Neonatal Care

Question 1

How much colostrum should be consumed within 12 hrs?

Answer 1

10% of foal bw

Question 2

What is adequate passive transfer?

Answer 2

12-24hr: >800 IgG is adequate PT

Question 3

What are the portals of entry for causing neonatal sepsis?

Answer 3

Gut, lungs, umbilicus

Question 4

How often should foal be nursing?

Answer 4

More than 7x/day

Question 5

What are the typical jts for orthopedic infection to occur?

Answer 5

MC/MT, tibiotarsal, or femorotibial

“Knee, fetlock, hock”

Question 6

What is the most common cause of colic in foals? How can we tx?

Answer 6

Meconium Impaction;

Treat = sedate, Buscopan, NSAIDs, Acetylcysteine retention enema, endoscope

Question 7

What do we use to tx contractual deformity in foals?

Answer 7

Oxytetracycline diluted with saline NOT LRS, splint, +/- surgery

Question 8

Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy/Dummy Foals/Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome, what are the two causes known?

Answer 8

Hypoxic insult during birth OR persistent fetal sleep (Use Madigan squeeze or drug to lessen progesterone synthesis like Dutasteride)

Question 9

What drugs do we use to tx HIE aka dummy foal aka neonatal maladjustment Syndrome?

Answer 9

DMSO, fluids, NSAIDs, GastroGard
Thiamine
MgSO4
Naloxone

Question 10

Random note- abdominocentesis to know for finallll—>

Answer 10

Done right of midline caudal pectoralis muscles– sterile prep– Lidocaine block done SQ and IM– #15 scalpel blade stab incision– bitch catheter– fluid into 2 purple tops and 1 red top tube

Question 11

After __ hrs the window of colostrum absorption closes

Answer 11

12 hours

Question 12

Well foal exam 12-24 hrs of age-what to expect:

Answer 12

May have PDA murmur (should close within 3 days), pass meconium, umbilicus small and dried, >800mg/dL IgG (adequate passive transfer)

Question 13

what do we do if IgG is too low???

Answer 13

Low IgG does not mean that the foal will become septic but it may but do plasma transfusion if under 400mg/dL

Question 14

Where does infectious osteoarthritis usually occur in foals? How do we diagnose it?

Answer 14

usually joints or growth plates; do arthrocentesis (will see elevated protein conc. and low viscosity of synovial fluids), rads

Question 15

Tx for infectious osteoarthritis:

Answer 15

empiric abx, intra articular abx, regional limb perfusion

Question 16

Prognosis for infectious osteoarthritis?

Answer 16

Bony changes decrease prognosis along with inf. of many jts, unable to see cartilage, and lameness persists

Question 17

What is the tx for contractural deformities

Answer 17

oxytetracycline, splints, corrective sx

prognosis varies by severity and locations, can be severe enough to cause need for euth. esp. if in the carpus

Question 18

How long does it take to see ortho infections on rads?

Answer 18

10-14 days to see changes on rads

Question 19

Congenital hypothyroidism usually occurs in premature foals with ___ _____ _____

Answer 19

cuboidal bone hypoplasia

Question 20

Premature placental separation can cause what illness in foals?

Answer 20

Hypoxic insult causing dummy foal

Question 21

What neurotransmitters are responsible for persistent fetal sleep????

Answer 21

inhibitory endocrine neurotransmitters (Progesterone’s such as Pregnenolone/Prostaglandin D2/Placental neuroinhibitory peptide/Adenosine)

Question 22

What is foal heat caused by?

Answer 22

changes in foal’s enteric flora

tx symptomatically, self limiting

Question 23

Rotavirus occurs in foals from __ days to __ months of age. CS are caused by _____

Answer 23

2 days to 6 months; dehydration

Question 24

How is foal diarrhea different from adult diarrhea?

Answer 24

Foal- originates from the SI

Adults- originates from the LI

Question 25

rotavirus is shed by foals on average of ___ days after resolution of CS and can shed up to ___ ____

Answer 25

3 days; 12 days

Question 26

What other known factors affect the GI tract of a foal with diarrhea caused from rotavirus?

Answer 26

Affects villi of intestinal lining, decreases digestibility, undigested milk sugars hold water and contribute to diarrhea
blunted vili so decreased surface area and increased secretion with decreased absorption

Question 27

How can we diagnose rotavirus?

Answer 27

PCR

Question 28

why does diarrhea occur with rotavirus?

Answer 28

decreased SA
Decreased absorption or secretion of water
undigested nuts are fermented by bacteria
increased int. motility
loss of digested enzymes

Question 29

When should preg mares be vax to protect the foal from rotavirus?

Answer 29

Preg mares should be vax at 8,9 and 10 months of gestation

but foals may still get rotavirus

Question 30

Unlike Clostridium perfringens A, type ___ is NOT normal flora

Answer 30

Type C

Question 31

What is the tx for meconium aspiration?

Answer 31

Intranasal O2, glycopyrrolate, prednisolone sodium succinate, NSAIDs, abx, IV fluids

Question 32

What e’lyte changes do we see with uroperitoneum???

Answer 32

Hyperkalemia, hypochloremia, hyponatremia

Question 33

What abx are eliminated in the urine and can be used for patent urachus foals?

Answer 33

TMS (sulfas), beta lactams, tetracyclines

Question 34

How can we sx correct uroperitoneum from patent urachus?

Answer 34

Remove apex of bladder and umbilical remnants and suture the umbilical rent,
prognosis is good

Question 35

What bacteria is NOT a cause of diarrhea in foals?

Answer 35

E. coli

Question 36

Perfrengens are type __ and ___ that cause diarrhea in foals

Answer 36

Types A and C

Question 37

What components can cause diarrhea in foals?

Answer 37

Rotavirus A- VIRAL
Perf. type A and C 
Salmonella 
Clostridium Difficle (C. diff) 
Cryptosporidium parvum- PROTOZOAL