Equine Neonatology and Foal Care Flashcards
Neonatal period
Vulnerable period
- protected environment
- parturition and environmental insults
- critical time in first 4 days
The first 24 hours
Foals can crash, but may be delayed from time of insult
- quick intervention is critical
- well foal check 18-36 hrs of age, sooner if any risk factors
Normal behaviors
- righting reflex: sternal by 5 min
- standing: within 1 hr
- nursing by 2 hrs
Adapting to extra-uterine life
- surfactant: >300 days but some don’t produce until parturition
- fluid in lungs: most forced out by compression thru birth canal
- transient changes in blood parameters: hypoxemia, respiratory acidosis, hypercapnia
Premature is birth before _____
320 days
Dysmaturity
Birth of a full term immature foal
History of mare
- NI positive
- prepartum risk factors: placetitis, premature placental separation, fescue consumption
- dystocia
- has she passed her placenta
- history of poor-doing foals
Placenta
Thorough exam for thickening, purpulent material, rupture at cervical star
- weight should be <11% of foal’s weight
Meconium staining
Fetal stress prior to or during delivery
- meconium aspiration: chemical pneumonitis
With placentitis, the placenta would have ______
Inflammatory changes and purulent exudate
With fescue toxicosis, the placenta would have ______
Normal appearance, but edematous
Signs of prematurity
- small size
- silky coat
- domed forehead
- curled back/soft ears
- weakness
- limb deformities
- foal should be BAR
Normal stance
- hypermetric gait is normal
- sensitive to touch
- wide stance
- exaggerated responses to stimulation is normal
General impression
Weakness and lethargy are first signs of impending trouble
- decreased milk consumption
- look at udder
- foals should nurse 4-8 times an hour
PE - head
- MM: pink, moist, CRT <2 sec
- always check for cleft palate!