This infectious disease, medically known as foal septicemia, is often fatal and affects newborn foals up to 4 weeks of age. The pathogens enter the bloodstream in various ways and can spread throughout the entire organism. However, the disease most commonly manifests itself in the joints, which is why it is colloquially known as foal paralysis.
Foal septicemia is caused by bacteria that lead to an infection of the entire body, which is why it is referred to as a generalized disease. The most common types of bacteria include streptococci, staphylococci, and E. coli, but other types can also occur. The pathogens are transmitted at different stages of pregnancy or birth. Before birth, there is a risk of infection via the mother's blood or via ascending infections of the cervix. During birth, germs can be transmitted through the highly colonized birth canal or after birth via the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth, eyes, or the umbilical stump.
Immediately after birth, the immune system of the newborn foal is not yet fully developed. It is therefore essential that the foal consumes its first milk, known as colostrum, within the first 2 to 4 hours in order to be supplied with protective antibodies. At a later stage, the antibodies cannot be absorbed by the foal's intestinal mucosa. If the colostrum is ingested too late or not at all, the foal is completely unprotected and highly susceptible to all kinds of pathogens. Poor birth and stable hygiene, long birth duration, birth injuries, and too low an antibody content in the mother's milk (due to early milk flow) can further promote infection.
The course of the disease depends on the time of infection. If the pathogens are transmitted to the unborn foal in the womb before birth, the foal is usually born in a weak condition and cannot be protected by the antibodies transmitted through the mother's milk. The first noticeable symptoms are lack of stamina, a reduced sucking reflex, and general lethargy. As the disease progresses, symptoms characteristic of the disease such as fever, diarrhea, pinpoint hemorrhages in the mucous membranes, breathing difficulties, and typical joint swelling appear.
If the foal is infected during or after birth, the newborn foal will initially behave normally after birth. The first signs of illness, such as fever, listlessness, or breathing problems, only appear after a few hours or days and are initially rather mild, so that in some cases they can even be overlooked and such a foal is sometimes only noticed due to the typical joint swelling.
If you notice one or more of the above symptoms in your foal, regardless of when they appear, please contact a veterinarian immediately, as the young patient's condition can deteriorate rapidly.
A thorough clinical examination of both the foal and the dam provides the attending veterinarian with initial indications of possible causes and the course of the disease. It is extremely important to compile a detailed preliminary report, particularly with regard to the course of pregnancy and birth, as well as the initial care provided to the foal. If symptoms are severe and joint swelling is already present, the veterinarian can make a nearly certain diagnosis at this stage.
With the help of a rapid test, the amount of immunoglobulins (antibodies) in the foal's blood can be determined in the stable. If it is not too late, the foal can then be given colostrum pumped from the mare or a blood transfusion.
In all other cases, and to confirm the diagnosis, a blood test should always be performed.the blood test results provide valuable information about the antibody level, the stage of inflammation, and potential organ damage. A blood culture can also be used to detect certain pathogens in the blood.
In most cases, intensive medical treatment in a clinic is recommended in order to provide the animal with the best possible care. This allows severely ill foals to be closely monitored and treated. The primary goal of treatment is to prevent further spread of the pathogen and protect the tissue from damage caused by bacterial toxins. The earlier treatment is started, the better the chances of recovery.
High doses of broad-spectrum antibiotics are used to combat the pathogens. Fluid and protein deficiencies are compensated for with appropriate infusion therapy. Depending on the severity of the infection and blood test results, plasma or blood transfusions may also be necessary. Joints that are already infected can be flushed arthroscopically under general anesthesia.
The prognosis depends greatly on the condition of the foal, the time of diagnosis, the severity of the infection, and the response to treatment. If veterinary intervention occurs early, before joint involvement, the prognosis for a full recovery is favorable. Experience shows that the prognosis is poor in cases of multiple joint and body cavity inflammation. In most cases, these foals cannot be saved despite intensive therapy.
