Primary diagnosis, survival and long-term outcome in young horses with problems in the neonatal period

Abstract

In this study, neonatal disorders of foals in a referral hospital (n = 170), survival and further development until the age of at least three years were analysed retrospectively. The most frequent primary diagnosis was septicemia (33%), followed by prematurity (16%), failure of passive transfer (FPT; 13%) and gastro-intestinal problems (8%). Out of 1 70 foals, 108 survived and were discharged healthy. Survival rate was lowest in premature neonates (22%) and foals with septicemia (55%). In all other groups > 80% of the foals survived and were discharged healthy. The frequency of primary diagnoses did not differ between female and male foals. Only in cases with meconium impaction, statistical significance was nearly reached (2 female, 9 male, p = 0.06). Pronounced deviations from normal clinical and laboratory values were mainly found in premature foals (e.g. decreased body temperature, prolonged capillary refill time, immature blood count). For 70 foals, information on development up to an age of at least 3 years was available. Out of these, 42 had been healthy during at least 3-years after treatment in the neonatal period. A variety of problems were reported in the remaining 28 foals.