Clinical cases of neurological disease in foals

Abstract

Recognizing neurologic disease in neonatal foals is important since many neonatal diseases (e.g., not nursing, lethargy, dysphagia, reduced or lack of muscle tone, weakness, and recumbence) have similar signs. Two most common causes of hospitalization in intensive care units during the neonatal period are sepsis and neonatal maladjustment syndrome. Systemic illness can result in or aggravate neurologic disease. Therefore, it is equally important to perform a complete physical examination and diagnostic blood work in a diseased foal. Metabolic derangements (e.g., hyper- or hyponatremia, hypoglycemia, hyperammonemia, and hyperbilirubinemia) have profound effects on the brain. These derangements, if left untreated, are fatal. Congenital anomalies must be considered as possible causes of disease in the neonatal period. Functional neuroanatomy (with examples of clinical cases) is reviewed.