ABSTRACT
Several diseases of newborn and young foals are bacterial or viral in origin. Management of the mare before and during pregnancy, and of the foal's early environment, helps to reduce the incidence of these diseases. These foals are weak and have clinical signs of respiratory disease. Tetanus is usually fatal and can be contracted at any time after birth. The disease usually is associated with a sanitation problem during the foaling. Foaling vaccinated mares in clean surroundings and proper care of the newborn's umbilical cord soon after birth will eliminate this disease in the newborn. Foal diarrhea is a perplexing condition that often is overtreated; it has several causes including: diet, virus, bacteria, internal parasites, antibodies, and eating of foreign material. Good management of the foal's health and environment will eliminate many of the causes of diarrhea. Foal pneumonia due to Corynebacterium equi is the worst form of pneumonia.
