What is your diagnosis? Large volume of free fluid within the peritoneal cavity and a small urinary bladder.

The research article presents a case study of a 10-day-old Thoroughbred colt who was initially thought to have a neurologic disease because it exhibited symptoms including apparent blindness, seizures, abnormal behavior, and diarrhea. However, clinical and biochemical evaluations suggested systemic diseases that revealed mild leukocytosis, hypoproteinemia, hyperglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia and high activities of several enzymes besides electrolyte abnormalities.

Overview of Symptoms and Initial Treatment

• The 10-day-old Thoroughbred colt showed symptoms of neurological disease such as apparent blindness, abnormal behavior including wandering and head pressing, and also experienced seizures.
• The foal’s condition also worsened with signs of depression and a bloated abdomen.
• In response to the epileptic seizures, the young horse was treated with Diazepam and Phenobarbital, which helped to sedate it and allowed for the placement of an intravenous catheter.

Clinical Examination Findings

• Blood tests showed that the colt had mild leukocytosis, meaning that there was a slightly elevated number of white blood cells. This condition could indicate an infection or inflammation in the body.
• The colt showed signs of hypoproteinemia, a condition characterized by low levels of protein in the blood. This could be indicative of malnutrition, liver disease, or kidney disease.
• The serum also showed hyperglycemia (higher than usual blood sugar levels) which could be due to stress, insulin resistance or other metabolic disorders.
• The horse had a high bilirubin level or hyperbilirubinemia, which is an indication of liver disease or damaging of red blood cells.

Abnormal Enzyme Levels

• Elevated levels of several enzymes including creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, and γ-glutamyltransferase were found. High activity of these enzymes could suggest cell damage specifically muscle damage, liver impairment, and other metabolic disorders.

Electrolyte Abnormalities and Transabdominal Ultrasonography

• The young horse also showed signs of electrolyte imbalance including hyperphosphatemia (high phosphate), hyponatremia (low sodium), and hypochloremia (low chloride) which could impact multiple body functions including maintaining fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contraction.
• A transabdominal ultrasonography was performed, presumably to further investigate the source of the colt’s symptoms and abnormal lab results.