The Effects of Ivermectin Given Postpartum on the Incidence and Severity of Foal Heat Diarrhea

Harris, Stefanie; Vogelsang, M.M.; Potter, G.D.; Bass, E.E.

doi:10.15232/s1080-7446(15)31328-0

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…; Escherichia coli; Lawsonia sp. ; Clostridium spp., mostly difficile and perfringens; and Bacteroides (19)(20)(21)(22)(23), rotavirus and coronavirus (24)(25)(26), internal parasites (18,24,26,27), and yeast (17,28). Apart from posing a risk to health, diarrhea is also onerous for sanitary reasons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Osmotic diarrhea can also be caused by excess of short-chain fatty acids derived from bacterial flora of the large intestine. Studies by Sgorbini et al (17) and Harris et al (18) virtually excluded the possibility that parasitic infections could be the cause of the first diarrhea after birth in foals. The main pathogens that may cause transformation of nonpathogenic (heat) diarrhea into pathogenic diarrhea include Salmonella sp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The efficacy of kaolin clay in reducing the duration and severity of ‘heat’ diarrhea in foals

Pieszka¹,

Luszczynski²,

Hędrzak³

et al. 2016

Turk J Vet Anim Sci

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Introduction The first diarrhea in foals is very often called 'heat' diarrhea because it coincides with the first postfoaling heat in the dam, i.e. at 7-9 days after foaling (1), and it is most often treated as a physiological phenomenon, though it is onerous for hygienic reasons. In spite of many studies (2-4), the etiology of this ailment has not been unequivocally explained. Until recently, a majority of gastrointestinal disturbances were treated with different antibiotics. Once the use of antibiotics as feed supplements for domestic animals was limited, there was a need for the search for substitutes, like prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and nutraceuticals (5). Kaolinite (Al 4 [Si 4 O 10 ][OH] 8) is one of these as an excellent absorbent. Owning to its adsorptive properties, kaolin clay finds applications as anticaking supplement E559 (EFSA, European Food Safety Authority) mixed with feed (6). It can also be an additional source of minerals, mostly iron, in feed. It would be useful both for breeders and veterinarians to establish whether reduction of fluid level in the intestines with kaolin clay given orally as a feed additive would be helpful to alleviate heat diarrhea, especially underlain by osmotic disturbances. Therefore, the main aim of the present study was to determine the effect of kaolin clay on the duration and severity of 'heat' diarrhea in foals. 2. Materials and methods The experiment was conducted in Poland at two stud farms of purebred Arabian horses (oo) designated as A and C and two stud farms of Thoroughbred horses (xx) designated as B and D. The examined horses were housed in a housingpasture system on straw bedding. Dams were fed oats and barley grain, wheat bran, and meadow hay, according to 1997 Polish Requirements of Horse Nutrition. All studied foals were born from January to March, with a total of 76 foals, and were evaluated for incidence of diarrhea. Sixty foals that showed symptoms of diarrhea up to 30 days postfoaling were included in the study. The studied suckling foals were assigned to two groups: control (Con.) and experimental (Exp.). Each experimental foal was given orally once a day (at 0700 hours), using a special syringe, 15 mL of kaolin clay paste (75% dry matter) beginning on the first day of diarrhea for 3 subsequent days. Throughout the study, the health of all animals was thoroughly evaluated by experienced workers, especially on the first day of 'heat' diarrhea, and its duration and severity were recorded. In all suckling foals, diarrhea severity was scored on a 3-point scale: 1-mild diarrhea, i.e. when perianal area, croup, and tail were only damp; 2-moderate diarrhea, i.e. when perianal area, croup, and tail were wet, with fecal staining Abstract: 'Heat' diarrhea in foals is an onerous but not life-threatening ailment, which indicates that it may be of osmotic origin. This was confirmed by a successful attempt, presented in this paper, to alleviate the severity and duration of foal heat diarrhea with the use of a typical absorbent, kaolin clay, as a feed add...

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