Karie, did anyone ever pinpoint what exactly it was that caused the foal to be septic? I was reading my April 21 Horse & Pony News this morning and found the following article which immediately made me think of your foal. It's not a long article, so I'll type it in:
MARE REPRODUCTIVE LOSS SYNDROME (MRLS) CONFIRMED IN FLORIDA
By Dana Zimmel, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, ABVP (Equine Practice), University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine has confirmed one case of MRLS and has two other cases that are suspect. All three cases occurred in Alachua County this spring.
Two cases were septic foals that received treatment in the UFCFVM intensive care unit but were subsequently euthanized. The third case was a late-term abortion.
Diagnosis of MRLS was confirmed by UF pathologist Dr. John Roberts who worked at the University of Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center during the Kentucky MRLS outbreak of 2001-2002.
MRLS has not been previously reported in Florida. The Kentucky outbreak suffered severe economic losses estimated to be near $336-500 million and a loss of 30 percent of the estimated foal crop for 2002.
MRLS has been linked to the consumption of Eastern Tent caterpillars. Eastern tent caterpillars prefer wild cherry, apple and crabapple. The clinical syndromes include: early pregnancy loss, late-term abortions, foals born weak and septic, pericarditis, uveitis, laminitis and oral ulceration.
At this time, we strongly recommend that all abortions and foal deaths receive a post-mortem evaluation. Inspection of pastures for the presence of cherry trees and caterpillars is critical. The only way to protect the pregnant mare is to remove her from contact with the caterpillars. Early pregnancy loss can be detected by ultrasonographic evaluation.
For more information, consult the University of Kentucky web page on MRLS at
www.ca.uky.edu/gluck/mrls/index.htm or The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care at
www.thehorse.com.
Not trying to sound any alarms or anything, just help find out WHY. I'm sure glad your foal is on the rebound, though, that's the best thing of all in this thread.
Blessings,
Everyone I have talked to has said "hmmm I will have to remember the no doz" Apparently this is a normal thing in KY..
