Behind The Scenes at WinStar - Vet Inspection
02/22/2012 1:40pm
It is common practice on the majority of Throroughbred stud farms to have a licensed veterinarian perform a general vet check the day after each foal is born.
It is no different here at WinStar and we are lucky to have a wonderful resident veterinarian in Dr. Natanya Nieman.
The standard vet physical examination is performed to ensure that the foal is healthy, normal and suffered no trauma in gestation or the birthing process. The foals immune system is checked by our on site laboratory, once this is ok'ed (as was seen last week) Dr. Nieman will begin her physical examination of the foal.
Dr. Nieman will listen to the heart and lungs, check the foals eye's and mucus membranes for abnormalities. The vet will also feel down the foal's ribcage to check for broken ribs, unfortunately broken ribs are a common occurrence in newborn foals who are large or are out of maiden or smaller mares with a small cervix and/or pelvis. A broken or fractured rib is not a difficult issue to deal with but there is a risk that the rib may lead to a punctured lung so must be dealt with as soon as possible.
Dr. Nieman will also watch the foal move around the stable, analyzing and making notes on its limb conformation and co-ordination. Lastly the vet should as Dr. Nieman does, watch the foal and it's relationship with the mare - have they bonded and does the mare except the foal? Does the mare let her baby nurse? Is the foal nursing effectively?
All of the above are important factors in identifying any abnormalities in a new born foal in order to treat them, if any, as soon as possible. The vet should also take a quick look at the mare to confirm that she is in good health 1 day post foaling, that her udder is producing milk, that she has no obvious foaling trauma to her vulva and that she appears alert and interested in her foal. A more thorough internal exam of the mare will take place spproximately 3 days post foaling.
Check out the video series below as Dr. Nieman talks us through a first day foal exam.
