Evaluation of the Neonatal Foal – When to Worry and When to Refer

History: A thorough history should cover the mare’s prepartum health and care, any problems with previous foals, and all peripartum events (e.g. expected due date, timing of udder development, presence of any prepartum milk leakage, duration of labor, and the condition of the fetal membranes and the time passed after foaling). In addition, note the foal’s immediate post-partum behavior. In general, healthy foals are able to maintain sternal recumbency within minutes, stand unassisted within 1 hour, and nurse unassisted within 2 hours of parturition. The fetal membranes should be passed within 3 hours of parturition, but complete passage of the membranes with the foal is not normal and may indicate premature placental separation. The fetal membranes should be evaluated carefully, and submitted for histopathologic examination if any gross abnormalities – excessive or insufficient weight (~10% of the foal’s weight is normal), necrotic or exudative areas, or regions of villous atrophy – are noted.