Arterial thrombosis as the cause of lameness in a foal.

The researchers studied a case of a 3-day-old foal that was lame in its forelimb, and upon examination, they found a blockage in the brachial artery due to a blood clot. Upon euthanization and necropsy, they also detected a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the foal’s heart.

Case Presentation

• The researchers presented a specific case of a 3-day-old foal that was suffering from forelimb lameness, i.e., difficulty in moving or an abnormal gait in the front limb.

Initial Diagnosis

• Upon examination, it was found that the foal had an occlusion in its brachial artery, which is the main artery supplying blood to the arms and hands. An occlusion here implies that there was a blockage, usually due to a blood clot, inhibiting the normal flow of blood.

Outcome and Post-Mortem Examination

• Unfortunately, despite the examination and diagnosis, there wasn’t a possibility for successful treatment, and hence, the foal was euthanized, i.e., put to death humanely to prevent suffering.
• Subsequent necropsy, similar to an autopsy in humans, was performed to ascertain the cause of disease or death. The necropsy revealed the presence of a blood clot in the brachial artery (brachial artery thrombosis), which was responsible for the occlusion previously found.

Additional Findings

• In addition to the brachial artery thrombosis, during the necropsy, a disease in the foal’s heart was also identified—the presence of an atrial septal defect. This essentially refers to a hole in the septum, or the wall that separates the two upper chambers (atria) of the heart.
• This defect can lead to an abnormal flow of blood between these two chambers, which can cause a number of complications and cardiovascular disorders.