At the 2025 Cavalcade Education Equine Reproduction Seminar, Lauren Holley emphasized the importance of diagnosing dysphagia in foals early to prevent respiratory dysfunction and aspiration pneumonia. Signs of dysphagia in foals include milk coming out of the nostrils, nasal discharge, abnormal respiratory rate and effort, and respiratory noises.

Dysphagia in foals can stem from functional issues like prematurity or structural issues like cleft palates. Diagnosing dysphagia in foals may involve blood tests, diagnostic imaging, and endoscopy to visualize the upper airway and trachea for evidence of aspiration or structural abnormalities.

Treatment for dysphagia in foals includes stopping aspiration, reducing inflammation, and addressing secondary bacterial pneumonia. Foals may be treated with a nasogastric feeding tube, anti-inflammatory medications, antibiotics, and antioxidants. With prompt diagnosis and treatment, most foals recover well from dysphagia.