Lavender Foal Syndrome (LFS), also sometimes referred to as Coat Colour Dilution Lethal (CCDL), is an inherited disease specific to Arabian horses. It is caused by a genetic mutation, which is estimated to be present in about 10% of Egyptian Arabians, but has also been reported in other lines of Arabians.
LFS-affected foals are unable to stand at birth, often have seizures and do not improve over time. There is no treatment available, which means they need to be euthanised within the first few days of life to prevent excessive suffering.[2, 3] The good news is that the underlying genetic mutation has been identified and commercial testing is available. Both mares and stallions can be tested prior to breeding to avoid combinations likely to lead to foals born with LFS.
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