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Topic:Foals
"Foals" encompasses a stage in the lifecycle of equines with distinct physiological and developmental characteristics. Foals are young horses, typically under one year of age, undergoing rapid growth and development. They require specific nutritional, health, and management practices to support their transition to adulthood. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the growth, development, health challenges, and management practices associated with foals and horses, providing insights into their care and welfare across different life stages.
Periosteal transection and periosteal stripping for correction of angular limb deformities in foals. Valgus deformities were created in 6 pony foals by hemicircumferential transection of the periosteum and periosteal stripping (HCTP and PS) just proximally to the distal physis on the medial side of 1 radius (principal thoracic limb). The opposite thoracic limb served as a control. One month after this surgical procedure was done, the limbs were radiographed and the angle of deviation was determined. All horses developed a valgus deformity of the principal limb. In an effort to correct the acquired valgus deformity, the 2nd surgical procedure was performed--HCTP and PS on the lateral aspect of...
Deficiency of interferon-gamma but not interferon-beta in Arabian foals with severe combined immunodeficiency. The results of a study on the induction of IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, and IFN-gamma in normal and SCID foals showed a deficiency of IFN-gamma but not IFN-beta in SCID foals. The ability of SCID mononuclear cells to produce IFN-alpha in response to poly I:C but not to NDV may indicate a partial deficiency of IFN-alpha in SCID foals. The deficiency of IFN-gamma and presence of IFN-beta in SCID foals supports the classification of IFN-gamma and IFN-beta as immune and nonimmune interferons, respectively. Furthermore, the deficiency of IFN-gamma in SCID foals may in part explain the high susceptibility t...
Twinning in mares: A survey of veterinarians and analyses of theriogenology records. Responses of 22 veterinarians to a questionnaire and the records of three brood-mare farms were examined to obtain information on twinning. The incidence rates of multiple ovulations on the three farms were 9%, 11%, and 22%. The multiple ovulation rate was reduced 42-67% in foaling mares compared to barren and maiden mares. Multiple ovulations were significantly more frequent in Thoroughbreds (19%) than in Quarter Horses (9%) and Appaloosas (8%). Both the questionnaire and the farm records indicated a high degree of repeatability of multiple ovulations and twin pregnancies within mares and wit...
Use of a bone plate for repair of proximal physeal fractures of the tibia in two foals. Salter-Harris type II proximal tibial fractures were repaired in two 1-month-old foals, using a dynamic compression plate. The plate was placed on the medial aspect of the tibia, and a single cancellous bone screw was used to reduce the proximal fragment displacement. The plate provided fixation during healing and functioned as a transphyseal bridge, which induced a disparity in growth and corrected a slight lateral angulation of the limb. Limb growth after plate removal was normal.
Limb deformities in foals associated with ingestion of locoweed by mares. Five of 26 pregnant mares observed ingesting locoweed (Astragalus mollisimus) subsequently aborted and another 10 produced foals with various limb deformities. Seven of the foals had deformities of a flexion-extension type and 3 had angular deformities. Four foals were normal. The limb deformities either resolved spontaneously (5 cases) or were treated successfully (in 4 of the other 5 cases). The problems of abortion and limb deformities were attributed to locoweed ingestion on the basis of the mares having eaten the plants, and the similarity of the syndrome to that previously reported in sh...
Induction of parturition in the mare with prostaglandin F2 alpha. Thirty-one mares of Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred breeding were utilized in two experiments to evaluate the efficacy of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) for induction of equine parturition and to monitor the effects of this treatment on viability of the resulting foals. Three of five mares given 5 mg PGF2 alpha (im) on day 338 of gestation foaled 19.6+/-8.2 hr postinjection. In the second experiment immediately following 3 daily injections of 10 mg estradiol cypionate (ECP) given on days 326, 327 and 328 of gestation, seven mares were infused (iv) with PGF2 alpha at the rate of 1.3 mg/hr f...
Lymphocytes from ponies experimentally infected with equine herpesvirus 1: subpopulation dynamics and their response to mitogens. Six pony foals, free of detectable serum neutralization (SN) antibody against equine herpesvirus type 1 by the standard virus-neutralization (VN) test, were inoculated with equine herpesvirus type 1. The ponies showed typical clinical signs of respiratory tract disease and developed a transient leukopenia, involving lymphocytes as well as neutrophils. The leukopenia reached its lowest point on postinoculation days (PID) 3 to 5 and then returned to base-line values by PID 8 to 10. On quantitation of lymphocyte subpopulations, T and B lymphocytes were decreased during the onset of leukopenia and...
