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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Assess and maintain health of neonatal foals
   • Observe and assess neonatal foal behaviour and development
   • Assess foal’s passive immune status
   • Recognise foals at risk of developing illnesses
   • Use humane, safe work and manual handling techniques to handle and restrain foals for routine procedures
2. Assess foal growth and development to six weeks of age
   • Identify normal growth and development of foals
   • Identify common abnormalities in growth and development of foals
3. Perform a physical examination of an equine neonate
   • Obtain and record foal and foaling history
   • Perform physical examination of foal
   • Record examination findings using industry standard terminology
4. Care for and handle sick or compromised foals
   • Carry out foal care procedures according to WHS requirements including assessing and controlling risks
   • Carry out infection control protocols for new foals
   • Catch, hold and restrain sick or compromised foals using safe horse-handling techniques
   • Provide nursing assistance for compromised foals
   • Assist with assessment to determine whether special nursing and intensive care is required
   • Assess foal maturity status
5. Provide initial care for critically ill foal
   • Provide temperature control for critically ill foals
   • Feed critically ill or compromised foals
   • Assist veterinarian before, and during referral to, neonatal intensive care unit
6. Identify the clinical signs of common foal diseases in the early neonatal period
   • Identify and assess symptoms of common foal diseases
   • Record and report observations using industry standard terminology