Final Exam - Neonatal Foals

Question 1

what is the mean gestation length of horses?

Answer 1

340 days

Question 2

what are some premonitory signs of parturition in mares?

Answer 2

filling of udder (waxing), pelvic ligaments loosen, vulva edema/lengthening

Question 3

what is stage I of labor in horses?

Answer 3

restless, colic

Question 4

what is stage II of labor in horses? how long should it last?

Answer 4

fetal expulsion - less than 30 minutes

Question 5

what is stage III of labor in horses? how long should it take?

Answer 5

passing of fetal membranes - within 3 hours

Question 6

what is this? why is it an emergency?

Answer 6

red bag - early placental separation, foal is getting no oxygen, get the foal out

Question 7

what is the 1-2-3 rule?

Answer 7

1 hour to stand

2 hours to nurse

3 hours for the mare to pass the placenta

Question 8

how may a full udder in a mare help you with assessing your foal? what about empty udder?

Answer 8

full bag - foal isn’t nursing

empty - low production vs. good nursing

Question 9

what may be your first clues to a declining foal?

Answer 9

decreased nursing & prolonged recumbency

Question 10

what is a neonate?

Answer 10

less than 2 weeks of age

Question 11

how often should a foal nurse?

Answer 11

4-8 times/hour

Question 12

when should a foal play after birth?

Answer 12

2 hours

Question 13

how long until the foal should be able to sit in sternal recumbency?

Answer 13

1-2 minutes after birth

Question 14

T/F: a lack of a menace response in a foal is normal

Answer 14

true - it is a learned response

Question 15

what are some aspects of a neurologic exam in a foal?

Answer 15

their affinity for the dam, ability to nurse (finding the udder, latching, dysphagia), overexaggerated movements

Question 16

what are normal parameters for a 2 day old foal?

Answer 16

temp - 101.5

HR - 100

RR - 40

Question 17

what causes wry nose?

Answer 17

campylorrhinus

Question 18

is petechial hemorrhage normal in foals after birth?

Answer 18

normal to have hyperemic sclera, but not normal anywhere else

Question 19

T/F: entropion & corneal ulcers are common in foals

Answer 19

true

Question 20

what is a common murmur heard in foals?

Answer 20

grade I-IV holosystolic left sided murmur - PDA

should close by 96 hours

Question 21

hyperemia, petechiae, & injected sclera in foals are indicative of what?

Answer 21

sepsis

Question 22

what happens in the foals respiratory system during parturition?

Answer 22

hypoxemia/hypercapnia at birth stimulates first breath

foal inhales - decreased pulmonary vascular resistance - increased pulmonary flow

lungs clear & gas diffusion improves rapidly

Question 23

T/F: loud bronchovesicular sounds are normal in foals

Answer 23

true

Question 24

what is the best diagnostic test for pulmonary function?

Answer 24

arterial blood gas

Question 25

what do you think of a 2 day old foal presenting with dark staining around the eyes/nose?

Answer 25

aspiration pneumonia - very high risk

Question 26

what are some indicators/clinical signs of respiratory disease in foals?

Answer 26

meconium staining around eyes/nose - aspiration pneumonia

PaCO2 > 60 - hypoventilation & pneumonia

Question 27

T/F: cough & nasal discharge are common in neonates with respiratory disease

Answer 27

false - uncommon

Question 28

what is prematurity in foals? what about dysmaturity?

Answer 28

premature - < 320 days gestation

dysmature - > 350 days gestation

Question 29

what is this?

Answer 29

eponychium - foal slippers

should wear away quickly if the foal is moving normally

Question 30

what are some clinical signs of a premature/dysmature foal?

Answer 30

silky coat, floppy ears, domed forehead, tendon laxity in distal limbs, low birth weight, incomplete ossification

Question 31

what are some abnormal clinical signs associated with the gi tract in foals?

Answer 31

diarrhea/colic, straining/tail flagging, abdominal distension/tympany, & dead bug

Question 32

what structures are included in the umbilicus?

Answer 32

urachus, 2 umbilical arteries, 1 umbilical vein

Question 33

how should you clean an umbilicus?

Answer 33

dilute chlorohex 2x daily for a few days

Question 34

what is the expected USG of a foal?

Answer 34

hyposthenuric < 1.008

Question 35

what foals commonly get ruptured bladders?

Answer 35

large, male foals, dystocia, excessive straining, or inappropriate abdominal handling

Question 36

what are some clinical signs associated with a ruptured bladder in foals?

Answer 36

abdominal distension, colic, tail flagging, bradycardia, electrolyte disturbances

Question 37

what values are consistent with failure of passive transfure?

Answer 37

<400 mg/dL IgG

Question 38

what are the nutritional requirements for a sick neonatal foal?

Answer 38

50 kcal/kg/day

Question 39

what makes up neonatal foal stabilization?

Answer 39

anti-inflammatories - banamine/steroids

antibiotics - ampicillin/amikacin

regulate body temperature

keep in sternal as much as possible to avoid hypoxia