be out and be a foal. He will, and needs to at this point, put his mouth on all the things to start building his own immunity.

[NancyM]

Good to hear that all went well. Poop is good for them to eat LOL. Just turn away so that you don’t have to watch!