Born With No Anus or Rectum in Foals

Atresia Ani

Atresia Ani is a rare condition that causes foals to be born without an anus. It also may cause part or all the rectum to be missing. Surgery is the only option for foals born with this devastating condition.

Symptoms and Types

Foals with this condition display signs such as:

• Colic-like symptoms (e.g., abdominal pain)
• Straining to pass a bowel movement
• Swelling of space where anus should be (if rectum intact)

Causes

Nobody knows what causes atresia ani in horses. This defect is something foals are born with.

Diagnosis

A veterinarian can easily diagnose atresia ani. If the rectum or anus is missing, in whole or part, that is a surefire indicator of the diagnosis. Your veterinarian will make a thorough inspection of your horse’s body, and may prescribe immediate treatment for this problem.