Foals often mimic the behavior of their dams, copycatting everything from grazing to running to rolling and more. But what happens when a foal is born to a mare that has neurologic issues? Will it mimic the odd behaviors?
The staff at Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center has cared for many foals born to neurologically compromised mares, said Dr. Rodney Belgrave. Often the mares are afflicted with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Belgrave says he has not seen foals mimic the neurological signs their mothers exhibit.
However, foals can be born infected with organisms that cause neurologic disease. One of the organisms that causes EPM can be transmitted to the fetus from the placenta. However, infected foals may not demonstrate neurological signs until they are three months old.
Foals can also be born with equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) that is contracted from the dam, but many don't show neurologic signs of this disease, either.
The most common cause of neurologic disease in foals is neonatal encephalopathy, which occurs when the fetus is deprived of oxygen. This can be caused by a bacterial infection called placentitis or by a difficult birthing process. Affected foals often don't develop neurologic signs until 18 to 24 hours after birth.
In both cases, the lack of oxygen leads to fluid build up in brain tissue. Though alarming, the prognosis for neonatal encephalopathy is very good if the foals are treated early and appropriately.
Read more at EQUUS magazine.
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