Outlook for Sick Young Foals Reviewed

Very young foals are at risk for a number of health problems that can require care in a veterinary hospital. Sometimes the problem can’t be successfully treated and the foal dies. In many other cases, these sick foals improve and are discharged in a week or two, going on to successful careers. There are also times when the foals survive but don’t develop well, never achieving their genetic potential for performance.

A study conducted in Austria looked at the health records of 344 foals that received intensive veterinary care after being admitted to clinics at an age of three weeks or less, and also at the health status of many of the horses when they were one to six years old. The foals had been hospitalized because of problems including failure of passive immune transfer, septicemia, infection of the navel stump, prematurity, respiratory or gastrointestinal difficulties, and orthopedic problems. The researchers found that 233 foals were discharged after treatment, and 111 died or were euthanized before they could be discharged.

Among the foals that were healthy enough to be discharged, follow-up was done for 204. At the time of the follow-up, 64% of the foals had not needed further veterinary care after being discharged, while 30% had required veterinary care at least once since discharge. Eleven of the young horses had died or been euthanized for various reasons (colic, fractures, accidental gunshot, and others) before they were five years old. Foals treated for septicemia had the highest fatality rate within four years of being discharged.

As reported by their owners, 91% of the horses had normal growth and development, though 9% showed insufficient growth. There was a correlation between foals that did not grow and develop well and longer stays in veterinary clinics (average of five more days).

The researchers concluded that the majority of sick neonatal foals that are treated at veterinary clinics and survive to discharge are likely to see normal growth and development in the following years. These foals are also at no higher risk of developing diseases than average members of the equine population. Therefore, according to this study, intensive neonatal care is justified in foals with a good short-term prognosis.