equine neonatal diarrhoea

Question 1

The neonatal period is commonly divided into two periods what are they?

Answer 1

0-10 days, 10days - 6 weeks

Question 2

when does weaning occur in the horse?

Answer 2

6 months, but will start to eat roughage from 6 weeks

Question 3

what is the difference between diarrhoea in adult horses and neonates?

Answer 3

diarrhoea indicative of SI disease only in neonates whereas in juvenile/adult horses, LI pathology must exist for diarrhoea to be a clinical sign

Question 4

what are the infectious causes of diarrhoea in foals 0-10 days old?

Answer 4

Viral Infection
* Rotavirus
* Coronavirus (usually immunocompromised foals)

Bacterial Infection
* Gram positive enterocolitis Clostridium spp
* Gram negative infections E.Coli spp, Salmonella spp, Actinobacillus spp

Fungal Infection
* Candida/ Mucor spp (usually immunocompromised foals)

Protazoal Infection
* Cryptosporidium

Question 5

what are the infectious causes of diarrhoea in foals 10 days - 6 weeks old?

Answer 5

Viral Infection
* Rotavirus
* Coronavirus (usually immunocompromised foals)

Bacterial Infection
* Gram positive enterocolitis Clostridium spp,Rhodococcus equi (uncommon in foals < 6 weeks of age
* Gram negative infections E.Coli spp, Salmonella spp, Actinobacillus spp

Fungal Infection
* Candida/ Mucor spp (usually immunocompromised foals)

Parasitic Infection
* Strogyloides Westerii, Parascaris equorum, Strongylus vulgaris
* Strogyloides Westerii - past through mothers milk
* if they have access to turn out then can also pick up from grass - don’t have to eat large quantities

Protazoal Infection
* Cryptosporidium

Question 6

what are the non-infectious Causes of diarrhoea in foals 0-10days old?

Answer 6

• Foal heat diarrhoea
• Diarrhoea secondary to meconium impaction
• Errors in feeding (concentration or volume) particularly in orphaned foals
• Gastroduodenal ulceration
• Sand enterocolitis
• Systemic disease
  ◦ Perinatal asphyxia syndrome/ neonatal maladjustment syndrome
  ◦ Sepsis
• Congenital lactose intolerance

Question 7

what are the non-infectious Causes of diarrhoea in foals 10days - 6 weeks old?

Answer 7

• Foal heat diarrhoea (normally seen up to 2 weeks of age)
• Diarrhoea secondary to meconium impaction
• Errors in feeding
  ◦ Post enteritis lactose intolerance - as there are damages to the villi during infection
• Gastric ulceration
• Sand enterocolitis
• Antibiotic Induced diarrhoea (most commonly associated with oral administration)

Question 8

what are the Risk factors for development of diarrhoea in neonatal foals?

Answer 8

• Pre-existing disease
  * Failure of passive transfer
• Poor hygiene in the peripartum period
• High stocking density
• Antimicrobial administration
• Milk replacer therapy - different strength and concentration from the mare, and human error in making it the same every time