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Diarrhea in Foals: Symptoms, Types and Treatment

Ángel Luis Diez

After the gestation period and the uncertainty of childbirth, it is time to meet the newborn foal. The foal is sensitive and it is quite common to suffer diarrhea, especially in the peripartum period.

Diarrhea is the result of too rapid passage of food through the gastrointestinal tract, which tries to absorb moisture and nutrients. This may be due to increased mobility of the tract, either because the water absorption capacity of the intestine has been reduced, or because there is a greater release of moisture and electrolytes in it.

Foal diarrhea is a common condition that is not usually given great clinical significance. However, it can lead to serious and irreversible systemic consequences, leading to welfare problems and significant economic losses, both direct and indirect (animal casualties, treatment costs, diagnostic and labor costs).

Symptoms of diarrhea in foals

Treatment therapies should be started quickly without waiting to confirm a definitive diagnosis. To do this, we must presumptuously diagnose the cause using the symptoms and knowing the frequent diseases that affect this age group, and initiate the necessary treatment measures.

It is necessary to know how to detect the incipient symptoms of diarrhea in foals. For this, the following recommendations are of great help to us:

• Visit the colt and the mother when we arrive at the block and when we leave it.
• Observe the feces that are in bed, detecting those that have a different consistency than normal.
• Check if the foal is dirty around the maslo and perineum.

(Image by vimesogmbh from Pixabay)

Types of diarrhea depending on their origin

We can find different types of diarrhea according to its origin:

1. Mechanic:

  • Estrus diarrhea or mare’s zeal: It usually occurs between 6 and 10 days of life coinciding with the first heat of the mare postpartum. It originates from changes in the intestinal mucosa, there is also the theory of being produced by variations in the composition of milk due to hormonal changes of the mare.
  • Alimentarias: Aparecen con frecuencia cuando alimentamos al potro con preparados de leche artificial. Aumentos en el volumen de leche que necesitan, o preparados con concentraciones inadecuadas provocan diarreas osmóticas. Suele ocurrir en la primera semana de vida. También puede manifestarse por errores en el tipo de alimentación sólida a partir de las seis semanas de vida, momento en el que el potro empieza a ingerir mayor cantidad de alimento sólido.
  •  By ingestion of sand when feeding: It occurs most frequently after six weeks of age.

2. Neonatal asphyxia syndrome: The foal suffers moments of asphyxia in childbirth that lead to intestinal ischemia, being the most severe cases and more reserved prognoses of diarrhea in the first days of life.

3. Bacterial: they give more frequent and relevant clinical pictures. The main agents are Clostridium and Salmonella, especially in the first weeks of life.

4. Viral: The most common is generated by Rotavirus around the first week of life until the sixth. It usually appears in the form of an epidemic in stud farms.

5. Parasitic: Infrequent and easy to avoid by deworming the mother before delivery. They occur from the first week of life. The main agent is Strongyloides westeri followed by Parascaris equorum.

6. Other causes: Gastric ulcers, intestinal dysbiosis due to the misuse of antibiotics, Herpesvirus and food hypersensitivity.

Solutions to treat diarrhea: Diar Frivit

The best treatment is prevention, which is essential to reduce cases of diarrhoea and its severity. It is essential to establish biosecurity measures, extreme hygiene in the farrowing houses, in the housing of the foals and disinfect between births and batches. In addition, carry out a good vaccination plan, antiparasitic and good encastrado of each foal.

Once the pathology appears, we will apply supportive treatment in all cases. Treatment is common to all foals with diarrhea without systemic manifestations, the most practical points being:

  • Oral fluid therapy and electrolyte supplementation to maintain fluid loss restoration.
  • Prebiotics that help restore intestinal flora.
  • Gastrointestinal protectors and toxin adsorbents.
  • Energy contribution, which in addition to giving a nutritional contribution to the foal will favor intestinal regeneration.
  • Enzyme supplements.
  • Dieta: Nunca ayunar y siempre mantener fluidos a disposición del potro.

In diarrhea of bacterial origin it is necessary to add intensive treatment based on antibiotic therapy, colloids, transfusions and parenteral nutrition. In cases of neonatal asphyxia syndrome, transfusions and fluid therapy are required.

From Laboratorios Ovejero we offer Diar Frivit as a solution to restore normal digestive function.

Diar Frivit is a prebiotic complementary feed and a source of electrolytes and energy. In addition, it has adsorbent, binder and buffer effect. It is effective regardless of the etiology of diarrhea, since it acts on the digestive transit and not on the pathogen. It can be used as a single treatment in mild diarrhea or as an adjunct to fluid therapy and / or antibiotic therapy in more severe diarrhea.

Among the components of Diar Frivit are:

  • MOS-Beta Glucans: Prebiotic effect, promotes the growth of normal bacterial flora, stimulates the innate immune system and prevents colonization of the intestinal mucosa by Gram-negative bacteria.
  • Diosmectine (Montmorillonite): Natural adsorbent that acts in two ways: on the one hand, it coats and protects the intestinal mucosa, and on the other, it adheres to microorganisms and their toxic products to prevent them from acting.
  • Electrolytes: Allow the restoration of electrolyte balance.
  • Carbohydrates: Source of energy.
  • Acetate and propionate: Buffer effect.

Thanks to this carefully studied composition, Diar Frivit allows us to fight diarrhea and restore normal digestive transit. These characteristics make it a very useful tool for veterinarians and farmers. The presentation of the product is in a 60 ml syringe to be administered orally, directly from the syringe to the mouth. It is not necessary to prepare beforehand or mix the product with water. The dosage in foals is 10 ml every 12 hours for 3 days. Being such a small amount and applied directly to the mouth, it is useful even in foals with reduced suction reflex. In addition, it should be noted that it also has registration in goats, lambs and calves.

In short, Diar Frivit is a complete, effective and easy to apply product.

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