Page 95 - SpeedhorseMarch2021

EQUINE HEALTH
The colostrum is the source of antibody protection, but has several other very impor- tant functions as well. Quantity is important to provide energy for the young foal, since colostrum has a much higher fat content than regular milk. This is crucial, especially if
the foal is born in cold weather. The nor- mal, healthy foal suckles often and receives adequate energy for normal body functions.
“If the foal is dysmature or premature or
is a dummy foal, however, it may not suckle enough, and this will exacerbate meconium retention. Some of these foals are born already septicemic if they became infected while in the uterus, and they may have a delay in pass- ing the meconium,” says Tibary. All of these compromised foals have poor intestinal motil- ity and absorption.
Resolving the problem will depend on how serious the impaction is and whether there is also a lot of gas buildup within the large colon that may make the foal uncomfortable. If the foal starts feeling abdominal discomfort, he may stop nursing or not nurse enough, and then it becomes a vicious cycle, with more severe impaction.
“If the foal is healthy and normal, after that first meal you often see him passing
his first bowel movements. The new foal generally passes quite a bit in the first two hours, and meconium evacuation is complete within 12 to 24 hours,” says Tibary. If the foal doesn’t nurse normally or doesn’t start passing meconium within several hours of birth, there is a problem.
“The foal may just be straining to defecate but there is not much coming out, or he may be very uncomfortable and looks bloated, with a distended abdomen. The foal may be down and rolling because of the discomfort,” Tibary says. Foals are delicate and sensitive and don’t handle abdominal pain very well.
“By the time you see them rolling and miserable, they have probably been impacted for quite a while. Ideally, after their first meal, you should see a bowel movement, and
“By the time you see them rolling and miserable, they have probably been impacted for quite a while. Ideally, after their first meal, you should see a bowel movement, and by 12 hours after birth there should be good output . . .” - Dr. Ahmed Tibary
by 12 hours after birth there should be good output and it has changed from dark brown to yellow and has become softer,” he says.
“Foals that are stretching and straining to try to have a bowel movement and twist- ing the neck around toward their flank or pawing are probably constipated. The person observing the foal during that first 24 hours should always be looking for passage of manure. If this does not progress normally, we usually give an enema. If the owner knows how to give a foal an enema, this is fine. If they are not sure, they should get some help,” says Tibary.
“It is important for owners to know that by the time we see clinical signs of impacted meconium, an enema alone is not sufficient for treating the problem; pain management will also be important for these foals,” he says.
Giving an enema to a foal should always be done carefully. There are several kinds of prepackaged kits that can be used, but
a person can also use the things at hand,
like a little mineral oil or some warm soapy water. “The enema I recommend for cases that I think the owner can try at first is just to administer warm water containing a little bit of mild liquid soap that is not irritating. We usually just put a couple squirts of mild dish-washing detergent in about a quart of water. We don’t need to use a lot of water,” Tibary says.
An enema should be administered with soft, flexible tubing that won’t be too rough on the foal’s delicate rectum. “Usually, we don’t insert the tube very far into the rectum. One to two inches is usually adequate, or three inches maximum. This will do the job without risk of injury to the foal.” This is adequate to flush the rectal area and go a little farther up into the large intestine and will often soften up some of the harder fecal mate- rial and help the foal pass it on out.
“When the meconium is really hard and thick, however, and a simple warm water and soap enema doesn’t work, we have to use
If the foal didn’t get enough colostrum at first nursing and isn’t nursing often enough or getting enough through that first day, there isn’t adequate stimulation to get the gut moving things through in a timely manner.
It may be difficult for a foal to pass his first bowel movements, but after he has nursed a few times, the laxative effect of the mare’s colostrum helps stimulate his gut to move and helps him pass the meconium.
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