Topics in Equine and Large Animal Practice

1. Topics in Equine and Large Animal Practice New Foal Examination Laurie Gallatin DVM, DACVIM laurie.gallatin@pennfoster.edu

2. Preparing for the Foal • 340+/- days gestation • 3 stages of labor • Preparations begin at least 1 month prior- pre-foaling vaccines (colostrum)

3. Prepartum Vaccinations to Protect the Foal • 1 month prior to expected foaling date: • F/R, EWT, WNV, PHF, +/- botulism • 8,9, and 10 months of gestation: • Rotavirus • 5, 7, 9 months of gestation: • EHV- 1 and EHV- 4 • Regular deworming schedule and W/I 24 hours of foaling

6. Stage 1 Labor • Can last up to 12 hours. • Mare may be restless • Up and down • Urinating frequently • Ends when allantois breaks

7. Stage 2 Labor • Expulsion of the foal. • Occurs within 30 minutes of water breaking. • If not- EMERGENCY!

9. Stage 3 Labor • Begins once foal is out. • Expulsion of Placenta • Should occur w/in 3 hours of foaling. • If not- EMERGENCY!

10. New Foal Examination normally performed at 12-24 hours of age.

11. New Foal Examination(Foal-O-Gram) • Cardiovascular • Respiratory • Urogenital • Umbilicus • Musculoskeletal • Ophthalmic • Digestive • Neurologic • Hematologic • Immunologic

12. Foal Restraint • ALWAYS have someone hold the mare. • Keep the foal between you and the mare • Wrap arms around foal • Use walls

13. Periparturent Mare Examination • Check: • Udder • Vulva • Placenta • Completeness • Deworm • +/- Oil

14. Rate begins at 40-80, then elevates to 120-150 drops to 80-100 by 1 week Rhythm – sinus arrhythmias WNL Other arrhythmias occasionally- significance depends on other clinical signs. Murmurs- holosystolic murmur - common - probably physiologic - not PDA PDA - normal up to 7-10 days - unless other signs of disease Cardiovascular System

15. Rate- 60-80 breaths per minute at birth declines to approximately 30/minute within 1 hour very loud lung sounds - normal may hear slight crackle in ventral lung fields increased effort - flared nostrils, abdominal component to respiration more important than auscultation Respiratory System

16. Respiratory System • palpate thorax for rib fractures • brown tinged nasal exudate - mechonium aspiration • milk from nose - cleft palate • diagnostic aids • ultrasonography - hernia, hemothorax • radiographs

17. Colts - both testicles usually descended at birth inguinal hernia - particularly Standardbred - correct by manual reduction several times each day for first few days of life Colts -ruptured bladder - may strain to urinate and only pass small amounts at short intervals tail elevated and back hollowed out Urogenital System

18. Umbilicus • Dip umbilicus • normally a small defect 4-8 cm in the body wall is present at birth • usually closes within 2-3 days • draining urine - patent urachus • enlargement of umbilical stalk - possible infection • ultrasound of umbilicus easy method to detect problems

19. Angular limb deformities Valgus/ Varus Collapsed carpus/tarsus "Windswept” Axial skeleton Scoliosis Lordosis kyphosis Contractural deformities superficial/deep flexor tendons joint capsule/septic joints Physeal injuries Brachial plexus injuries Gastrocnemius rupture Luxations Musculoskeletal System

20. Musculoskeletal System • skull deformities • "Wry" nose • miniature foals appear hydrocephalic

21. Eyelids Entropion Eye cornea - ulcers lens - suture lines, persistent hyaloid retina - detachments, vascular disruptions to optic disc Anterior chamber hyphema Hypopion Ophthalmic Exam

22. Digestive System • mechonium passage is crucial - must occur within first few hours • signs of difficulty • straining with tail elevated and back arched • short, frequent attempts to nurse • auscultation - sounds every 20-30 seconds

23. Digestive System • percussion - find gas filled areas of intestine • ultrasonography/radiography • nasogastric intubation - difficult in some cases since foal may have a depressed swallowing reflex • abdominocentesis

24. Neurologic System • vestibular system • ocular reflexes - normally slower than in adult, menace may be absent • swallowing reflex • foals are hyperreflexic to stimuli until several weeks old • gait - ataxia, circling • abnormal vocalizations

25. values for hemogram and profile are significantly different from adult for first few weeks Creatinine GGT ALP etc neonatal icterus common - check for neonatal isoerythrolysis muscle enzymes frequently elevated to some degree Evaluate CBC including WBC, PCV, and TP at new foal exam Hematology

26. Immunologic System • IgG - measure 18-30 hours after birth • agammaglobulinemic d/t epitheliochorial placentation • Must receive 1-2 pints high quality colostrum within 12 hours of birth (3,000 mg/dl IgG = SG of 1.050)

27. Evaluation of the Immunologic System • Methodology - tests for passive transfer • ELISA for equine IgG • radial immunoassay - standard for comparison • ZnSO4 turbidity • sodium sulfite • glutaraldehyde • agglutination reactions

28. Immunologic System • > 800 mg/dl – normal • >400 but <800 mg/dl - partial failure transfer • <400 mg/dl - failure of passive transfer

29. Treatments for FPT or PFPT Colostrum – oral- if < 12-24 hours old Equine serum - oral Lyophilized IgG - oral IV plasma transfer - only option after 18-24 hours Septicemia is the number 1 cause of death in foals under 7 days of age! Immunologic System

30. Recently (2008) set forth by AAEP Infectious Disease Committee and can be viewed on the AAEP website. www.AAEP.org Vaccination Guidelines

31. Questions?