An unusual cause of colic in a neonatal foal

Abstract

Summary A case of a neonatal foal with acute colic and respiratory distress is described. The foal presented with signs of acute colic and was treated medically. The foal did not respond to treatment and 2 h after admission the foal began to demonstrate signs of respiratory distress. Thoracic and abdominal radiographs were obtained and a diagnosis of a diaphragmatic hernia was made. Surgical repair of the hernia was recommended but the owner declined and the foal was subjected to euthanasia. Post mortem findings confirmed the diagnosis and revealed that the defect was of congenital origin. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is an unusual cause of colic in a neonatal foal.

Colic and diaphragmatic hernias in neonatal foals

“…Another interesting aspect of the case reported by Tapio et al . (2012) is the development of respiratory distress.…”

“…1997; Branson and Kramer 2000), there is only one previous report of a foal presenting for respiratory difficulty without colic (Speirs and Reynolds 1976) suggesting that congenital respiratory insufficiency does not often accompany this problem in horses. In the case described by Tapio et al . (2012), which began showing colic signs at an unprecedented early age (6 h), it is likely that a significant portion of the intestines had been in the chest during fetal life making it possible that this foal's lung development was restricted.…”

“…Colic in neonatal foals is common and unusual causes of colic are not rare. The case reported in this issue by Tapio et al (2012) is a good example of an unusual cause of neonatal colic which presents both a diagnostic challenge and unusual consequences. Gastrointestinal disease, especially colic, ranks as one of the most common reasons why foals require veterinary attention during their first week of life, beyond the initial post natal examination.…”

“…In this issue, Tapio et al . (2012) report a case of diaphragmatic hernia as the cause of colic in a foal less than 1‐day‐old.…”

“…An enema can be both diagnostic as well as therapeutic. Ultrasound examination can be an extremely important ancillary aid, although as noted in the case report by Tapio et al . (2012) in this issue, it is not always diagnostic.…”