Foals and Weanlings Flashcards
1
Q
How to ID Foals at risk? -> Pre foaling?
A
→ History of abnormal foaling
→ Mare’s illness
→ Maiden mare
→ Twin pregnancy
→ Premature lactation
2
Q
Id Foals at risk at foaling?
A
- Unattended foaling
- Abnormal foaling
- Abnormal placenta
3
Q
ID foals at risk post foaling?
A
- ‘Not quite right ‘ foals
- Delayed/ inadequate colostrum intake
4
Q
Basic newborn foal care?
A
- Assist nursing if struggling
- Keep it warm (Do not burn!)
- Umbilical stump treatment
- Soapy water enema
5
Q
How to do an Enema if rq?
A
- Use a soft enema tube with caution to avoid
rectal perforation. - Administer ~300 (max 500) mL of warm, soapy
water (using a mild soap) slowly, gently, and
intermittently. - Important: Stop immediately if you encounter
any resistance - do not force the enema.
6
Q
Blood sampling why?
A
- Assessment of serum IgG C°
- Routine haematology - eqrly signs of sepsis /bacteraemia
7
Q
Tetanus prophylaxis?
A
- May be an expectation in some stud yards.
- 1.500 IU of tetanus antitoxin IM purported toprovide 4-6 weeks protection.
- Strictly not necessary where mare vaccinated
and adequate colostrum intake evident.
8
Q
Point of care Tests?
A
- IgG
- Amyloid A
- Glucose
- Lactate
9
Q
When should Antibiotics be considered?
A
- Prematurity/dysmaturity
- Assisted foalings/other interventions
- Poor environment/management
- Based on lab findings
10
Q
Describe ‘Gut closure’ after birth?
A
- Macromolecule absorption int he gut by pinocytosis
- Rapid turnover of enterocytes
- Absorption of IgG declines dramatically 1é hrs after birth, none by 18hrs
11
Q
Risk Factors for FPT?
A
- Maternal factors: premature lactation, poor vaccination status, poor general health
- Foal factors: weak foals in general
- Ongoing disease: in-utero sepsis
12
Q
Tx options for FTP ?
A
- Parenteral admin of colostrum
- IV plasma transfusion
13
Q
Detail parenteral admin?
A
→ If colostrum bank is available
→ Administer before ‘gut closure’ (12h!)
→ Administer via NGT
→ Monitor with SNAP IgG after 12h – 24h
14
Q
Describe IV plasma transfusion?
A
→Slow drip to start
→Monitor for adverse reactions (HR, RR, mentation)
→ER drug: epinephrine, IV fluids
→~ £200 oer 1L bag
15
Q
How to counteract insufficient/Ineffective suckling?
A
→Assisted nursing
→Intermittent ‘top-ups’ with NGT
→Indwelling NG tube for continual
supplementation
16
Q
How to address dehydration?
A
- Enteric feeding if stable
- Supportive IVFT as requires esp. if evidence of
hypovolemia
→ 1L crystalloids over 10 – 15 min for a 50kg
foal
17
Q
Neoneatal & hypovol?
A
Don’t tolerate well - not many signs
Assume if hasn’t nursed in 4-6 hrs +
18
Q
What is the most common cause of JAundice in neonates?
A
Neonatal Isoerythrolysis
19
Q
What causes NI?
A
- RBC surface antigen from stallion reacts to
antibodies of mare’s colostrum
20
Q
When do CLS appear fo NI?
A
- Clinical signs appear 5 hours-5 days after
birth
→ Jaundice, lethargy, depression
→ Tachycardia, tachypnoea, pyrexia
21
Q
Dx of NI?
A
→ History, PE
→ Low PCV
→ Agglutination or cross match test
22
Q
Tx of NI?
A
→ Prevent nursing from mare temporarily –
alternative colostrum/milk
→ Blood transfusion
→ Supportive care
23
Q
What issues of the urachus?
A
- Patent urachus
- Omphalophlebitis
24
Q
What is Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome (NMS) ?
A
AKA Dummy foal, Hypoxic Ischaemic encephalopathy etc
Specific type of Encephalopathy typically associated with adverse peripartum events resulting in episodes of cerebral hypoxia & ischaemia
25
CS/ of NMS?
→ Difficulty getting up
→ Poor suckle reflex
→ Walking in circles
→ Dull mentation
→ +/- organ specific signs
→ +/- secondary infection
26
Tx for NMS?
Treatment – Referral
→ Supportive
→ Sedation if seizing
→ NG tube o Foal squeeze?
27
Neonatal sepsis infection routes?
in utero, oral , respiratory, umbilical?
28
CLS of Neonatal Sepsis?
→ Abnormal TPR,
dehydration
→ Recumbent / comatose
→ Organ specific –
diarrhoea, pneumonia,
neuro signs, septic
joints etc
29
dx of Neonatal Sepsis?
→ Laboratory evaluation – IgG, CBC,
biochemistry,
→ Blood culture
→ Imaging – ultrasound, radiography
→ Neonatal foal sepsis score
30
Tx for Neonatal Sepsis?
