Very Common
Less Common
You also might be observing
Observation
What you see. The starting point for addressing any equine health related issue is your observation.
YOU ARE OBSERVING
Foal or Newborn, Heart Rate Elevated
Summary
A newborn foal's heart rate can be elevated because of exertion, stress, pain, anemia, infection, poor ventilation, and/or shock.
Foals start out with a heart rate of 60BPM for the first hours of life. Then this increases to 90BPM at 24 hours for several weeks, then slowly decreases.
A heart rate over 150 BPM in a young foal can be seen in a wide range of disorders and is cause for concern when accompanied by other signs of illness or disease.
Foals start out with a heart rate of 60BPM for the first hours of life. Then this increases to 90BPM at 24 hours for several weeks, then slowly decreases.
A heart rate over 150 BPM in a young foal can be seen in a wide range of disorders and is cause for concern when accompanied by other signs of illness or disease.
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Code Red
Call Your Vet Immediately, Even Outside Business Hours- If you are not sure if your horse needs to be seen immediately or not.
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Code Green
Contact Your Vet to Obtain Useful Advice & Resources- If you notice this sign only when the foal is being handled. The foal seems well otherwise.
- If you are confident that your foal is healthy and thriving other than this sign.
your role
What To Do
Young foals are very sensitive to stress. Their heart rates will skyrocket when they are handled, and so every effort must be made to minimize stress when evaluating heart rate. Be careful of becoming too alarmed by this finding if the foal seems normal otherwise.Assess gum color, capillary refill time, and attitude. If you are concerned about a newborn foal for any reason, immediately contact your vet with your findings and concerns.
Skills you may need
Procedures that you may need to perform on your horse.
your vet's role
Your vet evaluates the foal's general health with a complete physical exam. Further diagnostics might be needed will depend on the results of that evaluation.
Questions Your Vet Might Ask:
- Does your foal seem normal otherwise?
- How is the foal's attitude and appetite?
- Is the foal showing any signs of abdominal pain (colic)?
- When was the foal born?
- Did the foal stand and nurse normally after foaling?
- Was an IgG antibody test done on the foal after birth?
Diagnostics Your Vet May Perform
Figuring out the cause of the problem. These are tests or procedures used by your vet to determine what’s wrong.
Diagnoses Your Vet May Consider
The cause of the problem. These are conditions or ailments that are the cause of the observations you make.
Very Common
Less Common
Treatments Your Vet May Recommend
A way to resolve the condition or diagnosis. Resolving the underlying cause or treating the signs of disease (symptomatic treatment)
Very Common
