Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Maturity of the neonatal foal.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice
- Year:
- 2005
- Authors:
- Lester, Guy D
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences · Australia
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Caring for a young foal that hasn't fully matured can be quite challenging, even for skilled veterinarians. These foals often face problems that can affect their bones, breathing, and digestion. Before starting treatment, it's crucial for the vet to discuss with the owner what to expect in terms of survival chances, costs, and potential complications. Making an accurate prediction about the foal's future can be tough, but understanding how foals normally grow and what factors can influence their development helps.
Abstract
The immature foal frequently represents a significant management challenge to even the most experienced clinician. The clinical course typically involves complications to a range of body systems,including the musculoskeletal, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems. Before the commencement of treatment, it is important to provide the owner with an estimation of short-term and long-term survival, expected costs, and possible complications. Formulation of an accurate prognosis can be a difficult task but is aided by knowledge not only of normal maturation but of the factors that affect this process.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16051053/