→ Boost immunity – plasma transfusion
→ Antibiotics
→ Nutrition
→ Hydration
→ Nursing care
31
How to Foster an Orphan foal?
* Also often involves the vet
→ Good source of possible foster mares
→ Advice on how to complete the process of
fostering
* Ideal for foal development
* Time consuming
→ Can take 24 – 48 hrs (or more)
* Staff intensive
→ Nurse foal whilst fostering
* Need goof mare and healthy foal
32
Diarrhoea in foal?
* Common presentation in young foals
* Wide range – mild/asymptomatic to severe enterocolitis
* Diarrhoea is common feature of neonatal sepsis
* Frequently due to infectious agents
* Always consider biosecurity!
33
Describe 'Foal Heat' Diarrhoea
→ Transient, mild, self-limiting
→ Usually 5-14 days of age
→ Foal otherwise normal
→ Associated with hind gut fermentation and adjustment to
ingestion of roughage
→ No treatmentrequired
34
What is the most common cause of foals with diarrhoea?
ROTAVIRUS - highly infectious
35
PAthophysiology with Rotavirus?
- Mucosal villous sloughing and compensatory crypt hyperplasia - Malabsorption, lactose intolerance and hypersecretion
- Diagnosed by Id of virus in faeces
36
Management of Rotavirus D+
Usually self limiting - supportive therapy
- Vaccination of mares recommended where high incidene of dx
37
Other aetiologies of Enterocolitis?
→ Salmonella
→ Clostridium perfringens
→ (Clostridium difficile)
38
How might bacterial enterocolitis present?
* May present with very liquid, red-tinged or frankly bloody faeces
* Any foal with diarrhoea, pyrexia and/or signs of systemic illness should be
treated and monitored intensively to try and address the ensuing
sepsis/bacteriaemia
=> REFER!
39
For mild diarrhoea - what are some Intestinal protectants we can give?
* Bismuth subsalicylate widely used in practice
→ Binds bacterial toxins
→ Stimulates intestinal absorption
* ‘Biosponge’ – Di, Tri, Octahedral smectite
→ Shown to bind clostridial exotoxins
40
Risk of developing gastric/Gastroduodenal ulcers - what to consider?
→ Antacids (ranitidine, 6.6 mg/kg PO TID)
→ Omeprazole (1-2 mg/kg PO SID)
41
Foals can develop bacterial pneumonia due to:
* Sepsis, leading to acute lung injury (as part of SIRS)
* Aspirational pneumonia – milk inhalation (exclude cleft palate!)
* Secondary bacterial infection following viral disease
* Infectious bacterial pneumonia
→ Rhodococcus equi
42
Diagnostic ?
Trans-tracheal aspiration for diagnostic
43
Difference between flexural and angular limb deformities?
44
Describe Tendon laxity?
* Many foals will have a degree of tendon laxity in
first few hours, but quickly strengthen
* Premature foals more likely to have laxity
* Pronounced laxity requires attention
45
What to do for tendon laxity?
→ Protection of ‘dropped’ fetlock
→ Controlled exercise to encourage
strengthening of tendon
→ Farriery – heel extensions
46
Tendon contracture causes ....
- Hyperflexion of the joint (carpal or fetlock joints)
47
Management of tendon contractures?
* Mild cases will respond to controlled exercise
* More severe, or unresponsive cases will require
intervention:
→ IV Oxytetracycline
2-3g, diluted in 250ml saline, slow IV
→ Splints or casts to encourage straightening of the
limb
48
Describe three main angular limb deformities?
49
Weaning is at what age?
4-6 months of age
50
Foal growth?
Foals gain 0.8kg/day at 6 months of age
Mare's milk not enough for older foals
Consume 2-2.5% BW in feed per day 2/3 hay 1/3 grain
51
Primary concern?
Reduce STRESS
52
What is the aim of nutrition at this stage?
Optimal Growth - not maximal?
No deficiencies but not overfeeding as can predisp to ortho diseases
Free Exercise crucial!
53
PRE WEANING Considerations?
1. Preventative medicine
2. Creep feed
3. Weaning facilities
54
Preventative med?
- Deworming and vaccinations
- Provides immune system with extra disease resistance capabilities
55
Creep feeding?
- PRovides nutritiona support to sustain rapid growth rates
- Recommend feeding at least once a day and ideally ad lib access
56
Weaning facilities?
Safe barn facility, fencing
Handling practice
57
Weaning methods?
- TOtal and abrupt -> Most common
- Partial and gradual weaning -> Least Stressful
58
Ill Thrift causes?
1. Nutrition
→ Insufficient quantity or quality of food intake imbalance or deficiency in nutrients
2. Parasitism
→ High worm burden due to management conditions, resistance or poor worm control program
→ Ascarids!
3. Infection
→ Subclinical
→ Early in disease process prior to onset of other clinical signs
4. Gastrointestinal disease
→ EGUS
5. Extra-intestinal Disease
