Very Common
OTHER DIAGNOSES CONSIDERED
Other conditions or ailments that might also need to be ruled out by a vet.
Diagnosis
Conditions or ailments that are the cause of a problem that you see - your observation.
Your vet may diagnose
Foal Pneumonia, Rhodococcus equi
Synonyms: Summer Pneumonia, Rattles
Summary
This is a common and severe foal pneumonia that typically affects foals at 6 weeks to a few months of age. The agent causes large abscesses to form in the lung. These require weeks of treatment with specific antibiotics that are able to penetrate into the infection. This disease is classically seen in hot, dry and dusty climates and facilities. It is more common in crowded conditions at breeding farms.
The disease can be surprisingly hard to diagnose. Routine blood work is not always diagnostic. Chest x-ray can visualize the lesions and chest ultrasound is also useful.
Affected foals develop lung abscesses that are impossible to treat without the use of particular antibiotics for long-term. These antibiotics must not only have the chemical characteristics to kill the organism, but must also be able to penetrate into the center of the abscesses.
The disease can be surprisingly hard to diagnose. Routine blood work is not always diagnostic. Chest x-ray can visualize the lesions and chest ultrasound is also useful.
Affected foals develop lung abscesses that are impossible to treat without the use of particular antibiotics for long-term. These antibiotics must not only have the chemical characteristics to kill the organism, but must also be able to penetrate into the center of the abscesses.
my vet's role
Diagnostics Used
These are tests that might be helpful to make this diagnosis or further characterize the condition.
Treatments May Include
These treatments might be used to help resolve or improve this condition.
PROGNOSIS AND RELEVANT FACTORS
Foals that recover from the disease have been shown to be able to perform normally as adults.my role
I might observe
You might make these observations when a horse has this condition.
Very Common
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Growing Foal, Poor Growth & Condition
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Rapid Breathing, Flaring Nostrils at Rest (Not after Exercise)
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Foal or Newborn, Fever, Rectal Temperature Greater than 102.5 Degrees
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Foal or Newborn, Heart Rate Elevated
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Foal or Newborn, Coughing
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Discharge from Both Nostrils (White, Yellow or Green)
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Coughing
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Foal Lameness, 1-6 Months Old
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Difficulty Breathing, Struggles for Breath
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Grunting or Groaning when Breathing
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Bloated Belly, Distended Abdomen
Skills I Might Need
I might need these skills if my horse has this diagnosis.
Questions To Ask Your Vet:
- What are the ways we can reduce incidence of the problem in the future?
Prevention
In my experience at breeding farms, the use of R. equi hyperimmune plasma in newborn foals has reduced the incidence of this problem significantly.
further reading & resources
Outside Resources
CREDIBLE EQUINE HEALTH INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET
