Foal medicine centers on the unique physiology, immune development, and rapid clinical changes that define the neonatal and juvenile period. This category is designed to support equine veterinarians, breeders, and clinical teams as they evaluate early-life health challenges such as failure of passive transfer, septicemia, congenital abnormalities, developmental orthopedic disease, neonatal maladjustment, and growth-related management questions. The goal of this landing page is to organize clinically relevant foal content in one professional resource as this topic area continues to expand. Use this foal hub to explore clinical guidance on neonatal foal care, colostrum management, early diagnostics, musculoskeletal development, vaccination timing, and practical decision-making during the first days, weeks, and months of life. As additional articles are published, this page will continue to develop into a stronger reference point for infectious disease prevention, critical care, nutrition, orthopedic monitoring, and developmental health in young horses. The FAQs below provide a concise starting point for common foal medicine questions, while the linked articles offer deeper clinical context and case-based learning. Please check back soon as this category grows into a broader pillar page for foal health, neonatal care, and early developmental management in equine practice. Neonatal calls can produce significant anxiety in even the most experienced equine practitioners. Even before a primary diagnosis can be formulated, triage… Foal medicine focuses on neonatal and juvenile horses, including immune transfer, infectious disease prevention, congenital abnormalities, developmental orthopedics, nutrition, and early-life critical care. Because foals change rapidly, clinical monitoring and timely intervention are especially important. Failure of passive transfer occurs when a foal does not receive adequate antibodies from colostrum, increasing susceptibility to septicemia and other infections. Early IgG assessment helps guide whether plasma support or additional intervention is needed. Common early concerns include septicemia, neonatal maladjustment, meconium impaction, congenital defects, diarrhea, limb deformities, and poor nursing. A structured neonatal exam and close observation during the first 24 to 48 hours improve early detection. Timely intake of high-quality colostrum is one of the most important determinants of neonatal immune protection. Evaluation of colostrum quality, nursing behavior, and serum IgG helps confirm that transfer of passive immunity is adequate. Vaccination timing depends on maternal antibody status, farm risk, and veterinary guidance. Core and risk-based protocols are typically scheduled to balance early protection with the possibility that maternal antibodies may interfere with vaccine response. Balanced nutrition supports steady growth, immune function, and healthy bone and joint development. Overfeeding, mineral imbalances, or poorly managed creep feeding can increase the risk of developmental orthopedic disease. Even with one article, a dedicated category helps organize early-life equine medicine topics and creates a clear destination for future content. As more foal articles are added, the page will become a stronger reference for neonatal care, infectious disease prevention, nutrition, and developmental management.Foal
How to Fix the ‘Hypos’ in Critically Ill Neonates
Frequently Asked Foal Medicine Questions
What does foal medicine include in equine practice?
What is failure of passive transfer and why does it matter?
Which health problems are most important to watch for in newborn foals?
How does colostrum management influence foal outcomes?
When should foals be vaccinated?
What role does nutrition play in foal growth and musculoskeletal development?
Why is a dedicated foal content hub useful if there is only one article now?
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5 Articles
August 2023