Equine neonatology Flashcards by Gethin Edwards

What are the adaptions to the extra-uterine life in the respiratory system?

*post 300 days = surfactant
*Fluid filled lungs –> air filled lungs
*Lung expansion

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What are the adaptions to the extra-uterine life in the cardiopulmonary system?

*High HR
*foramen ovale
*Ductus arteriosus

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how do foals do thermoregulation?

*Brown adipose tissue
*Energy from colostrum

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What occurs with the GI tract after birth?

*Meconium passage - 3-6hrs
*Specialised epithelial cells that uptake colostrum - MDAs
*Normal gut flora = 2-3months

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What are the changes seen to the urogenital system?

*Urachus, umbilical arteries + vein become ligaments
*Increase GFR + urine production

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What should be observed with behaviour?

*1hr = foal standing
*2hr = foal nursing
*3hr = Mare passed placenta
*4hr = foal passed meconium

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When should menace response develop?

*2 weeks

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What is the resp rate of foals for the first hour?

*80breaths per minute

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What is a foals heart rate?

*40-80bpm for first few minutes
*70-100 by day 1

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What should be assessed with GI tract +abdomen?

*Palpate for hernias
*MEconium - dark brown pellets all passed within 24hrs

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What should be assessed in the urogenital system?

*Evaluate external genitalia
*Umbilicus = dry v moist
-urine production within 6-10hrs

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What should be assessed with the MSK system?

*Malformations / injuries
*Laxity
*Joint distension
*Lameness

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How much milk should foals drink daily?

*20-28% BW @ 45-55kg BW = 10 litres

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How much milk should foals drink daily?

*20-28% BW @ 45-55kg BW = 10 litres

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if a mare is running milk before term what does this indicate?

placentitis

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What should be seen day before foaling?

Teat waxing

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What is premature / dysmature?

Premature: born <320 days
Dysmature: born >320 days but with signs of prematurity

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What are signs of prematurity / dysmaturity in foals?

Low birth weight
Short, silky hair coat
Floppy ears
Domed head
Joint laxity = weakness, prolonged time to stand
incomplete ossification of tarsal and carpal bones
Severe cases = multiple organ dysfunction

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How is colostrum absorbed?

*Specialist enterocytes absorb by pinocytosis

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What is failure of passive transfer?

*Inadequate transfer of IgG - <4g/L

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What are predisposing factors to FPT?

*Loss of colostrum via premature lactation = twinning, placentitis
*Inadequate colostrum production = illness
*Failure to ingest enough colostrum = weak foal / rejection of foal
*Failure to absorb colostrum = premature foals / foal illness

When would you diagnose FPT?

*18-24hrs after birth
*Specific gravity + IgG test kit

How would you treat FPT?

> 12-24hr = NEED PLASMA - mare, commercial, geldings
<12hr = COLOSTRUM - mare, banks, commercial

What are consequences of FPT?

Immediate = septicaemia
Later = rotavirus infection, respiratory disease

What is sepsis difficult to distinguish from in foals?

peri natal asphyxiation syndrome -PAS

How can you diagnose sepsis?

*Clinical signs *Blood culture *Sepsis score

What are signs of sepsis?

* Foal goes off-suck and is lethargic * Increased respiratory rate and effort * Acute severe lameness * Discharge or swelling of umbilicus * Fever is not consistent * Congested, dark mucous membranes or severe cases petechial haemorrhages * Hypopyon * Diarrhoea (often only once fluid Tx started) * Meningitis

How is sepsis treated?

1. Control infection - antimicrobials - culture (E. coli) 2. Haemodynamic support - fluids 3. Respiratory support - body position + O2 4. Anti-inflammatory therapy - NSAIDs 5. Supportive therapy - nutrition, heat

What are common respiratory diseases of foals?

* **Neonatal septicaemia (bacterial pneumonia)** * Viral pneumonia * Rhodococcus equi pneumonia * Respiratory distress syndrome * Meconium aspiration * Aspiration pneumonia * Haemothorax and pneumothorax * Fracture ribs * Central respiratory depression

How would you diagnose respiratory disease?

*Auscultation *Imaging - endoscopy

What is SCID?

Severe combined immunodeficiency = failure to produce B + T lymphocytes -Arabian horses

What is foal immunodeficiency syndrome?

*FIS = causes fatal anaemia + compromised immune system autosomal recessive

What is Perinatal asphyxia syndrome?

* Ischaemia, oedema + reperfusion injury to foals brain, kidneys + intestines -due to in utero hypoxia * May not be apparent until foal is 12-24hrs

What are mild, moderate + severe signs of PAS?

* Mild = poor suck reflex * Moderate = aimless wandering, abnormal phonation + blind * Severe = seizures, coma

What are urinary abnormalities?

* Patent urachus * Ruptured bladder

What is the cause of ruptured bladder?

*Excessive pressure during parturition on distended bladder *Can be congenital

What are clinical signs of ruptured bladders?

*Dysuria / Stranguria

How is a patent urachus diagnosed? Tx?

*Ultrasound * Conservative Tx = umbilical dips, antibiotics if infection * Surgery = remove umbilical structures

What are differential diagnosis for colic signs?

* Meconium impaction * Ruptured bladder/uroperitoneum * Overfeeding/lactose intolerance * Distension associated with diarrhoea * Gastric ulcers * SI/LI obstruction * Congenital abnormalities

How is meconium impaction diagnosed / treated?

* Dx = palpation, radiography, assess IgG levels * Tx = fleet enema / retention enema Laxatives

What can cause gastric ulcers in foals?

*NSAIDs *Gastric acid *Hypoxia *Decreased GI blood flow

How are gastric ulcers diagnosed? Tx?

*Gastroscopy * Tx = omeprazole / sucralfate

What are differential diagnosis for diarrhoea?

*Foal heat diarrhoea *Clostridial diarrhoea *Viral diarrhoea - rotavirus (Corona,adeno, parvo) *Others = crypto / giardia, rhodococcus equi

What is foal heat diarrhoea?

*5-12days of age, change of bacterial flora (time of mare's 1st oestrus) *CS = mild, self-limiting diarrhoea

What is clostridial diarrhoea?

*Severe + frequently fatal *Cl. difficile / perfringens - severe gas distension + colic

How is a clostridial diarrhoea diagnosed + treated?

*Dx = culture, ELISA *Tx = metronidazole, penicillin

How does rota virus diarrhoea occur?

*Invade epithelial lining in intestinal villi = blunting tips of villi * maldigestion due to loss of intestinal enzymes + malabsorption due to loss of surface area = diarrhoea

How would you diagnose + treat rotavirus diarrhoea?

*Dx = ELISA, PCR of faeces *Tx = vaccinate pregnant mares

What is neonatal isoerythrolysis? + Clinical signs?

*Maternal MDA's destruct newborn red cells * CS = * usually develop between 12-48h post partum * Lethargy, depression, reduced suck, increased recumbency * Tachycardia and tachypnoea * Icteric mm * Pigmenturia * In severe cases collapse and death

How is neonatal isoerythrolysis diagnosed + treated?

*Dx = clinical signs, history, lab tests - detect Ab on red cells *Tx = supportive therapy + nutrition, Blood transfusion * Avoid incompatible pregnancies in future