Caring for Mares & Foals

Lesson 6: Caring For the Newborn Foal

The Umbilical Cord

Some people may wait until the foal is standing, choosing not to interfere until later, but because of past experiences I treat the umbilical stump as soon as possible. Since it is open and begins almost immediately to shrink up into the foal, it is a primary source of infection in the newborn.

Dip the entire cord into a solution of 2% tincture of iodine. Saturation with a spray will also suffice. Depending on the condition of the cord, this may need to be repeated several times over the next 24-hour period, until the cord is no longer moist.

For the same reason some owners also give penicillin for the first couple of days. This is another of those controversial issues, and without the vet’s recommendation, I would advise against it.

Warning: Any time the stump stays moist longer then 24 hours, or becomes swollen or tender it needs a vet’s attention. And there is no time to lose.

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