Initial Assessment and Stabilisation of the Collapsed Foal

• MATERNAL & PRE-PARTUM FACTORS
  • Any form of maternal illness o Placentitis
  • Placental Insufficiency
  • Early lactation
• PARTURITION
  • Foaling in adverse environment 
  • Dystocia
  • Caesarian Section
• POST-PARTUM FACTORS 
  • Orphan
  • Any form of illness
  • Rejection of the foal
  • Poor quality colostrums 
  • Poor milk supply

ASSESSING THE PLACENTA

• Check it has all been expelled
• Identify
  • focal areas of thickening - oedema/inflammation  
  • loss of villi - villous atrophy
• Weight
  • normal 4.5 - 6.75 kg
  • infection: > 6.75 kg
  • villous atrophy < 4.5 kg

PLACENTITIS

• Usually ascending infection
• Lesions may be most obvious around cervical star
• May be associated with:
• fever, anorexia, malaise, and premature mil secretion in the mare
• septicaemia in the perinatal foal

PLACENTAL INSUFFICIENCY

• Pathology: villous atrophy
• Dysmaturity
• Azotaemia in the neonate - returns to normal concentrations within 24-48 hours provided the foal’s renal function is adequate. [...]