•
•
•
•
•
•
Vital parameters N.B. trends
Hct/TSP
USG - < 1.008
Blood pressure
Umbilical ultrasonography
Joint palpation
Prognosis
Recent studies report survival to discharge in 44-71% cases.[16] Most
surviving foals have similar athletic performance to unaffected foals unless
affected by septic arthritis in which case the prognosis for athletic
performance is guarded.
Prevention
This is based on good management practices such as close monitoring of
“high-risk” foals, good environmental hygiene and measurement of IgG levels
to ensure adequate passive transfer. Prophylactic administration of
antimicrobials to healthy foals is not recommended.
Care of the mare
•
•
•
•
•
Post-partum examination
Regular clinical examination
Milk out regularly if foal is not nursing
Oxytocin to promote uterine involution if foal is not nursing and mare
confined to stable
Monitor faecal production – pain and lack of water intake after
parturition can lead to impactions
References and Further Reading
[1]
Palmer, J. (2014) Update on the management of neonatal sepsis in horses. Vet. Clin. North Am. Equine
Pract. 30, 317-336, vii.
[2]
Theelen, M.J., Wilson, W.D., Edman, J.M., Magdesian, K.G. and Kass, P.H. (2014) Temporal trends in
prevalence of bacteria isolated from foals with sepsis: 1979-2010. Equine Vet. J. 46, 169-173.
[3]
Brewer, B.D. and Koterba, A.M. (1988) Development of a scoring system for the early diagnosis of equine
neonatal sepsis. Equine Vet. J. 20, 18-22.
[4]
Brewer, B.D., Koterba, A.M., Carter, R.L. and Rowe, E.D. (1988) Comparison of empirically developed
sepsis score with a computer generated and weighted scoring system for the identification of sepsis in the
equine neonate. Equine Vet. J. 20, 23-24.
[5]
Weber, E.J., Sanchez, L.C. and Giguere, S. (2015) Re-evaluation of the sepsis score in equine neonates.
Equine Vet. J. 47, 275-278.
[6]
Dellinger, R.P., Levy, M.M., Rhodes, A., Annane, D., Gerlach, H., Opal, S.M., Sevransky, J.E., Sprung,
C.L., Douglas, I.S., Jaeschke, R., Osborn, T.M., Nunnally, M.E., Townsend, S.R., Reinhart, K., Kleinpell,
R.M., Angus, D.C., Deutschman, C.S., Machado, F.R., Rubenfeld, G.D., Webb, S., Beale, R.J., Vincent,
J.L. and Moreno, R. (2013) Surviving Sepsis Campaign: international guidelines for management of severe
sepsis and septic shock, 2012. Intensive Care Med. 39, 165-228.
15-‐18
February
2016
East
London
Convention
Centre,
East
London,
South
Africa
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