Diarrhoea in foals and weanlings

Diarrhoea is one of the most common medical problems of foals between birth and weaning. According to the 1998 National Animal Health Monitoring System report, diarrhoea affects more than 20% of foals in the first 6 months of life. In the first 2 weeks of life, diarrhoea may be a primary problem or it may occur secondary to generalised sepsis. As many as 50% of diarrhoeic foals 1 month of age are more likely to have rotavirus, Salmonella, and parasite-related diarrhoea than are younger foals. It is possible for foals with diarrhoea to have multiple potential pathogens present making it difficult to determine primary aetiology or the role of each organism. […]