1968-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1968 May Voice RS | Page 12

A very weak foal should be given the mare’s f
milk even if it is necessary to draw this milk int.
bottle and to feed the foal a time or two by nipple Aa
attendant must sometimes steady a foal before it win
Bowel Movement
THE NEWBORN FOAL
Immediately after the foal has arrived and has
started breathing, it should be thoroughly rubbed
and dried with warm towels. It then should be placed
in one comer of the stall on clean, fresh straw. The
mare usually will be less restless if this corner is in
the direction of her head.
Treating the Navel Cord
If left alone, the navel cord of the newborn foal us­
ually breaks within 2 to 4 inches of the belly. If it
does not break, cut it about 2 inches from the belly
with clean dull shears or scrape it in two with a knife.
A torn or broken blood vessel will bleed very little,
but one cut directly across may bleed excessively.
Treat the severed cord with tincture of iodine (or
other reliable antiseptic) immediately, then leave the
mare and foal alone to rest and gain strength.
Value of Colostrum
Colostrum is milk secreted by the dam for the first
few days following parturition. It differs from ordinary
milk in that it is more concentrated, is higher in pro­
tein content (especially in globulins), and is richer in
vitamin A.
Colostrum differs from ordinary milk in two other
ways: (1) it contains antibodies that protect the foal
temporarily against certain infections, and (2) it is
a natural purgative; thus it removes fecal matter ac­
cumulated in the digestive tract.
Do not dissipate these benefits of colostrum by
"milking out” a mare shortly before foaling time.
The First Nursing
The strong healthy foal will be on its feet and ready
to nurse usually within one-half to two hours after­
birth. Before allowing it to nurse for the first time
wash the mare’s udder with a mild disinfectant and
nnse thoroughly with clean, warm water.
A big, awkward foal occasionally needs assistance
and guidance when it nurses for the first time If the
foal is stubborn, forced feeding will be useless Back
the mare into additional bedding in one corner of the
stall and coax the foal to the teats with a bottle and
nipple. An attendant may hold the bottle while stand
ing on the opposite side of the mare from the foal
Regulation of the bowel movement in the foai ;
very important. Constipation and diarrhea (scours^
are common ailments.
1
Excrement impacted in the bowels during prenatal
development — material called meconium — may kill
the foal if it is not eliminated promptly. A good feed
of colostrum usually will cause natural elimination
This is not always the case, however, especially when
foals are from stall-fed mares.
Observe the foal’s bowel movement within 4 to 12
hours after its birth. If there has been no fecal dis­
charge by this time, and the foal seems sluggish and
fails to nurse, give it an enema. Use 1 to 2 quarts of
water at blood heat (101°F.) to which a little glycerin
has been added, or 1 to 2 quarts of warm, soapy
water. Inject the solution with a baby syringe (one
having about a 3-inch nipple) or a tube and can. Re­
peat treatment until normal yellow feces appear.
If the foal is scouring, reduce the mare’s ration and
take away part of her milk at intervals by milking
her out.
Diarrhea or scours in foals may result either from
infectious diseases or dirty surroundings. It is caused
by an irritant, in the digestive tract that should be
removed. Give an astringent only in exceptional cases,
and on the advice of the veterinarian.
Conditions that may cause diarrhea are contami­
nated udder or teats, non-removal of fecal matter from
the digestive tract, fretfulness or temperature above
normal in the mare, an excess of feed affecting the
quality of the mare’s milk, a cold damp bed, or con­
tinued exposure to cold rains. Also, some foals scour
during the foal heat of the mare, which occurs be­
tween the seventh and ninth day following foaling.
Care of the Suckling Foal
Weather conditions permitting, there is no finer
place for a mare and foal than on pasture. As with all
young mammals, milk from the dam assures the foal
of the best possible start in life.
When the foal is between ten days and 3 weeks old,
it will begin to nibble