The obtunded foal Flashcards
define obtunded
less than full alterness (altered level of consciousness
what is stuporous
recumbent and only responsive to painful stimulus
List 6 possible causes of obtunded foal
sepsis/ SIRS
Neonatal Encephalopathy (Maladjustment)
Prematurity/dysmaturity
Neonatal Isoerythrolysis
Trauma
Musculoskeletal issues
what is Neonatal isoerythrolysis
Foal’s red blood cells are destroyed by antibodies in the mare’s colostrum
when looking at abnormal foal what should we think
septic until proven otherwise
List 5 maternal issues can lead to an obtunded foal
dystocia
concurrent illness
gestation (prematurity)
placentitis
placental insufficiency
List 6 foal issues that can lead to obtunded foal
Failure of passive transfer
Sepsis
Encephalopathy (Maladjustment syndrome)
Omphalitis
Congenital defects
Trauma
what is normal IgG level in foal
> 800mg/dL
tests for passive transfer
2 types of foals that are more prone to hypoglycaemia
premature and dysmature foals
clinical signs of hypoglycaemia in foals
obtunded foal +/- seizures
what can an increase in lactate in a foal suggest
severe disease process
what should normal foals urine USG be
hyposthenturic <1.008
what can leukopenia and neutropenic indicate in foals
sepsis
what does SAA indicate
inflammation or infection
what does fibrinogen indicate
inflammation from 2-5 days ago
what can a raised fibrinogen in a young foal tell us
there was an infection in utero
what are the septic parameters in a newborn foal
at least 3 of the following:
fever or hypothermia (>39.2 or <37.2)
tachycardia (>115)
tachypnoea (>56)
Leukocytosis or leukopenia
venous blood lactate >5mmol/L
venous blood glucose <2.8mmol/L
what is neonatal encephalopathy
neonatal maladjustment syndrome
how to treat foals with neonatal maladjustment syndrome
colostrum via NGT
antimicrobials
some may require intensive care
what is classed as a premature foal
<320 days
what is a dysmature foal
born full term but characteristics of premature- thought to be from placental insufficiency
list some characteristics of a premature/ dysmature foal
Small body size (low birth weight)
Rounded forehead
Silky hair coat
Entropian
Floppy ears
Flexor and periarticular laxity
Carpal and or fetlock contracture
Incomplete ossification of cuboidal bones in carpus and tarsus
do premature foals tend to catch up
yes as long as they weren’t born under 300 days
Decsribe the pathophysiology of neonatal isoerythrolysis
mare becomes sensitised and produces antibodies against blood antigen (from previous foal or previous blood administration)
foal then inherits antigens from sire and antibodies from mare
Clinical signs of neonatal isoerythrolysis
pale mm –> yellow mm
weakness
obtunded
tachycardia
tachypnoea
dysponea
seizures
pigmenturia
diagnosis of NO
history +clinical signs
declining PCV
agglutination test
what do we see on blood tests of a NI foal
marked anaeamia
liver/kidney failure
+/- sepsis
Treatment of NI
minimise stress
whole blood transfusion
withold from nursing if less than 24 hours old
supportive care
IgG from another mares colostrum or plasma
who care we use to give foals blood transfusion
washed RBCs from the mare- time consuming tho
OR
donor horse blood
prevention of NI
Do not use that mare and sire combination again
If you do, withhold colostrum completely (24h)- Other IgG sources
