Posted by bsg on June 09, 2003 at 23:11:43:
In Reply to: new born foal posted by Ginny Dermitt on May 11, 2000 at 10:58:51:
I know this is belated but it may help someone else. The term is also seen as dummy-foal.
Dummy foal or neonatal maladjustment syndrome can be associated with several conditions--septicemia, premature birth, hypoxia during delivery, CNS hemmorhage.
Treatment depends on inciting cause.. Antibiotics if septic, fluid and electrolyte therapy, tube feeding, etc. I would definitely do IgG, CBC, profile, blood culture, and go with IV DMSO treatment, as this seems to reduce cerebral edema secondary to hypoxia. If you can get this foal to a neonatal ICU, that would be your best shot at treatment. Round the clock nursing care is essential in these cases.
Prognosis is guarded; if no improvement within 4 days, probably poor. If your DVM feels this foal is highly unlikely to make it, you may want to consider euthanasia, crass as it may sound. The care required in a critically ill neonate is very expensive, and if the prognosis is poor, you may end up with a dead foal and a huge bill. If you decide in favor of trying to save this baby, you have my sincere wishes for the best.
Excerpted from -C.M.Newell, DVM
http://www.horse-country.com/faqs/dummy_foal.html
: Do you know what
a "dumb-foal" syndrome is??? - I have a newborn foal and the vet says it has this, but cannot find any info on this.
: Thanks.