Neonatal Foal Management Flashcards
1
Q
Post Birth Parameters:
A
- Gasping breaths
- Righting reflex within seconds
- Suck reflex within 5 – 10 mins
- Trying to stand within 30 mins
- Standing within an hour
- Nursing within 2 hours
2
Q
Nursing:
A
- 2 – 3L colostrum
- Nurses 5 – 7 times/ hour
- Multiple latch on’s but for a slow time
- Good strong suck, tongue curl
- Cross nursing
3
Q
Meconium
A
- Debris from ingested amniotic fluid
- Dark brown / black colour
- Normal; passed within the
first few hours - Start to then see milky/yellow faeces
4
Q
Urination
A
- First urination 10 – 12 hours (fillies > colts)
- First urine will be concentrated
- Proteinuria
- Normal urine then dilute (SG < 1.005)
5
Q
Hx - Maternal
A
- Previous foals
- General health
- Mammary development
- Gestation length
- Placenta
- VACCINATION STATUS – tetanus
6
Q
Hx - Foaling
A
- Observed or not * Duration
- Assistance
- Problems
7
Q
Hx - Post Partum
A
123
Stand in 1hr
Nurse in 2hrs
Mare pass membranes in 3hrs/ foal pass meconium
8
Q
Physical Exam:
A
- Normal mentation
- Vision
- Normal palate
- Suck reflex
- Movement
- Specific abnormalities
- Circulatory problems
- Sepsis
9
Q
Hypovolaemia
A
- Obtundation
- Poor pulse quality
- Cool/ cold extremities
- Prolonged CRT
- Pale mucous
membranes - Poor jugular refill
- Decreased urination
- Heart rate elevated
10
Q
Dehydration
A
- Reduced skin turgor
- Tacky mucous membranes
- Sunken eyes
- Reduced corneal moisture
11
Q
Common Dx up to 2wks
A
- Neonatal maladjustment Syndrome (NMS)
- Sepsis
- Prematurity/ dysmaturity
- Neonatal isoerythrolysis
- Uroperitnouem
- Colic/enterocolitis
- Trauma, congenital abnormalities…
12
Q
Neonatal maladjustment Syndrome (NMS)
A
- Non-infectious neurological disease of the early post-partum period
- Neonatal encephalopathy * Dummy foal syndrome
13
Q
Neonatal maladjustment Syndrome (NMS) - 2 syndromes
A
- Periparturient hypoxic- ischemic episode
- Causes cellular injury and death
- Failure of normal birth transition process
- Abnormal endocrine function with persistence of high progestogen concentrations
14
Q
NMS - Clinical Signs
A
- Disoriented
- Deteriorate rapidly
- Go from normal to v unwell
- Seizure
- Obtunded
- Can’t suckle
15
Q
Sepsis
A
- Mild lethargy most common initial clinical sign
- SIGNS CAN BE VARIABLE
- Reduced nursing
- Pyrexia (MAYBE!)
- Tachycardia (MAYBE!)
- Evidence of circulatory abnormalities and vasodilation
- Specific site of infection
16
Q
Prematurity
A
- <320 days gestation
- DYSMATURITY = clinical signs of prematurity despite normal gestational length
- Immaturity of all body systems
- Musculoskeletal abnormalities and incomplete ossification
17
Q
Prematurity - Clinical Signs
A
- Small body size
- Silk coat and floppy ears
- Inability to thermoregulate
- Abnormal breathing pattern
- Tendon laxity
- Generalised weakness
- CV and perfusion abnormalities
18
Q
Neonatal Isoerythrolysis
A
- Immune mediated haemolysis of foal red blood cells by maternal antibodies that have been absorbed in colostrum
19
Q
Neonatal Isoerythrolysis - Clinical Signs
A
- Clinical signs from 1 – 3 days
- Weakness/ lethargy
- Tachycardia
- Icterus
- Pigmenturia
- Collapse
- Dont do well in field
- refer if money isnt an issue
20
Q
Uroperitoneum
A
- Defect in bladder wall or urachus leads to urine accumulation in abdomen
- Clinical signs of progressive abdominal distension, lethargy and weakness
- Some foals still able to urinate
- Abdominal compartment syndrome -> decreased pulmonary compliance and venous return to heart
- Plasma equilibrates with free urine causing electrolyte abnormalities (low sodium, low chloride, high potassium) and high creatinine
- Can cause cardiac arrhythmias and death
21
Q
Colic
** Meconium impaction
A
- Common in foals
- Meconium impaction/ retention most common cause of colic in young foals
- Straining, colic, tail flagging, abdominal distension
- Microlax - enema - only 1
22
Q
USEFUL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
A
- Clinical pathology
- Ultrasound
- Blood pressure
- Radiography
- ECG
- Endoscopy
- Advanced imaging
23
Q
Haematology
A
- Increased PCV
- Haemoconcentration
- Anaemia
- Blood loss
- Neonatal isoerythrolysis
- Response to infection in older foals
- Leucopenia
- Prematurity
- Sepsis
- Equine herpes virus infection
- Leucocytosis
- Infection
24
Q
Inflammatory Markers
A
- Serum amyloid A and fibrinogen increase in response to infection or inflammation
- Sepsis
- Birth trauma
- Increased fibrinogen concentration
in newborn foal = in utero infection
25
Biochem
* Increases in tissue enzymes = multiple organ involvement
* Creatinine conc high in newborns
* Electrolyte concs checked if very compromised, colic, diarrhoea, suspicion or uroperitoneum or renal disease
26
IgG Concentration
* Failure of passive transfer of immunity is a risk factor for sepsis
* Low IgG may increase clinical suspicion of sepsis
* BUT may be identified secondary to many diseases that decrease ability to ingest/ absorb colostrum
27
Lactate Concentration
* Lactate = indicator of tissue perfusion
* Increased lactate = disease severity, morbidity and mortality
* <2mmol/l is normal
* >6mmol/l is concerning
* Trends are important
28
Glucose Concs
* Hypoglycaemia can cause collapse and cellular dysfunction
* However, many sick foals initially hyperglycaemic
* Important to measure to help target treatment
* Hypoglycaemia often an indicator of sepsis
29
Other Foal Lab Tests
Blood culture and sensitivity
Blood or nasal swab testing for Equine Herpes Virus-1 (PCR)
Coombs test etc
30
Ultrasound
Thorax & abdomen
