Foal Blood Transfusion

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magbiehillstables

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My foal was born late by which time the colostrum had run dry. The vet did a blood test and it came back with a score of 400. The vet has advised doing a blood transfusion.

I am not keen. The foal and mare are doing really well. They are out at grass. There are no other horses with them. I have heard that there is a risk of the plasma being rejected and I also don't like the idea of the stress the transfusion would cause mare and foal.

Am I taking a huge risk or have other people not done the transfusion and the foals been ok?
 
How many hours was the foal when the IgG test was done? 400 is quite low and plasma transfer is quite safe, many foals have this done with great effect, however it's costly. How old is the foal now?

ETA, I've never had to do it on any of my foals as my mares are very good colostrum producers and I have stored colostrum every year so can give that if ever I needed to, however I know a lot of breeders and many have given their foals plasma transfers.
 
In my opinion, not only are you taking a huge risk but you would be putting your foal through a potentially life-threatening illness when its weakened immune system succumbs to infection. Having seen a foal at death's door and the incredible difference resulting from a plasma transfusion, I would, personally, not hesitate. That foal is now a healthy 9 year old. Your call, but go into it with the full knowledge of what is likely to happen if the foal's immune system isn't given the help it needs.
 
My homebred foal had a plasma transfusion at less than 1 week old. He travelled an hour away, had the transfusion without stepping off the lorry and travelled an hour back.

He had no problems and neither he nor my mare suffered with stress.

Once the vet told me he needed one, it never crossed my mind not to do it.
 
With a count of 400, I would do the plasma transfer, it is a straightforward procedure. A foal which has not had enough colostrum is likely to suffer health problems in the future.
 
If it was my foal I would do another SNAP test on the foal now to see what the levels are. The critical stage for foals is 14 days, a lot can go wrong with foals under 14 days old and when it does, it happens very quickly indeed and you seriously risk losing your foal. I almost lost an 8 day old foal (unrelated condition to what your foal has). In the morning she was absolutely fine, by lunchtime she looked a little lethargic, by evening I whisked her off to ICU as she was literally dying in front of me. A big chunky, solid looking foal I might add. She remained in ICU for a week and survived but it was only down to me being here 24/7 and checking on my foals constantly that saved her. Had I not been the obsessive type with my foals then the end result could have been very different.
 
I'd do the plasma, I've had a couple that have been borderline in the past, I've lived to regret it from the point of view of them staying weak horses for several years, I'm sure the extra feed costs more in the end. I've never had one have a reaction to plasma.
 
For sure I would have the transfusion done. It is simple, relatively risk free and it is critical for a foal that has not received the antibodies it needs from the colostrum.

Not sure if you are aware, but foals are born with no antibodies - they are completely wide open to any disease and infection - from any source - the mares first milk aka colostrum - provides the initial antibodies needed to help the foals body develop the protection it needs.

AFAIK, equines are unique in this respect are one of the only species where this happens.

Therefore a foal born that does not get the antibodies it needs is at a HUGE risk. This is NOT something i would mess around with when there is a safe effective and relatively inexpensive solution.

Fwiw, my foal this year needed a transfusion and it was amazing how much better she felt afterwards! I saw zero ill effects and a huge positive change immediately.

Just becuase there is only your horses out to pasture does not mean your foal wont pick up something from the air, ground, water or even a human that has been contaminated from contact with a sick horse elsewhere.

I just wouldnt not take such a risk . Good luck ! :)
 
I know someone who lost their mare foaling, gave the foal a plasma transfusion and it had a bad reaction to it and died. I'm sure that was a rare reaction but it can happen. I breed about 8 foals a year and only IgG the odd foal, never lost a foal (touchwood). Had one last year who was a big strong foal, IgG'd because it wasn't mine, came back as partial failure and vet gave option of transfusion or doing antibiotics for first 5 days, apparently some of the TB studs around here do the antibiotics instead. So foal had antibiotics, had no problems, left here at 6 months.
 
I've had 2 done over the years.

After waiting a year for the foal, all the planning, nail biting and expense, to then let it down by not doing something to give it the best chance possible is madness. You may think your foal is healthy and strong but weeks down the line you may bitterly regret not having the Plasma Transfusion
 
My foal was borderline when we tested him- three below the 'line' for plasma transfusion- I didn't do it, for a couple of reasons, and long story short, he's fine. Had a nasty viral infection as a yearling, came down quite hard with it, we just leave him a couple of days longer to start antibiotics of/when they're needed to build him up and he's fine. Had his score been any lower, I'd have done it x
 
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