ABSTRACT
The principles of a general physical examination are the same for the foal and the adult horse, but there are particular aspects that should be emphasised when examining a foal. It is important to remember that a neonatal foal is not just a 50 kg horse. Early signs of disease tend to be non-specific, so familiarity with the normal behaviour patterns and physiological parameters of the young foal is essential. Auscultation of the lungs should reveal relatively loud bronchovesicular sounds over all lung fields; however, it is an insensitive indicator of pulmonary disease in foals. Auscultation of the heart should be performed, and the rate and rhythm assessed. The heart rate is very labile in the young foal and if the rate is rapid, it is worth re-evaluating once the foal has relaxed. There are several physiological differences that are important when assessing and treating neonatal foals.
