Neonatal Nursing and Diseases

Question 1

How often should foals nurse?

Answer 1

3-7 times/hour (75-150 times/day)

Question 2

How long do foals nurse at a time?

Answer 2

0.5-1.5 minutes/bout

Question 3

How much do foals normally drink when they nurse?

Answer 3

3-4 ounces/bout

Question 4

As the foal gets older what changes with nursing?

Answer 4

the amount of times the foal nurses decreases, but the foal will nurse for longer periods of time (they are more effective at nursing)

Question 5

What does milk do for foals?

Answer 5

it provides nutrients and fluid

Question 6

A foal nurses because:

Answer 6

-they have low energy stores

Question 7

In cold weather foals energy needs are _____

Answer 7

high

Question 8

What happens if a foal is not nursing?

Answer 8

it can become dehydrated rapidly and hypoglycemic (blood glucose levels fall)

Question 9

How do you know if a foal is nursing?

Answer 9

you should frequently check the mares udder, if it is full and tight the foal is not nursing well, if it is soft the foal is nursing

Question 10

How often are foals recumbent periods?

Answer 10

1-2 times/hour

Question 11

In stalls how much of the time are foals laying down compared to outside?

Answer 11

about 50% of the time in stalls, outside is less

Question 12

What should be monitored with foals?

Answer 12

-behavior/nursing
-locomotion
-fecal consistency
-growth/body condition

Question 13

Neonatal Isoerythrolysis (NI)

Answer 13

dam produces antibodies against foal’s RBC’s

Question 14

How neonatal isoerythrolysis occurs:

Answer 14

-foal consumes dam’s colostrum
-absorbs antibodies
-antibodies destroy foals RBC

Question 15

What are the symptoms of neonatal isoerythrolysis?

Answer 15

-foal becomes anemic
-labored breathing
-pale gums
-foal appears normal for first 24 hours than goes down
RED ALERT! Mortality is high

Question 16

How common is Neonatal Isoerythrolysis?

Answer 16

<3% of births (rare)

Question 17

How to prevent Neonatal isoerythrolysis:

Answer 17

-can test mare at the end of gestation
-if positive prevent foal from consuming dam’s colostrum (provide alternative colostrum and muzzle and bottle feed for 24-72 hours at least)

Question 18

Septicemia

Answer 18

bacteria or bacterial toxin in blood stream (aka “joint ill” or “naval ill”)

Question 19

Routes of infection for septicemia:

Answer 19

-in utero (if placenta is infected)
-oral (nursing on/licking poor surfaces with bacteria on them)
-umbilicus

Question 20

Signs of septicemia:

Answer 20

-if WBC count is high at birth (possible sign)
-decreased nursing
-fever
-diarrhea?
-swollen joint or umbilicus (usually fetlock, sometimes hock or knee)
-lameness

Question 21

Prognosis of septicemia:

Answer 21

RED ALERT
-mortality is high and there can be long-term damage to cartilage in joints if the foal survives

Question 22

Non-infectious Diarrhea

Answer 22

-common in the first month (associated with changes in the GI tract)
-variable severity

Question 23

What is the biggest concern with non-infectious diarrhea?

Answer 23

dehydration

Question 24

Types of infectious diarrhea:

Answer 24

-rotavirus
-salmonella
-clostridia
-rhodococcus

Question 25

Treatment of infection diarrhea:

Answer 25

-depends on the type/organisms that cause it
-give fluids for dehydration
-supportive therapies