- Newborn Foal, Heart Rate Abnormally Slow, Less Than 40 BPM
- Foaling, Red Sac Shown, Red Bag Delivery
- Foaling, Prolonged Labor, 2nd Stage Labor Lasting Over 20 Minutes
- Foal or Newborn, Born Stained Yellow, Orange or Brownish
- Newborn Foal, Fails to Stand or Nurse
- Foal or Newborn, Seizure or Convulsion
- Foaling Difficulty, Dystocia
- Newborn Foal, Seems Small or Underdeveloped
YOU ARE OBSERVING
Newborn Foal, Seems Weak, Gasping for Breath
Summary
These foals usually have grayish, cold gums and many have an abnormally slow heart rate. Foals that went through a difficult delivery, or were deprived of oxygen by premature placental separation may look like this.
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Code Red
Call Your Vet Immediately, Even Outside Business Hours
your role
What To Do
Call your vet immediately. These foals usually have low blood oxygen levels and time is of the essence. Most will benefit by oxygen supplementation through increasing the oxygen they inspire, or by improving ventilation (the actual movement of air in and out of the lungs).
Gently wipe the fluid out of its mouth and nostrils using a clean towel. Prop the foal onto its chest. You can use a foal resuscitator or even give the foal mouth to nostril resuscitation and possibly save its life. Follow the pertinent instructions and talk to your vet to be sure that you do this correctly.
What Not To Do
Do not swing the foal by its hind legs. This does not help and may injure the foal.Skills you may need
Procedures that you may need to perform on your horse.
your vet's role
- Can I have your location and directions to get to you as soon as possible?
- When was the foal born?
- What are the results of the newborn foal exam?
- Are you comfortable trying to resuscitate the foal until I get to you?
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.
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Difficult or Delayed Foaling, Dystocia
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Placental Insufficiency
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Equine Herpesvirus 1, Abortion
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Placental Problems, Generally
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Placentitis, Placental Infection
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Dysmaturity Syndrome
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Premature Placental Separation
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Hereditary & Congenital Diseases, Generally
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Hypoxemic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
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Foal or Newborn, Premature
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Fescue Toxicosis
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)
further reading & resources
Helpful Terms and Topics
Written, reviewed or shared by experts in equine health