Conditions of the Foal Flashcards
what are congenital abnormalities of the respiratory tract
Wry nose (see top photo)
Cleft palate - common so all foals should be checked at birth (palpate with a clean gloved finger)
- May see milk from nose when nursing if present.
Choanal atresia (uncommon)
what are congenital cardiac abnormalities
Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
what breeds are more prone to ventricular septal defects
very common in Welsh Section A ponies and linked to short ears
what are neurological congenital abnormalities
Cerebellar abiotrophy - occurs in Arabian and Eriskay foals - progressive neurological signs localized to cerebellum
Juvenile epilepsy - Arabian foals again… but it is self-limiting
what are congenital abnormalities of the GI tract
Atresia of colon, rectum, or anus
Congenital aganglionosis
what breed does congenital aganglionosis occur in
(overo lethal white foal syndrome) - occurs in American Paint horse with overo coat pattern
what are musculoskeletal congenital abnormalities
Flexural limb deformities
Angular limb deformities
May be severe and result in dystocia and require C section (the forelimbs of the foal in the photo were not able to be straightened any further)
what should be a routine assessment in the majority of sick foals
Umbilical ultrasonography
Is the basis for diagnosis of all umbilical conditions
what is a patent urachus
Urachal remnant remains open and urine drains out
when is a patent urachus commonly seen
Seen a few days after birth
what foals are at an increased risk of patent urachus
Foals with systemic illness, recumbent hospitalized ‘mat babies’ etc are at an increased risk of developing this
what can patent urachus result in
It can result in urine scalding of the skin on the ventral abdomen
how is patent urachus treated
Conservative management
- Topical cleansing and monitoring for infection
- Chemical cautery - silver nitrate, procaine penicillin
Surgical excision
- Never needs to be addressed urgently, but this might be an option in some cases.
what is umbilical remnant infection
Foals with umbilical infections may be clinically normal, or show signs of systemic inflammation (or even sepsis)
The umbilicus may appear swollen, inflamed, hot, or have discharge
how does an umbilical remnant become infected
The infection may have occurred due to ascending infection (from the external environment) or be secondary to another site of infection (bacteraemia) (latter is more common than people think)
what are the areas that can be infected in the umbilical remnant
Urachitis
Omphaloarteritis
Omphalophlebitis
what are the treatment options for umbilical remnant infection
Any delay in treatment/resolution of infection increases the risk of infection spreading to joints and leading to septic arthritis (which is more difficult to treat)
Medical treatment:
- This is usually the first line treatment plan
- Broad- spectrum antimicrobials (until culture results obtained)
- Prolonged treatment is required (several weeks)
Surgical treatment:
- Excision of affected internal remnants
- Exact surgery is planned based on US
what should you always check for in a colicky foal
Always check for the presence of an umbilical hernia in a colicky foal!
And at all newborn foal checks
how are hernias managed
Small hernias are not uncommon and may close without treatment
Larger hernias may be treated conservatively (belly band) or need surgery
when would bladder rupture occur and why
May occur in first few days of life, due to bladder wall failure occurring during parturition
where is the most common site for bladder wall rupture
dorsal wall
why is bladder rupture more common in colts
It is more common in colts compared to fillies (think about where pressure occurs around the abdomen during delivery relative to the position of the urethra in colts vs fillies)
