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Patent Urachus and Associated Comorbidities in 101 Newborn Foals: A Retrospective Study.
Abstract: Patent urachus is a common disease in newborn foals. However, despite its frequency, studies investigating symptoms, comorbidities, treatment and prognosis in a large number of affected foals have rarely been conducted. This study aimed to describe the clinical symptoms, laboratory diagnostic findings and prognosis of foals with patent urachus. Data from 101 foals with a patent urachus from 2006 to 2017 were analysed. Patent urachus occurred at a frequency of 7.8% of all foals up to the 14th day of life during the study period. More colts (74.3%) than fillies (25.7%) were affected. In those with secondary urachal fistulae, patent urachus (91.1%) was significantly more diagnosed than persistent urachus (8.9%). Typical symptoms were a moist external umbilical environment (100%) and urine dripping from the external umbilical cord remnant during urination (75%). The average age at the time of diagnosis was 5.5 ± 3.2 days (median: 5 days, range: <1-13 days). Umbilical resection was performed in 29.7% of foals, whereas 70.3% were treated conservatively. In total, 67.3% of affected foals were discharged from the clinic. Foals that underwent umbilical resection were discharged in 76.7%, and those that underwent conservative treatment in 63.4% of cases. No typical laboratory diagnostic findings related to patent urachus could be determined. However, an elevated lactate concentration on the day of admission was linked to significantly worsened prognosis (p = 0.021). In 18.5% of the foals, which received surgery, a wound-healing complication occurred at the abdominal suture. Further, 67% of the foals had one or more comorbidities. The presence of musculoskeletal disorders significantly worsened the survival prognosis (p = 0.037). In total, 46 foals were monitored for at least 6 months (6 months to 10 years) after discharge from the clinic. At this point, 93.9% of the foals were alive, and none developed any further health complications with the umbilicus or abdominal sutures. The primary result of this article is that patent urachus has a limited statistical influence on clinical parameters, laboratory values and prognosis. Comorbidities and/or sequelae worsen survival prognosis. The prognosis in the first 6 months after discharge was very good.
© 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Publication Date: 2025-04-28 PubMed ID: 40294115PubMed Central: PMC12036689DOI: 10.1002/vms3.70379Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The study explores patent urachus, a common disease found in newborn foals, analyzing its symptoms, linked conditions, treatments, and prognosis based on data from 101 foals diagnosed with the condition between 2006 to 2017.
Study Overview and Objectives
- The research aims to provide a detailed understanding of patent urachus, prevalent in newborn foals, in terms of clinical symptoms, diagnostic findings from laboratory tests, and possible prognoses. It reviews eleven years’ worth of data from 101 foals.
Methods and Findings
- Data from foals with patent urachus spanning 2006 to 2017 were evaluated.
- During the studied timeframe, patent urachus was found in 7.8% of all foals within the first 14 days of life.
- The disease was found to be more common in colts (74.3%) than fillies (25.7%).
- Typical symptoms included a moist external umbilical environment (100%) and urine dripping from the external umbilical cord remnant while urinating (75%).
- The average age at diagnosis was found to be 5.5 ± 3.2 days.
- Around 30% of the foals underwent umbilical resection, while the majority (70.3%) were given non-surgical, conservative treatment. Of these, 67.3% were successfully discharged from the clinic.
- No consistent laboratory diagnostic findings connected directly to patent urachus were observed, though an elevated lactate concentration upon admission indicated a worse prognosis.
Treatments and Prognoses
- Among the foals treated, 67% had one or more comorbidities and the presence of musculoskeletal disorders was significantly connected with a worsened prognosis.
- At the 6-month follow-up, 93.9% of the foals were alive, and none showed any recurring challenges with the umbilicus or abdominal stitches.
- The research concluded that patent urachus has a minor statistical impact on clinical parameters, lab results, and prognosis, whereas comorbidities and/or acquiring further conditions after treatment have a more considerable effect on the survival prognosis.
Cite This Article
APA
Bernick A, Krohn J, Wehrend A.
(2025).
Patent Urachus and Associated Comorbidities in 101 Newborn Foals: A Retrospective Study.
Vet Med Sci, 11(3), e70379.
https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70379 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Clinic for Reproductive Medicine and Neonatology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
- Veterinary Clinic for Reproductive Medicine and Neonatology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
- Veterinary Clinic for Reproductive Medicine and Neonatology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / congenital
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Animals, Newborn
- Urachus / abnormalities
- Retrospective Studies
- Female
- Male
- Comorbidity
- Prognosis
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
References
This article includes 28 references
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