the abnormal equine neonate

Question 1

What are the key aspects of the clinicla exam of the foal that is different to the adult horse?

Answer 1

• Wear gloves - foal doesn’t have full immune system yet
• Change dirty gloves before movign to next stage of exam
• Always restrain foal in visual field of mare
• Always restrain one arm around chest and one around bottom
  
  • Never under belly (prevent bladder rupture)

Question 2

How can you restain foals with ropes?and when can this be used?

Answer 2

Madigan foal queeze:
Useful for simple procedures
* Cathether placement
* Abdominal ultrasound
* Thoracic radiography
Also part of treatment for some forms of neonatal maladjustment syndrome

Question 3

Where should you inject a foal for intramuscular injection?
how do you do IV injections the foal?

Answer 3

IM - Do not use the neck musculature - Neck pain prevents nursing

IV - Jugular vein - 20G 1 inch needle for most drugs

Question 4

Diagnositic imagign can be done on foals usually done after squeeze or sedation with benzodiazipines, What can can be ultrasounded and radiographed?

Answer 4

Abdominal ultrasound is a very useful technique
Bladder rupture
Meconium impaction
Umbilical disease
Foals are not too big to radiograph – lateral recumbency
Meconium impaction
pneumonia

Question 5

How many times does a foal nurse per hour?
How big is their stomach?
When is nutritional support needed for the foal?
When is parenteral nutrition needed?

Answer 5

• A normal foal may nurse 5-6 times per hour
• Capacity of stomach is small (1L approx. in a 50kg foal)
• Minimal fat reserves and high metabolic demand
• Dehydration and hypoglycemia are common complications of systemic disease
• Nutritional support is needed in any foal that cannot nurse for more than a few hours
• Foals that cannot sit in sternal/ have ileus require parenteral nutrition

Question 6

How many litres of milk does a foal need?
What rate should this be given at?
How should this be given?
Can milk replacer be used?
What management factors need to be considered?

Answer 6

• 20% of body weight consumed in 24 hour period =10L for 50kg foal
• Goal of 500mls/hr
• Start at 250ml/hr
• Nasogastric tube/ indwelling feeding tube
• Bucket better than bottle
• Use milk replacer at ¾ strength - decrease risk of constipation
• Mare’s milk if possible
• Ensure adequate colostrum intake
• Cleanliness is paramount - clean everything