Factors affecting absorption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents in the horse. The absorption of orally administered phenylbutazone (5 mg/kg) was studied in 10 thoroughbreds, eight ponies and four pony foals. Large variations in area under the curve (AUC) and peak plasma concentrations were found both within an animal and within groups of animals. Administration of phenylbutazone (5 mg/kg) following an overnight fast resulted in no difference among the three groups of animals with respect to AUC (0 to 24 hours), mean (+/- sd) values of which were 132 +/- 68, 107 +/- 48 and 98 +/- 6, respectively. Absorption characteristics of two oral phenylbutazone preparations (Equipal...
Use of nuclear scintigraphy to characterize in intrathoracic mass in a foal. A 2-month-old thoroughbred colt with noisy and difficult respiration was diagnosed as having an intrathoracic mass, using conventional radiographic techniques. Nuclear scintigraphy was then used to characterize the mass, leading to successful surgical removal.
Actinobacillus suis infection of horses. Nineteen isolates of Actinobacillus suis were recovered from horses during the period October 1978-December 1980. Animals varied in age from a full term foetus to 12 years. One isolate was obtained from the nose of an apparently healthy horse, the remainder were obtained from still-born foetuses (2), foals dying within a week of birth (5), older animals with respiratory (6) or genital infections (3) or abscesses in the jaw (1). One isolate was obtained from the lung of a 2-week-old foal which had shown diarrhoea. The bacteriological characteristics of the isolates and the pathological lesions ...
Isolation of a retrovirus from cultured equine sarcoid tumor cells. A virus with the morphologic and biochemical properties of the family Retroviridae has been isolated from cultured cells explanted from a malignant tumor induced by intradermal inoculation of equine sarcoid cells into a combined immunodeficient Arabian foal. By electron microscopy, intracytoplasmic, extracellular, and budding particles measuring 89 to 120 nm with electron-lucent cores were seen. Virus purified from the medium of cultured cells had a buoyant density of 1.15 g/cm3 in isopycnic sucrose-gradient centrifugation, incorporated radiolabeled uridine but not thymidine, and had constitut...
[Artificial infestation of horses with the eggs of the stomach botfly (Gastrophilidae)]. 10 foals were artificially infected for the first time with eggs of Gastrophilus intestinalis, G. veterinus, G. haemorrhoidalis, G. inermis, G. nigricornis. 63 to 67% of the 1st stage larvae die in the first period of life after emergence from the egg, at the moment of invasion into the skin and at the beginning of the migration. In 40 to 45 years after the infection most larvae (73 to 82%), depending on their specific belonging, were found in the stomach, duodenum and rectum.
[Two cases of tetany in the horse (author’s transl)]. Two cases of tetany in the horse are reported. The two patients were thoroughbreds. One was eight and the other thirteen years old. The mares were in heat and were brought to the service (stud) station to be mated. Both patients were nursing a foal. One was a four-week-old foal and the other was seven weeks old. The calcium level of the serum had dropped in the two patients, to 4.0 mg and 5.4 per ml. respectively. The magnesium level was 1.0 mg and 1.9 mg per 100 ml. respectively. The animals responded satisfactorily to intravenous infusion of calcium borogluconate and magnesium chloride. One ...
The efficacy of ivermectin against Strongyloides westeri in foals. Seven foals naturally infected with Strongyloides westeri were injected intramuscularly with ivermectin at a dosage rate of 200 mcg per kg body weight. No adverse effects to treatment were observed. Weekly faecal egg counts showed a greater than 99 per cent reduction of S. westeri egg output compared with 7 untreated foals during the 21 days following treatment.
Biochemical constituents of cerebrospinal fluid in premature and full term foals. Total protein content and a variety of enzyme activities and electrolyte values were determined in 73 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 66 horses and ponies. The foals (48) were divided into 3 categories-spontaneously delivered normal foals (Group A), full term induced normal foals (Group B) and premature induced non-surviving foals (Group C). CSF samples from a group of 18 normal adults (Group D) were included for comparison. Paired serum and CSF samples were collected on 32 occasions and subjected to similar analyses. CSF sodium and chloride were always higher than serum sodium and chlo...
