- 1). Assess if your foal is lethargic and appears depressed. The foal may be unable to nurse. Check the tongue immediately, as it may be paralyzed due to white muscle disease, aka nutritional muscular dystrophy. There are three categories of selenium deficiency: acute with death in 24 hours, exercise induced, and chronic selenium deficiency. Call the veterinarian promptly.
- 2). Determine if the foal is walking as if it's on stilts with a stiff gait and hunched up back. Some foals will not be able to walk at all and food, milk and water will need to be provided to them.
- 3). Ascertain if your foal has a rapid heart rate called arrhythmia. If they become prostate and unable to rise, death follows in one to seven days. There is hope if treatment is administered quickly.
- 4). Listen closely for labored breathing and watch for excessive salivation. Check the urine for an unusual brownish color which indicates they may be excreting myoglobin. Note every symptom for the veterinarian who may administer Vitenium solution, a selenium injection, on complete assessment of the foal.
previous post
next post