General Therapy & Supportive Care of the Foal Flashcards
what are the key things to pay attention to to ensure a healthy foal
Fluid therapy
Nutrition
Ensure adequate transfer of passive immunity
Umbilical care
Physiotherapy
Nursing care
ASSESS and MONITOR EVERY body system
what is the rate of fluids used in a foal
Goal direct fluid therapy has been shown to result in improved survival over fluid administration based on calculation of estimated deficits
Goal directed: usually starting with 20 ml/kg bolus and reassessing to see if you have achieved your specific goals
how is goal directed fluid therapy used
If these goals are not met after a rate of 20ml/kg:
- Improved pulse quality and heart rate
- Correct clinical signs of dehydration/hypovolemia
- Achieve urine output (with appropriate USG)
- Normalize PCV and lactate
If goals not met, repeat a 10-20 ml/kg bolus
If goals met, switch to a maintenance rate
how would you manage hypoglycemia in a foal
The presence of significant hypoglycaemia requires rapid correction
Immediate treatment is required when blood glucose is below 2.8 mmol/L
An easy ‘in the field’ option could be to give 20-30ml of 50% glucose diluted in 1L of Hartmanns
what blood glucose level would be considered hypoglycemic in foals
2.8 mmol/L
how much colostrum should a foal get before how many hours old
Aim to administer 1.5L colostrum before 6 hours of age
how should colostrum be administered
Place NGT (foal tube or stallion urinary catheter) with foal standing or in sternal recumbency
Confirm positioning and check for reflux
Administer colostrum by gravity flow (max 500ml for 50kg foal at a time)
Repeat 1-2 hours later if still not nursing
if the foal is over >12hrs old how should you administer nutrition
Milk whenever possible
Gradually increase to provide 20% body weight per day
Feed by NGT using gravity flow or in pan/bucket
Give small frequent feeds (every 1 hour)
If milk cannot be provided (colic/reflux etc) then parenteral nutrition must be provided instead
why should you never bottle feed a foal
This WILL lead to aspiration pneumonia
It also increases behaviour problems
Bucket feeding is much better for the foal (and easier!)
how do you provide nursing care in the foal
Lie on comfy bed positioned in sternal recumbency (NOT lateral)
Lift to perform physio and turn every 2 hours
Don’t let them get bed sores!
Monitor and treat (dip) the umbilicus for the first few days
Monitor IV catheter and any other tubes (oxygen/feeding/urinary catheter etc)
Monitor urination and fecal output