Experimental subacute foal pneumonia induced by aerosol administration of Corynebacterium equi. Subacute pyogranulomatous pneumonia was experimentally induced in 3 neonatal foals following multiple challenge with aerosols containing Corynebacterium equi. On each of 7 consecutive days the foals were exposed to approximately 3.5 X 10(7) viable C equi in droplets small enough to reach the terminal airways. Clinical, pathological and bacteriological features of the induced syndrome were indistinguishable from those exhibited by cases with spontaneous subacute C equi foal pneumonia. Radiographic evidence of advanced pulmonary damage preceded the appearance of clinical signs and ante mortem cu...
Phenoxybenzamine for the treatment of severe nonresponsive diarrhea in the horse. Phenoxybenzamine, an alpha adrenergic antagonist, was administered IV to 6 clinically normal horses, 5 horses with experimentally induced diarrhea, and 7 horses with naturally-occurring diarrhea. It was established that a total of 2 mg of phenoxybenzamine/kg of body weight given in divided doses resulted in alpha adrenergic blockage of approximately 72 hours' duration, tranquilization, and mild constipation in the normal horse. The 5 experimental cases of diarrhea were involved in a laminitis research protocol in which laminitis was induced by oral carbohydrate overload. In all 5 of those case...
Complications of cleft palate repair in large animals. Seven foals, 2 horses, and 2 calves were presented to the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at New Bolton Center and the Large Animal Clinic at Auburn University for surgical repair of cleft palate. All animals had preexisting pneumonia. Initial repair of cleft palate in 6 foals, 2 horses, and 2 calves was performed via mandibular symphysiotomy. Primary repair of cleft soft palate in a foal was attempted through a pharyngotomy incision after fracture of the basal hyoid bone; however, exposure was inadequate and mandibular symphysiotomy had to be done. Dehiscence of a portion of the ...
Isolation of an adenovirus antigenically distinct from equine adenovirus type 1 from diarrheic foal feces. Adenovirus was isolated in equine fetal kidney cell cultures from the feces of 2 foals with diarrhea that also had large numbers (greater than 10(6)/g) of rotavirus particles in their feces. Unlike equine adenovirus type 1 (EAdV1), the fecal EAdV did not hemagglutinate human O, rhesus macaque, or equine RBC. By serum neutralization, the fecal viruses were identical with each other, but showed no relationship to EAdV1. Antiserum prepared against the fecal viruses did not contain hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody to EAdV1. It is proposed that the fecal viruses be considered prototypic of EAdV...
Controlled tests of fenbendazole against migrating Strongylus vulgaris in ponies. Sixteen pony foals were reared worm-free and inoculated with Strongylus vulgaris. On day 7 after inoculation, 12 ponies were given a fenbendazole 10% suspension at dose rate of 50 mg/kg of body weight by stomach tube. On day 8 after inoculation, 8 of these ponies were given the 2nd treatment of the anthelmintic and on day 9, 4 of these ponies were given the 3rd treatment. (The other 4 of the 16 ponies were given only tap water, as controls.) The ponies were necropsied at death or on day 28 after inoculation. Fenbendazole was effective in minimizing the appearance of clinical signs associated w...
Pulmonary atresia with dextroposition of the aorta and ventricular septal defect in three Arabian foals. Three Arabian males foals were presented with cyanosis, heart murmur, and exercise intolerance, Results of clinical evaluation suggested a tentative diagnosis of ventricular septal defect in conjunction with malformations of the great arteries. Each foal had a poor prognosis and was killed at the owners' requests. At necropsy, the malformed hearts of the three foals were virtually identical. Each heart had a large defect in the upper interventricular septum. The aorta originated from the hypertrophied right ventricle and partially overrode the ventricular septal defect. The aortic ostium was g...
Use of a gold compound for the treatment of pemphigus foliaceus in a foal. A 4-month-old foal was examined because of generalized exfoliative dermatitis, with thick scales, extensive crusting, and oozing of serum. A diagnosis of pemphigus foliaceus was made by histologic and immunopathologic examinations of skin biopsy specimens. The foal was treated with a gold compound, aurothioglucose (1 mg/kg once weekly for 14 weeks). For the initial 5 weeks, high-dose glucocorticoid treatments also was used. The skin disorder resolved entirely after 12 weeks of treatment.
