Colostrum is an important nutrient for the newborn. It provides many life-saving factors including immunological protection, twenty times the normal concentration of calcium, and has a high sugar content designed to be used as an instant energy boost. Passage of the colostrum through the GI tract also acts as a natural laxative. The colostrum by-products help to soften the meconium allowing its passage out of the body with a minimum amount of discomfort. When these natural phenomenon do not work in a synergistic fashion an enema may be necessary.
Foals experiencing difficulty in passing the meconium have specific symptoms.
They stand or walk around with their hind legs spread apart, their backs arched and their tails raised - training to have bowel movement. It is our opinion that, unless a foal has these symptoms for a period of an hour or so, an an enema is not necessary. However, we do watch newborns carefully to be sure that the mecomium passes sometime between four to eight hours after birth. Therefore, we do not routinely give enemas to all newborns. In fact, we think that giving enemas to foals that do not need them can create problems.