Foal septicemia is an infectious disease that can be reliably prevented in many cases through improved stable and birth hygiene and good birth management. Particular care should be taken to ensure that the pregnant mare is not exposed to unnecessary stress before birth, such as a change of stable, new neighbors, transport, or new feed, that the environment during birth is clean and dry, and that the foal's umbilical stump is correctly disinfected. Every foal and its mother should also be examined by a veterinarian within the first 24 hours after birth. This allows injuries or other abnormalities to be detected immediately and treated at an early stage if necessary.
Syncope refers to fainting or circulatory collapse that occurs suddenly without warning and leads to a temporary loss of consciousness in animals. The dog collapses suddenly and shows no signs of life. After a short time, it regains consciousness and behaves as it did before the syncope.
Ectropion is a malposition of the eyelid that mainly affects the lower eyelid. The outer edge of the eyelid is turned outward and hangs down, which is why it is also referred to as a "drooping eyelid." This malposition prevents the eyelid from closing normally, leaving the eye permanently slightly open.
Tracheal collapse is a condition in dogs that causes the windpipe (trachea) to collapse. It mainly affects small breeds such as Yorkshire terriers, miniature Spitz, poodles, and Pekingese. The condition often manifests itself in the first few months of life, sometimes with severe breathing problems.
The tendons are part of the musculoskeletal system and act as the connecting links between the muscles and the skeleton. They consist of strong, flexible tissue, transfer energy from the muscles to the bones, and thus enable targeted movement. Their special structure, consisting of parallel connective tissue fibers grouped together in bundles, gives them enormous tensile strength and elasticity. The flexor tendons of the front legs are particularly exposed to extreme stress in horses, as more than half of the body weight has to be carried by the forehand. Tendon damage is one of the most common causes of lameness, especially in sport horses. In most cases, the structures affected on the front leg are the superficial flexor tendon, the deep flexor tendon, the suspensory ligament, and the fetlock joint (see diagram). As there are very few nerves and blood vessels in the tendon tissue, healing is very slow.
Myiasis is the medical term for fly maggot infestation in rabbits, which occurs primarily in the warm summer months and in injured or weakened animals. The disease is often underestimated, but can be life-threatening for rabbits.
The puppy has moved in and everyone is thrilled! This is an exciting time, when your new family member has a lot to discover and learn. Of course, as a new dog owner, you also have a responsibility to ensure a good start to a happy future together. One of the most important tasks is to house-train your dog as quickly as possible.
Just like in humans, the lung tissue of dogs can become inflamed. Medically referred to as pneumonia, this condition is also a serious illness in dogs and can lead to death if left untreated.
Heatstroke occurs when the internal body temperature rises above 41 degrees Celsius, which can cause life-threatening physical damage. Sunstroke, on the other hand, refers to heat accumulation in the area of the meninges caused by intense sunlight on the animal's head, which can also lead to the death of the patient in severe cases. The body temperature does not necessarily have to be elevated in sunstroke.
Neoplasms of the mammary gland account for more than half of all cancers in female dogs. These benign or malignant tumors occur primarily in older, unspayed female dogs and initially appear as small, nodular changes along the entire mammary gland, which can later become very large. Different types of mammary tumors can occur.
Most horse owners are now familiar with Cushing's syndrome and its symptoms in horses. A disease with very similar symptoms is equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). In its early stages, it is therefore often confused with equine Cushing's syndrome. But what is the difference?
Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease that primarily affects cats but can also be transmitted to humans, which is why it is classified as a zoonosis. Humans are considered intermediate hosts, although clinical symptoms do not usually occur. It only becomes truly dangerous when pregnant women come into contact with toxoplasma for the first time and the pathogen infects the unborn child.
The air sacs of horses are part of the upper respiratory tract. They develop in foals as a mucous membrane protrusion on both sides of the Eustachian tube (the connection between the middle ear and the nasopharyngeal cavity), each with a capacity of approximately 300 ml. Air sacs are found exclusively in equines and some other odd-toed ungulates, making them a unique feature. There are various theories about the function of the air sacs. The most likely is that they serve to cool the brain. There is a connection between the horse's throat and the air sacs, which is why infections of the upper respiratory tract can also spread to the air sacs. The most important diseases of the air sacs are described below.
