Hemolytic Disease

Hemolytic disease is a blood condition usually found in newborn foals. It manifests itself within the first few days of birth and is the result of a discrepancy between the mare’s red blood cell type and that of the foal. Although the it starts out as a severe type of anemia, hemolytic disease can quickly lead to complications and become the source of much worry, and in severe cases even death. It always helps to have a good understanding of the complications likely encountered with newly born foals, and hemolytic disease is one of those complications.

Symptoms

• Lethargy
• Anemia
• Frequent yawning
• Excessive sleeping
• Rapid breathing and heart rate
• Jaundice
• Yellowing of the eyes and mucous membranes (or jaundice)
• Strange-colored urine
• Bloody urine
• Collapse

Causes

As previously stated, a discrepancy between the red blood cell types of the mare and the foal is the cause of hemolytic disease. The mare develops antibodies to fight off the foreign blood cells and passes it on to the foal during pregnancy or through the colostrum, a mother's “first milk.”

Diagnosis

Diagnosis varies on a case by case basis when it comes to hemolytic disease in foals, however, other than observing the horse's clinical symptoms, conducting blood tests may help confirming the diagnosis. Unfortunately, there are times the disease is only verified after the mysterious death and collapse of the foal, and through a post-mortem examination.

Treatment

It is important that the mare and the foal be separated before anything else is done; from there, the foal must have a transfusion of blood cells from the mare after they have been stripped of the “bad” antibodies. Consult your veterinarian what else should be included in the foal's diet. For a speedy recovery, it is also vital that this be accomplished before the anemia has had time to set in.

Living and Management

As long as the issue is caught early enough, hemolytic disease does not have to be fatal. Other than preventing the foal from nursing on the mare, your veterinarian may advise that you not allow the mare to continue to give birth, as it will continue to have hemolytic foals.

Prevention

Hemolytic disease can be avoided. Muzzling a foal upon birth to ensure that they do not feed on the mare is the best defense against this issue. Also, colostrum free from antibodies can be stored and fed to the foal during their first few hours of life to ensure that they do not contract this ailment.