Lavender Foal Syndrome

Lavender Foal Syndrome

Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS), also called Coat Color Dilution Lethal is a genetic disease that affects newborn foals of Arabian horse bloodlines. Cases reported in peer-reviewed veterinary literature are entirely of foals descended from a number of "Egyptian Arabian" or Egyptian-related bloodline groups. However, in Australia a few breeders of Crabbet-related lines have also had foals affected by LFS. Lavender foal syndrome should be considered in any weak newborn Arabian or part-Arabian foal, particularly if it has some degree of "Egyptian" breeding, if the foal cannot stand, if other signs of neurological problems are present, and especially if they have a light coat coloring.