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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet Educ / Characteristics of meconium impaction/retention in newborn f...
Equine veterinary education2025; doi: 10.1111/eve.14109

Characteristics of meconium impaction/retention in newborn foals: From 2006 to 2024.

Abstract: Meconium impaction/retention is a significant cause of colic in foals. Historically, limitations of both medical and surgical treatment are noted. Outcomes of meconium impaction/retention have not recently been reported. Unassigned: To describe case characteristics and outcomes in foals with meconium impaction/retention. Unassigned: Retrospective, single referral hospital. Unassigned: Medical records from 2006 to 2024 were searched for foals ≤3 days old with a history of straining to defecate, abdominal distention, colic, weakness and/or tail flagging. Signalment, presenting complaint, treatment, outcome and comorbidities were summarised and compared between groups based on sex and survival. Associations between comorbidities and survival were evaluated by zero-inflated Poisson regression. Unassigned: Forty-three foals met the inclusion criteria. Male foals dominated (30/43; 70%). All foals were managed with enemas; phosphate (11/43; 30%), water with soap/lube (25/43; 58%), not specified 9/43 (21%), multiple types (8; 19%), acetylcysteine retention (1; 2%). Forty foals (93%) survived to discharge, and three (7%) were humanely euthanised. Of surviving foals, 37/40 (93%) responded fully to medical treatment. Surgical treatment was required in 4 foals (9%); 3/4 (75%) survived. Comorbidities were common including sepsis (10/43; 23%), pneumonia (10/43; 23%), failure of passive transfer (6/43; 14%) and hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (5/43; 12%). Non-survivors (3/43; 7%) were euthanised due to sepsis, limb malformation and pneumonia. Unassigned: Small sample size and low number of non-survivors prevented meaningful statistical analysis. Unassigned: Medical management of meconium impaction/retention is successful in the great majority of cases. Prognosis depends on the comorbidities present.
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Publication Date: 2025-01-29 PubMed ID: 40810138PubMed Central: PMC12341383DOI: 10.1111/eve.14109Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research examines the characteristics and outcomes of meconium impaction/retention in newborn foals, a condition that often leads to colic, using data from a single hospital between 2006 and 2024.

Study Design

  • The study is retrospective in nature and was conducted at a single referral hospital.
  • Medical records from 2006 to 2024 were reviewed, with an inclusion criteria of foals aged 3 days or less that were showing symptoms like straining to defecate, abdominal distension, colic, weakness, and/or tail flagging.
  • Associated factors such as the foal’s sex, main complaint, treatment regimen, outcome, and comorbidities were assessed and compared among groups.
  • The comorbidities’ relationship with survival was determined using a zero-inflated Poisson regression statistical model.

Findings.

  • A total of 43 foals were included in the study. Male foals made up 70% (30 out of 43) of the study’s population.
  • All foals received enema treatments, with the type of enema varying among phosphate, water with soap/lube, unspecified types, multiple types or acetylcysteine retention enemas.
  • As for the outcomes, 93% (40 out of 43) of the foals survived until discharge, while 7% (3 out of 43) were humanely euthanised. Among the survivors, 93% responded fully to medical treatment, while surgical treatment was required in 9% of the cases.
  • Common comorbidities were identified, including sepsis, pneumonia, failure of passive transfer, and hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.
  • The non-survivors succumbed due to sepsis, limb malformation, and pneumonia.

Limitations and Conclusion.

  • The limitations of the study encompass a small sample size and a low number of non-survivors, which makes meaningful statistical analysis difficult.
  • The researchers concluded that medical management of meconium impaction/retention is generally successful. However, the prognosis significantly depends on the comorbidities that are present.

Cite This Article

APA
Rivera Maza S, Bishop RC, Austin SM, Foreman JH, Wilkins PA. (2025). Characteristics of meconium impaction/retention in newborn foals: From 2006 to 2024. Equine Vet Educ. https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.14109

Publication

Equine veterinary education
ISSN: 0957-7734
NlmUniqueID: 9885274
Country: England
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Rivera Maza, S
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA.
Bishop, R C
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA.
Austin, S M
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA.
Foreman, J H
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA.
Wilkins, P A
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA.

Grant Funding

  • T35 OD011145 / NIH HHS

Conflict of Interest Statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT No conflicts of interest have been declared.

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Citations

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