Post by IH Health on Jul 31, 2009 10:35:06 GMT 1
Hemolytic Disease
What is it?
Hemolytic Disease is seen in foals and is a red blood cell disorder that can be fatal.
Causes
It is caused by the sire of the foal passing on a red blood cell type that the mare does not possess. There are two types an animal can be - Rhesus positive and Rhesus negative which cannot be mixed. If the uterine foal is one type and the mother is the other, cells can be passed through the placenta into the mare’s bloodstream causing an antibody reaction. The antibodies are then transferred to the colostrum that the foal drinks on the first day – as they hit the foals blood stream, they attack his red blood cells and cause them to break down.
Symptoms
• Foal is overly sleepy
• If exercised the heart rate and respiration increases quickly
• Jaundice
• Red urine
• Anaemia symptoms
• In severe cases the foal may collapse
Diagnosis
A vet is required immediately if any of the above signs are diagnosed. Blood tests can reveal if the foal has HD.
Treatment
HD is reversed by a blood transfusion and being bottle fed (with a matching mares milk or substitute) whilst the mare is milked. The antibodies in the colostrum are only present for up to 36 hours, after which time the foal care nurse from the mare normally.
When choosing a stallion for your mare it is important to test to see if there is a likelihood of this disease.
Please post below any information you have on this subject or of your experiences in diagnosis/treatment/aftercare. All information given is for reference only and does not constitute or should replace qualified veterinarian advice.
What is it?
Hemolytic Disease is seen in foals and is a red blood cell disorder that can be fatal.
Causes
It is caused by the sire of the foal passing on a red blood cell type that the mare does not possess. There are two types an animal can be - Rhesus positive and Rhesus negative which cannot be mixed. If the uterine foal is one type and the mother is the other, cells can be passed through the placenta into the mare’s bloodstream causing an antibody reaction. The antibodies are then transferred to the colostrum that the foal drinks on the first day – as they hit the foals blood stream, they attack his red blood cells and cause them to break down.
Symptoms
• Foal is overly sleepy
• If exercised the heart rate and respiration increases quickly
• Jaundice
• Red urine
• Anaemia symptoms
• In severe cases the foal may collapse
Diagnosis
A vet is required immediately if any of the above signs are diagnosed. Blood tests can reveal if the foal has HD.
Treatment
HD is reversed by a blood transfusion and being bottle fed (with a matching mares milk or substitute) whilst the mare is milked. The antibodies in the colostrum are only present for up to 36 hours, after which time the foal care nurse from the mare normally.
When choosing a stallion for your mare it is important to test to see if there is a likelihood of this disease.
Please post below any information you have on this subject or of your experiences in diagnosis/treatment/aftercare. All information given is for reference only and does not constitute or should replace qualified veterinarian advice.