In fact, most foals with true antibody deficiencies become diseased and many of these will ultimately die. If a mare is allowed to remain on fungus-infected fescue pastures and experiences agalactia following foaling, your veterinarian may administer a treatment to induce the mare to produce milk. Milk that the mare eventually produces may not contain adequate antibodies and what is produced may be too late to be absorbed by the foal. Fortunately, several tests are available to the veterinarian that can test the foal's immunity. Depending on the test used, you can determine if the foal's immunity is adequate, if it has experienced failure of passive transfer, or if it has experienced partial failure.
Specific tests are also available that can identify exactly which immunoglobulins are deficient.
Once the foal is delivered and all the discussed management procedures have been practiced to ensure the foal's health, the foal is probably on its way to normal growth and development. Several common problems and diseases that can affect the newborn foal from this point on are discussed in Foal Diseases, Extension Publication 1393. Prepared by Fred D. Lehman , DVM, MABM, DACT, Leader, Extension Veterinary Medicine. Publication 1394 Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture . Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914.