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.

Treatment

Surgery is needed to create an opening for the anus or to reconstruct the part of the rectum that is missing. This treatment may be costly, but is necessary for survival of the foal in question.

Living and Management

Horses with atresia ani are usually able to lead happy, healthy, or normal lives after surgery. The foals must be cared for after surgery and fed a diet that will be easy on their man-made opening, but once it has been administered they can begin to live normal lives.