Foal Diarrhoea refers to loose stools in young foals, often triggered by various factors. Changes in the environment or other stressors can disrupt the pH balance in a foal’s gut, creating conditions that allow harmful microorganisms—such as Salmonella, Rotavirus, or Clostridium perfringens—to colonise the digestive tract.
Foal diarrhoea typically occurs around the 9th day of life, often aligning with the mare’s first heat cycle. Due to this timing, it is often referred to as "foal heat diarrhoea." This natural process may last only a few days, during which foals consume small amounts of manure from the mare while nursing, helping them to establish a resilient gut microbiome.
How Does Foal Heat Diarrhoea Differ from Infectious Diarrhoea?
Foal heat diarrhoea presents mildly, with foals generally remaining active, alert, and fever-free. In contrast, foals with infectious diarrhea often appear lethargic, run a fever, and may refuse to nurse.
To monitor your foal's health, take its rectal temperature regularly, aiming for a normal range of 37 °C to 38.6 °C. Also, observe the foal’s nursing frequency, which should be several times per hour. Check the mare’s udder as well; a swollen or dripping udder might indicate the foal isn’t nursing as it should.
Foal heat diarrhea usually presents as slightly loose stools, causing minimal water and electrolyte loss. However, infectious diarrhea often produces watery, profuse stools, leading to severe fluid and electrolyte depletion.
Treatment of Diarrhea in Foals
Proper nutrition is essential to alleviate diarrhea. Treatment aims to protect the gut lining from harmful bacteria and prevent their colonization. Supplementing with the right feed additives helps remove toxins, maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, and support the growth of beneficial gut flora.
Smectizorb by Hestevard is specifically formulated with ingredients that safeguard the gastrointestinal tract, reducing the likelihood of diarrhoea development.
This formula provides a large surface area and high absorbency capacity for toxins, bacteria and free radicals which may contribute to digestive tract upsets.
Smectizorb also contains Illite and Kaolin to further assist the gastro-intestinal function of horses and foals.
This may be added to feed, mixed with water to form a paste/liquid, or may be administered by a vet via stomach tube.
Takeaway Message
Digestive disturbances in foals should never be overlooked. Quick and appropriate nutritional support is essential to prevent more serious complications, illness, and, in extreme cases, even death.