Foaling Watch Update – March 21, 2025
🔹 Quick Status Overview 🔹
🐴 Elusive Surprise & Thirteen (Colt) – Day 9 – Healthy, affectionate, and full of energy. He continues to grow more curious by the day.
🐴 Lady Dyanaformer & Filly – Day 2 – A tough start, but early intervention and strong vet care may be turning the tide.
🐴 My Audubon – Day 323 – No changes. Calm and steady with foal watch prep beginning next week.
Surprise & Thirteen: Energy and Affection in Equal Measure
Thirteen continues to thrive—healthy, energetic, and full of personality. He had a very active day, keeping Surprise on her toes with his zoomies, and proving to be just as smart as he is sweet. The Horse Husband Stables team continues to be impressed by how friendly and curious he is, making every interaction a joy.
Audi: Calm Before the Countdown
No major changes for Audi today, but preparations for her official foal watch begin next week.
📌 What’s ahead:
Transabdominal ultrasound to assess fetal health and positioning
Caslicks removal to ensure a safe delivery
NI (neonatal isoerythrolysis) blood test to determine whether colostrum will be safe for the foal to ingest
With Dyana and Surprise now in the barn with their foals, Audi is in solo turnout—for now.
Dyana’s Filly: Contracted Tendons, Diarrhea & a Big Response Plan
Dyana’s filly had a rough first 36 hours. She was born with contracted tendons in her front legs and laxity in her hind fetlocks, both of which made standing and nursing more difficult. You can read more about her initial condition and foaling here:
👉 Read the foaling update
As her legs began to improve, another concern arose—diarrhea combined with less frequent nursing overnight. Rather than nursing every 20–30 minutes (which is typical), she was only getting up every 60–90 minutes, though nursing longer each time. The team suspected that her compromised mobility and resulting fatigue were contributing to the decreased frequency.
Fortunately, Dyana’s udder remained soft, indicating milk was still being consumed. (As a heavy milk producer, Dyana will leak and spray milk if her foal isn’t nursing often enough—so the lack of leaking was a reassuring sign.)
Routine Vet Check Turns into Emergency Support
As part of the standard HHS newborn protocol, the filly received a unit of plasma within her first 24 hours—even though she appeared healthy—purely as a preventive measure to support her immune system during the critical first days of life.
📌 What is standard plasma used for?
Standard plasma provides a foundational level of antibodies, vitamins, and proteins. It’s given prophylactically to:
Strengthen passive immunity from colostrum
Help protect against early-stage infections
Support healthy immune development in newborn foals
Despite this proactive care, during today’s Day 2 wellness exam, the vet found:
IgG levels in the low 300s (critical failure of passive transfer)
White blood cell count dropped from ~13,000 to just over 5,000
📌 Why These Numbers Matter
IgG (Immunoglobulin G) levels measure how much antibody protection the foal absorbed from her dam’s colostrum. A result below 400 mg/dL indicates that the foal didn’t receive adequate immune protection and is at high risk of infection.
Meanwhile, white blood cells (WBCs) are frontline immune responders.
A normal WBC range in foals is usually between 9,000–12,000
A significant drop like this can signal that the immune system is becoming overwhelmed, often due to a bacterial or viral infection taking hold
Based on her symptoms and the rapid decline in values, the vet and HHS team suspected Rotavirus B, an infection they are unfortunately familiar with—most notably from Paycasso’s case last year.
Why High-Gamma Plasma Is Different
To respond quickly, the vet administered a unit of high-gamma plasma, which is specially formulated for foals in crisis.
📌 What makes it different?
Contains significantly more concentrated antibodies
Targets known pathogens with greater immune potency
Used when standard plasma and natural colostrum are not enough to support the foal’s immune system
Full Treatment Plan Implemented Tonight
✔️ Catheter placed in the filly’s neck for IV access
✔️ High-gamma plasma transfused to boost her immunity
✔️ IV fluids with vitamins and electrolytes to support hydration and organ function
✔️ Three antibiotics to cover a broad range of bacterial threats
✔️ Sucralfate and probiotics to protect the digestive system from antibiotic-related imbalances and potential ulcers
✔️ Low-dose NSAID to help relieve inflammation from her limb issues
Monitoring & Technology Support
The HHS team is now monitoring her very closely, including:
Temperature and respiration
Changes in manure
Overall behavior and nursing activity
They also collected a fecal sample for PCR testing to confirm if Rotavirus B or another pathogen is involved.
To assist with ongoing monitoring, the filly received a BioThermo microchip, which allows for instant temperature readings using a scanner—no rectal thermometer needed. This chip syncs with the EquiTrace app, giving the team an easy way to log meds, track vitals, and notice changes early.
Because Dyana hasn’t been going outside much, she is also receiving oxytocin twice daily to help her uterus contract and clear out postpartum fluids naturally—a process usually helped by movement.
A Brighter Ending to a Long Day
Encouraging signs began showing just hours after treatment:
The filly began nursing every 15–30 minutes
She appeared more alert and responsive
Her temperature and heart rate held steady
Safe Handling with a Fierce Mama
Dyana remains a fiercely protective mother, but her bond with Kyle—and a well-timed bucket of grain—allows the team to safely halter her for filly care, stall cleaning, and medical checks.
We’ll continue monitoring closely and keep you posted as the filly’s recovery progresses. Thanks to early intervention, she’s fighting hard—and the entire Foal Circle is rooting for her. 💪
