Neonates

Question 1

Neonatal

Answer 1

first 4-5 days of life

Question 2

Neonatal foals are susceptible to what?

Answer 2

Many diseases, can be life-threatening to immediate & long-term health

Question 3

Normal newborn behavior within moments of birth:

Answer 3

spontaneous respiration & sitting sternal

Question 4

Normal newborn behavior 5-10 min post birth:

Answer 4

suckle reflex develops & foal trying to stand

Question 5

Normal newborn behavior 1-2 hrs post birth:

Answer 5

foal standing

Question 6

Normal newborn behavior 3 hrs post birth:

Answer 6

nursing

Question 7

Normal newborn behavior 12 hrs post birth:

Answer 7

urinates & passes meconium

Question 8

What needs to be addressed after delivery of foal?

Answer 8

1. Oxygenation, respiratory rate (60 bmp at 5 min post birth)
2. Pulse assessment (60 bmp at 5 min. & increases to >100 over 1st hr)
3. Temperature regulation
4. care of umbilical cord & umbilicus
5. Nutrition (nursing)
6. Bonding of mare & foal
7. Passage of meconium
8. Adequacy of passive transfer of antibodies
9. PE of foal by vet

Question 9

Common clinical signs of disease in neonatal foal:

Answer 9

1. Dull/depressed
2. Inability to stand
3. Lack of nursing/poor ability to nurse
4. Dehydrated/cool limbs/poor pulses
5. Progressively weak/recumbent

Question 10

Dummy Foal Syndrome:

Answer 10

Neonatal maladjustment syndrome (NMS) occurs in 1-2% of newborn foals

Question 11

What occurs when a foal has dummy foal syndrome:

Answer 11

appear healthy, then shortly after exhibit neurological abnormalities (detached from mare, disoriented, unresponsive, confused, trouble nursing).

Question 12

Failure of passive transfer:

Answer 12

foals are dependent on antibodies absorbed following ingestion of mare’s colostrum in first few hours of life for protection against infectious diseases

Question 13

Failure of passive transfer causes:

Answer 13

Poor quality colostrum (loss of colostrum due to mare lactating several hours before birth) & premature lactation

Question 14

At what point is the absorption of antibodies at its high?

Answer 14

first 6-8 hours after birth, stopping at 24-36 hours of age

Question 15

Treatment of neonatal nursing:

Answer 15

stabilization, fluid therapy, nutritional & respiratory support, maintaining body temp., managing pain & neurological signs, monitoring blood pressure, urination & fecal production (fluid in, urine out), if down change recumbency q2hr.

Question 16

Care of recumbent foals (unable to stand on their own):

Answer 16

separate from mare by divider, turned every 1-2 hrs to prevent: pressure sores, urine scalding, lung compression (can lead to consolidation & pneumonia), assist to stand & nurse every 1-2 hrs

Question 17

What if the foal is unable to nurse?

Answer 17

foal will have an indwelling stomach tube for enteral feeding or receive Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)

Question 18

Procedure for IV catheter for recumbent foals:

Answer 18

IV is secured through sutures & neck wrap is holding it in place. Must be checked daily, fluids are ran through fluid pump, and must mark all fluid bags.

Question 19

Oxygen therapy for recumbent foal:

Answer 19

often required, oxygen line is placed up one nostril & secured to the muzzle. End of line must be cleaned every few hours.

Question 20

What if the foal is not nursing?

Answer 20

Mare must be milked out every 2-4 hours.

Question 21

How to enable bonding with recumbent foal:

Answer 21

allow the mare to smell the foal whenever standing & turning.