Page 96 - SpeedhorseMarch2021

EQUINE HEALTH
“If the problem is going to take some time to resolve, the foal is better off being in the hospital anyway, so we can prevent dehydration and other problems.”
There are several kinds of prepackaged kits that can be used, but a person can also use the things at hand, like a little mineral oil or some warm soapy water.
Dr. Ahmed Tibary performing a meconium enema.
something more medical to break down the material. One of the products that is often utilized to break down the meconium is Acetylcysteine, which is sold under various product names. This is a solution that breaks down all the proteins and softens up the mass of material. Some products combine Acetylcysteine with baking soda, and this breaks it down very quickly,” he says.
“In most cases, these types of products will resolve the problem. If that doesn’t work, the foal should be referred to an equine hospital because we need to see where the blockage is and this requires some imaging,” he says.
“If the problem is going to take some time to resolve, the foal is better off being in the hospital anyway, so we can prevent dehydration and other problems,” says Tibary. If the foal isn’t suckling enough, IV fluids can be administered.
“If the problem is truly just a meconium impaction, it’s rare that the foal would need surgery to resolve it. Eventually the medi- cal treatment will break it down and help move it out, but if it is taking too long, our concern is whether the foal will be compro- mised by other problems such as dehydra- tion. We need to provide good supportive care and also manage the pain. The foal may need IV fluids, mineral oil via gastric tubing, etc. We may give an oral laxative
as well, if the meconium is retained too far
in.” It can be addressed at both ends—rec- tally and orally.
“I have not had to do any surgery on these foals, but sometimes in advanced cases, decompression of the bowel may be necessary by trocarization,” he says. In this situation, a trocar and cannula are inserted through the abdominal wall and into the impacted area of the intestine to pull out the mass of impacted meconium.
“The main thing is to make sure there are no other complications while you are taking care of the impaction,” he says. You want to be proactive and head off any other possible problems that might get out of hand because of the impaction that’s compromis- ing the foal.
“We see some cases of meconium retention here at our hospital every year. It’s important to observe these new babies and be on top of it. Unless you are dealing with a premature, dysmature or septic foal, a person can usually handle this on the farm—but some of those compromised babies need to be referred to a hospital quickly,” he explains.
For the foals from a normal pregnancy, with normal behavior at the beginning, the main thing is just to watch and see how much colostrum they consume. “If we are dealing with a first-time mother, she may not have enough to allow for the laxative effect to stimulate passage of meconium,” he says.
You want to be proactive and head off any other possible problems that might get out of hand because of the impaction that’s compromising the foal.
Foals that are stretching and straining to try to have a bowel movement and twisting the neck around toward their flank or pawing are probably constipated.
94 SPEEDHORSE March 2021