The obtunded foal

Question 1

define obtunded

Answer 1

less than full alterness (altered level of consciousness

Question 2

what is stuporous

Answer 2

recumbent and only responsive to painful stimulus

Question 3

List 6 possible causes of obtunded foal

Answer 3

sepsis/ SIRS
Neonatal Encephalopathy (Maladjustment)
Prematurity/dysmaturity
Neonatal Isoerythrolysis
Trauma
Musculoskeletal issues

Question 4

what is Neonatal isoerythrolysis

Answer 4

Foal’s red blood cells are destroyed by antibodies in the mare’s colostrum

Question 5

when looking at abnormal foal what should we think

Answer 5

septic until proven otherwise

Question 6

List 5 maternal issues can lead to an obtunded foal

Answer 6

dystocia
concurrent illness
gestation (prematurity)
placentitis
placental insufficiency

Question 7

List 6 foal issues that can lead to obtunded foal

Answer 7

Failure of passive transfer
Sepsis
Encephalopathy (Maladjustment syndrome)
Omphalitis
Congenital defects
Trauma

Question 8

what is normal IgG level in foal

Answer 8

> 800mg/dL
tests for passive transfer

Question 9

2 types of foals that are more prone to hypoglycaemia

Answer 9

premature and dysmature foals

Question 10

clinical signs of hypoglycaemia in foals

Answer 10

obtunded foal +/- seizures

Question 11

what can an increase in lactate in a foal suggest

Answer 11

severe disease process

Question 12

what should normal foals urine USG be

Answer 12

hyposthenturic <1.008

Question 13

what can leukopenia and neutropenic indicate in foals

Answer 13

sepsis

Question 14

what does SAA indicate

Answer 14

inflammation or infection

Question 15

what does fibrinogen indicate

Answer 15

inflammation from 2-5 days ago

Question 16

what can a raised fibrinogen in a young foal tell us

Answer 16

there was an infection in utero

Question 17

what are the septic parameters in a newborn foal

Answer 17

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

Question 18

what is neonatal encephalopathy

Answer 18

neonatal maladjustment syndrome

Question 19

how to treat foals with neonatal maladjustment syndrome

Answer 19

colostrum via NGT
antimicrobials
some may require intensive care

Question 20

what is classed as a premature foal

Answer 20

<320 days

Question 21

what is a dysmature foal

Answer 21

born full term but characteristics of premature- thought to be from placental insufficiency

Question 22

list some characteristics of a premature/ dysmature foal

Answer 22

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

Question 23

do premature foals tend to catch up

Answer 23

yes as long as they weren’t born under 300 days

Question 24

Decsribe the pathophysiology of neonatal isoerythrolysis

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Clinical signs of neonatal isoerythrolysis

Answer 25

pale mm –> yellow mm
weakness
obtunded
tachycardia
tachypnoea
dysponea
seizures
pigmenturia

Question 26

diagnosis of NO

Answer 26

history +clinical signs
declining PCV
agglutination test

Question 27

what do we see on blood tests of a NI foal

Answer 27

marked anaeamia
liver/kidney failure
+/- sepsis

Question 28

Treatment of NI

Answer 28

minimise stress
whole blood transfusion
withold from nursing if less than 24 hours old
supportive care
IgG from another mares colostrum or plasma

Question 29

who care we use to give foals blood transfusion

Answer 29

washed RBCs from the mare- time consuming tho
OR
donor horse blood

Question 30

prevention of NI

Answer 30

Do not use that mare and sire combination again
If you do, withhold colostrum completely (24h)- Other IgG sources