DL: Neonatal foal disease

Question 1

What are the stages of parturition in the horse?

Answer 1

Stage 1 – onset of labour to rupture of chorioallantois; restlessness
Stage 2 – rupture of chorioallantois to expulsion of foetus
Stage 3 - expulsion of foal to passage of foetal membranes

Question 2

How long should each stage of parturition in the horse last?

Answer 2

Stage 1 - variable duration, 10 mins – 5 hours or more, usually 1 - 4hours
Stage 2 – 15-30 minutes (should be less than 20 minutes?)
Stage 3 - <2-3 hours

Question 3

What could happen to the foal if stage 2 is prolonged?

Answer 3

Increased risk of hypoxaemia

Perinatal asphyxia syndrome (PAS) = Neonatal encephalopahthy (NE)

Question 4

What can a prolonged stage 3 indicate?

Answer 4

abnormal placenta
abnormal pregnancy or birth
infectious placentatits

Question 5

What is a normal horse gestation length?

Answer 5

11 months (320 - 365 days)

Question 6

What might be causes of a short gestation but the foal doesn’t show signs of prematurity?

Answer 6

placentitis and associated inflammation in placenta

Question 7

How long should it take a foal to sit sternal?

Answer 7

5-15 minutes

Question 8

How long should it take a foal to stand?

Answer 8

30-90 minutes

Question 9

How long should it take a foal to nurse?

Answer 9

< 2 hours

Question 10

Why might a foal be slow to get up?

Answer 10

sepsis
PAS
orthopaedic problems (tendon contracture, congenital defects)

Question 11

Name 5 conditions that can affect mare and foal

Answer 11

Bacterial placentitis
Placental insufficiency
Placental serparation
Body wall rupture
Hydroallantois or hydroamnion

Question 12

What may be responsible for PAS?

Answer 12

abnormal transition from intra-uterine to extra-uterine life - abnormally high progestagen concentrations persisting in the foal after birth

Question 13

Clinical signs - PAS

Answer 13

Variable, depend on organ system affected
CNS - prminent, mild depression-seizures/coma
GIT damage
renal dysfuntion

Question 14

Diagnosis - PAS

Answer 14

Clinical signs

Question 15

What is sepsis?

Answer 15

the presence of SIRS which is presence of 2 of the following: hypothermia/fever, tachycardia, tachypnoea, leucopaenia/leukocytosis, increased band neutrophils

Question 16

Signs of sepsis

Answer 16

hyperaemia of MMs and coronary bands
petechiae visible in ears/ oral MM or vuvla
uveitis - fibrin or haemorrhage (hypaema) in anterior chamber
Temp - low/normal/high
joint swelling/lameness (3-5d to develop)

HAEMATOLOGY: leucopaenia, neutropaenia, rarely leukocytosis and increased APPs.

Question 17

Diagnosis - sepsis - 5

Answer 17

Presence of SIRS and identification of an infectious source (positive blood culture)

Clinical signs

CBC and APPs - leucopaenia/leucocytosis, increased APPs

Blood culture

Plasma IgG concentration

Question 18

What signs can indicate prematurity in foals?

Answer 18

Gestation length <320 days (not all foals born at this stage show signs though)
Domed head, silky coat, floppy ears, small size/low birth weight, weakness, flexor tendon laxity, incomplete ossification of cuboidal bones (tarsal and carpal bones) evident on radiographs, respiratory distress due to surfactant deficiency.

Question 19

How can you increase plasma IgG in a foal?

Answer 19

1-2L equine plasma, IV, re-measure IgG after 12-24 hours if only 1L given.