In the very acute form, the foal may be found dead sever al hours after a normal birth. In the less acute form, the physical symptoms usually are noticed during the first 2 to 4 days after birth.

This condition can be prevented by not allowing the foal to nurse the mare’s colostrum when it contains RBC antibodies.

There are several ways to identify these antibodies. The most reliable is to blood type the mare and stallion prior to the birth to reveal any potential incompatibility, and then to screen the mare’s serum for RBC antibodies shortly before foaling. Another method tests the mare’s colostrum with the foal’s RBC’s to identify the presence of RBC antibodies.

Treatment for this condition often requires a blood tran- fusion to replace the foal’s damaged RBC’s.

Ruptured urinary bladder is a condition seen on the third to fifth day after birth. The foal usually is colicky and reluc tant to nurse. The abdomen generally appears pendulous and distended. The only treatment for this condition is surgical repair of the bladder. When diagnosed early, the prognosis is good for complete recovery.

Meconial Impaction. The neonate frequently is plagued with severe constipation caused by dry fecal balls that become lodged in the rectum and small colon. This condition causes the foal to strain in an effort to defecate with negative results. As the condition progresses, the foal will show signs of abdominal pain by getting up and down.

Digital palpation of the rectum will usually reveal hard large fecal balls. Treatment consists of soapy water enemas and intestinal lubricants until the fecal balls are softened and passed.

Patent Urachus. The umbilical stump contains the ura- chus (the urinary canal of the fetus) that was responsible for transferring urine from the fetal bladder to the placenta. Very soon after birth, it seals and is no longer functional. If it fails to seal, urine will continue to leak from the bladder. Usually the condition is corrected by dipping the cord daily in an iodine antiseptic. If this therapy fails to seal the canal, the opening can be cauterised with silver nitrate or phenol. It usually is not advisable to clamp or ligate the stump.

Septic arthritis occurs when bacteria invade a joint and establish infection. Cause of this disease usually is a combi nation of the foal’s failure to receive adequate antibodies from the colostrum and a bacterial invasion via the umbili cus. However, the bacteria can also invade through other routes such as the respiratory system.

Clinical symptoms are a painful, hot, swollen joint. This condition requires immediate veterinary attention that will include culturing of the joint, systemic antibiotic therapy, and lavage of the affected joint. Many cases respond rapidly to this therapy but others fail to respond and eventually are euthanised. Septic arthritis usually is seen during the first 3 months after birth.

Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers. This syndrome usually follows a period of stress such as diarrhea or prolonged illness. When the condition occurs suddenly, the foal may be found dead or in deep shock. That occurs when the ulcer has perforated, casing peritonitis. There is no treatment in this case.

When the disease occurs over a short period of time, the foal shows signs of severe abdominal pain by grinding the teeth, rolling on its back, and frequent dipping into the water bucket without drinking. Therapy consists of antiacids, and gastric acid suppressors. The prognosis is guarded in these cases. Successful therapy usually requires at least a month.

Pneumonia is a serious illness in the foal that can be caused by bacterial or viral infection as well as by mechanical agents such as deworming medication, mineral oil, milk or other liquids given orally.

The clinical symptoms include laboured breathing, fever cough, depression, and failure to nurse. Examination and treatment by a veterinarian is indicated when any of these symptoms appear. Antibiotic therapy and good nursing care are essential. The prognosis is guarded to good in most cases.

Shaker Foal Syndrome is thought to be caused by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum type B. The symptoms are most commonly seen around 21 days of age. It does, however, occur in older-foals.

Typical symptoms include a trembling or shivering con- vulstion followed by involuntary collapsing to the ground. These convulsions occur at regular intervals with gradually increasing frequency until death occurs in 1 to 2 days.

Therapy includes the use of antitoxin and antibiotics, and intense nursing care. The prognosis is grave but some cases do survive. Use of antitoxin has recently increased the suc cess rate. Vaccination of the pregnant mare appears to pre vent this syndrome from occurring in the foal.

DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY OF ANIMAL DISEASES A. Decrease or loss of appetite (inappetence; anorexia)

A temporary decrease in appetite may result from fear, excitement, violent exercise or even scarcely apparent changes in the character of the diet. More prolonged inappetence can result from emotional disturbance such as that caused by the housing or yarding of pastured sheep — especially hill-breeds of sheep. Cats may refuse to eat for long periods when con fined away from their home environment.

Voluntary restriction of food intake occurs during lacta tion in sows that were fed to appetite during pregnancy and considerable weight loss will result. A voluntary restriction in food intake of fat ewes occurs in the terminal part of pregnancy and this may initiate pregnancy toxemia.

A. degree of inappetence varying to frank anorexia is present with most disease states and consequently its occur rence is of little diagnostic value; however, the degree to which it is manifest, the speed of its onset and the selectiv ity of its loss are of some value in differential diagnosis. Inappetence may occur in such diverse conditions as specific amino acid or B-vitamin deficiencies and chronic infectious disease. A severe degree of inappetence is usually present with hepatic or renal disease and with any condition in which there is alimentary-tract stasis, severe pain, high fever, toxemia or septicemia, and dementia or stupor.

2. Increased Appetite (polyphagia)

Increased appetite and thirst are seen in pancreatic fibrosis and diabetes mellitus in the dog although emacia tion gradually develops. An increased appetite is some times seen in chronic malabsorptive states and may accom pany certain pituitary tumours and hypothalamic dysfunc tions. Helminth infections are said to be accompanied by increased food intake, however inappetence is generally present in animals showing frank clinical signs of parasi tism. An increase in appetite occurs following recovery from any disease in which inappetence has been manifested although this may be transient in remittent conditions such as equine infectious anemia. An increase in food intake above the normal occurs following periods of starvation or severe food restriction. Animals gaining access to palata ble feeds, especially animals on restricted food intake, will grossly overfeed, and this may be followed by severe diges tive disturbances such as rumen overload in the cow and acute gastric impaction in the horse.

2. Foreign Bodies in the Esophagus

Foreign bodies, e. g. bones, needles and fishhooks, usual ly lodge between the thoracic inlet and the base of the heart or between the base of the heart and the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm.

Clinical findings. Salivation, retching and extension of the neck are constant signs of cervical foreign bodies. When a complete obstruction exists, immediate vomiting follows the intake of food or water. The signs produced by a foreign body depend upon its location, its composition, the degree to which it obstructs the esophagus, and the duration of the condition. If the obstruction has existed for some time, anorexia and loss of weight may be the predominant signs.

Many foreign bodies can be demonstrated by radiography. The presence of a nonradiopaque object may necessitate the use of a barium suspension. Esophagoscopy is an important diagnostic procedure, since it permits direct examination of both the foreign body and the esophageal wall. Occasionally, large masses in the cervical portion of the esophagus can be localized by external palpation.

Treatment. If the object is in the upper portion of the esophagus, it sometimes is possible to grasp and remove it with forceps. All manipulations should be carried out with extreme care to avoid puncture or extensive laceration of the esophageal wall. Foreign bodies, particularly those with sharp edges, should never be pushed down the esophagus.

Surgery may be preferred approach. The choice of an esophagotomy or a gastrotomy will depend on the location and size of the foreign body.