The Foal Flashcards

1
Q

If fetal membranes are covering the foals head, what do you do

A

Remove them, they could suffocate

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2
Q

Is shivering normal?

A

Yes, especially if born in cold
Dry/provide heat source

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3
Q

Should you break the umbilical cord?

A

No, wait for it to break by itself (provides oxygenated blood)

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4
Q

Why/Should you dip the umbilical cord?

A

Opinions vary
DO NOT use tincture of iodine
Prevents bacteria from having direct access to uterus

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5
Q

Is it normal for a mares placenta to be hanging? How long?

A

Yes, not ideal if steps/tears it bc can’t examine it
No more than 3h

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6
Q

How long should it take for a foal to try to stand? Look for the udder?

A

30 minutes
As soon as its standing

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7
Q

Should mares be sedated to allow nursing

A

If she is agitated or aggressive

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8
Q

What is passed within hours of birth by the foal

A

Meconium (intestines are starting to work, connected to rectum)

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9
Q

Foaling is successful once…

A

Foal is up, nursing
Mare has passed placenta
Foal has passed meconium

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10
Q

What is the suck reflex? Righting reflex?

A

Sucking movements with mouth immediately after birth
Foal attempts to raise head and rest in sternal position within 5-10 mins

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11
Q

Physical exam of the mare

A

Tears/bruising
Presence of milk
General physical condition

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12
Q

Physical exam of the foal

A

Congenital abnormalities
Umbilical abnormalities
Swollen joints
Limb deformities

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13
Q

Examples of congenital abnormalities

A

Cleft palate
Heart murmurs
Cataracts

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14
Q

Physical exam of the placenta

A

Complete? Looks normal

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15
Q

What is the well-baby check

A

Collect blood sample to check for IgG
If a foal does not absorb adequate antibodies from the first milk = failure of passive transfer

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16
Q

Why are absorbed antibodies (colostrum) so important

A

Newborn foal is dependent on these antibodies for first few months to protect against infection

17
Q

Around when does the foals own immune system start producing antibodies at adequate levels

A

10 weeks

18
Q

Foals with failure of passive transfer are prone to

A

Infection
Septicemia (infection of bloodstream)

19
Q

When should newborns be tested for antibodies

A

18-24h after birth

20
Q

If the foal is not tested immediately, when should we definitely test for FPT

A

Depressed
Weak
Febrile
Swollen joints
Swollen umbilical cord

21
Q

How long after birth can we expect orally administered antibodies to be absorbed

A

Only for 6h

22
Q

If the window for oral antibodies has passed, what do we do

A

Plasma transfusion (IV)

23
Q

How serious is FPT? Complications?

A

Severe to fatal
Infections (septicemia, umbilical infections, joint infections, pneumonia)

24
Q

Failure of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity seen in the arabian breed

A

Combined immunodeficiency

25
Q

When do CID foals start to get sick

A

Around five months, after colostrum antibodies from mom wear off

26
Q

What kind of disease is CID?

A

Genetic: autosomal recessive inheritance

27
Q

What do autosomal recessive diseases require

A

Two genes required (one from each parent) for manifestation

28
Q

How is CID diagnosed

A

Arabian foals with recurrent infections, treatment not working
Biopsy of LN

29
Q

How is CID treated

A

None

30
Q

How serious is CID? Complications?

A

Death is inevitable ~5 months
Overwhelming infections
Identification of the stallion/mare as a carrier affects their value

31
Q

When is a foal weaned

A

6 months

32
Q

How long does the foal rely exclusively on dam for nutrition

A

2 1/2 months

33
Q

Should weaning be abrupt

A

Ideally gradual, rare

34
Q

When does protection against infectious disease start for a foal

A

When mare receives pre-foaling vaccinations

35
Q

Why is scheduling vaccines for a foal complicated? When should vaccination start?

A

Maternally derived antibodies will interfere with ability of foals immune system to respond to vaccine
Around 6 months (colostrum antibodies dissipated)

36
Q

When should deworming begin for a foal? Hoof care?

A

Deworm at ~ 6 weeks
Hoof care at and every 6-8 weeks