Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Foals with low sodium showing seizures and unsteady walk - what to
By Hardefeldt, L Y·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2014·Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital, Australia·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hyponatraemic encephalopathy in azotaemic neonatal foals: four cases.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Four young foals were treated over two years for serious neurological problems, including aimless walking, head pressing, seizures that looked like chewing, and difficulty with coordination. Tests showed that all the foals had very low sodium levels and kidney issues. In three of the foals, the low sodium levels improved on their own, but one foal needed long-term sodium supplements. Three foals were able to leave the hospital, but one had to be put to sleep due to kidney failure, and another was euthanized two weeks later because of a severe bone infection. Overall, fixing the sodium levels helped improve the foals' neurological symptoms, but the kidney problems took longer to get better.
Abstract
CASE SERIES: Four neonatal foals were presented, over a 2-year period, (2011-2012) with aimlessly walking, head pressing, 'chewing gum' seizures and ataxia. The neurological lesion was consistent with increased intracranial pressure in all cases. All foals had severe hyponatraemia and azotaemia identified on biochemistry. Hyponatraemia was transient in 3/4 cases, with the foal in the final case requiring long-term sodium supplementation. Three foals survived to hospital discharge; one was euthanased because of anuric renal failure and one of the surviving foals was euthanased with septic osteomyelitis 2 weeks after initial discharge. CONCLUSION: Correction of the sodium deficit resulted in resolution of the neurological signs in these foals; however, azotaemia was slow to resolve, suggesting acute renal failure.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25424762/