Large Animal Clinical Services

Patient Success Stories - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Neonatal 2 Victory Dance 'O5 colt was born at UCDavis via assisted manual vaginal delivery on the morning of May 4th, 2005. The valuable Standardbred broodmare from California arrived to the UCDavis emergency service after 5 hours of unsuccessful labor (dystocia). Remarkably, the foal was still alive after being malpositioned in the birth canal with one leg back. All that could be seen was the foal’s nostrils, as he struggled to get air.

This is an emergency situation that every horse breeder dreads, and there is not much time. The mare was immediately anesthetized and positioned to allow the Equine Reproduction Dr’s to reposition the very large foal, attach chains, and carefully, but quickly pull him out of the birth canal.

When the foal was delivered he was alive and had a heart beat, but his gums were blue due to lack of oxygen and he was not breathing. The Emergency foal team of residents and technicians, under the supervision and guidance of Neonatology specialist Dr Gary Magdesian, worked together to resuscitate the foal by first giving oxygen through the nose, and then removing the meconium (the first feces) that had been prematurely passed by the stressed fetus into the surrounding membranes, from the foal’s throat. He was then ventilated with an Ambu bag to expand his lungs with air and help him breathe on his own.

The newborn foal showed signs of severe lack of oxygen and blood flow due to prolonged labor, but was struggling already, with long, strong legs to stand.

The foal survived after only 5 days in the UCDavis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. He was too weak to stand at first, and so could not nurse from the mare and ingest the colostrum (first milk) that is so vital to the passive transfer of antibodies to help the foal fight infection. The mare was milked and the colostrum given to the foal via an indwelling feeding tube. His forelegs were also contracted at the fetlock, and so these were straightened over time with support bandaging, leg splints, and drug therapy to relax the tendons.

The colt was treated with intensive monitoring, nasal oxygen, intravenous fluids, hyperimmune plasma, tube feeding, antibiotics to prevent infection, and 24 hour nursing care until he was strong enough to learn to nurse from the mare on his own.

The foal had a condition called Perinatal Asphyxia (Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome; Hypoxic, Ischemic Encephalopathy), also know as ‘Dummy Foal’ syndrome, which is common in newborn foals that are premature, or that do not get enough oxygen either during pregnancy because of placental problems, or during the birthing process itself.

This condition is explained by transient brain dysfunction due to oxygen deprivation and can be successfully treated in 80-90% of cases, as it was in this colt, with adequate supportive care and time. Most foals make a complete recovery within 3-7 days and go on to live normal, athletic lives. It is important to recognize the signs of ‘dummy foal’ syndrome early so that treatment can be started promptly.

Neonatal 2 Affected foals will often appear more sleepy than normal, and will stand with their head under the mare’s udder, but do not nurse. They may not follow the mare in the stall or pasture like normal foals. They may display other abnormal behavior, such as hanging their tongue’s out inappropriately, and they may wander around aimlessly and are not able to nurse properly.

Neonatal 2 These foals become weak very quickly, and are at high risk for dehydration and bacterial infection.

Foals with severe perinatal asphyxia may even seizure or look unconscious. These foals can be saved with varying degrees of intensive care and cost, and the majority have a very good outcome. The key is early recognition and treatment.

Victory Dance, the foal’s dam, recovered well from anesthesia, but had a retained placenta. This condition occurs most often with premature or complicated birth, and is defined as failure to expel the placenta, or fetal membranes, within 3 hours after birth.

Retained fetal membranes can be a life-threatening situation, but is successfully treated in the field, or in the veterinary hospital, with systemic antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, uterine lavage, and oxytocin therapy.

Neonatal 2 Victory Dance and her colt were discharged from the UCDavis Neonatal ICU 5 days later. The foal was nursing the mare; big, strong and active, and with straight legs.

Their story was one like many others, where the combination of expertise, teamwork, and a strong will to live can combat many problems and have a happy ending.

Neonatal 2 Sadly, months later the mare was infected with West Nile Virus and was humanely euthanized. Today the colt is strong and healthy, as his picture shows, and will one day be tough competitor on the Standardbred racetrack.


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[an error occurred while processing this directive]	Patient Success Stories - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Victory Dance 'O5 colt was born at UCDavis via assisted manual vaginal delivery on the morning of May 4th, 2005. The valuable Standardbred broodmare from California arrived to the UCDavis emergency service after 5 hours of unsuccessful labor (dystocia). Remarkably, the foal was still alive after being malpositioned in the birth canal with one leg back. All that could be seen was the foal’s nostrils, as he struggled to get air. This is an emergency situation that every horse breeder dreads, and there is not much time. The mare was immediately anesthetized and positioned to allow the Equine Reproduction Dr’s to reposition the very large foal, attach chains, and carefully, but quickly pull him out of the birth canal. When the foal was delivered he was alive and had a heart beat, but his gums were blue due to lack of oxygen and he was not breathing. The Emergency foal team of residents and technicians, under the supervision and guidance of Neonatology specialist Dr Gary Magdesian, worked together to resuscitate the foal by first giving oxygen through the nose, and then removing the meconium (the first feces) that had been prematurely passed by the stressed fetus into the surrounding membranes, from the foal’s throat. He was then ventilated with an Ambu bag to expand his lungs with air and help him breathe on his own. The newborn foal showed signs of severe lack of oxygen and blood flow due to prolonged labor, but was struggling already, with long, strong legs to stand. The foal survived after only 5 days in the UCDavis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. He was too weak to stand at first, and so could not nurse from the mare and ingest the colostrum (first milk) that is so vital to the passive transfer of antibodies to help the foal fight infection. The mare was milked and the colostrum given to the foal via an indwelling feeding tube. His forelegs were also contracted at the fetlock, and so these were straightened over time with support bandaging, leg splints, and drug therapy to relax the tendons. The colt was treated with intensive monitoring, nasal oxygen, intravenous fluids, hyperimmune plasma, tube feeding, antibiotics to prevent infection, and 24 hour nursing care until he was strong enough to learn to nurse from the mare on his own. The foal had a condition called Perinatal Asphyxia (Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome; Hypoxic, Ischemic Encephalopathy), also know as ‘Dummy Foal’ syndrome, which is common in newborn foals that are premature, or that do not get enough oxygen either during pregnancy because of placental problems, or during the birthing process itself. This condition is explained by transient brain dysfunction due to oxygen deprivation and can be successfully treated in 80-90% of cases, as it was in this colt, with adequate supportive care and time. Most foals make a complete recovery within 3-7 days and go on to live normal, athletic lives. It is important to recognize the signs of ‘dummy foal’ syndrome early so that treatment can be started promptly. Affected foals will often appear more sleepy than normal, and will stand with their head under the mare’s udder, but do not nurse. They may not follow the mare in the stall or pasture like normal foals. They may display other abnormal behavior, such as hanging their tongue’s out inappropriately, and they may wander around aimlessly and are not able to nurse properly. These foals become weak very quickly, and are at high risk for dehydration and bacterial infection. Foals with severe perinatal asphyxia may even seizure or look unconscious. These foals can be saved with varying degrees of intensive care and cost, and the majority have a very good outcome. The key is early recognition and treatment. Victory Dance, the foal’s dam, recovered well from anesthesia, but had a retained placenta. This condition occurs most often with premature or complicated birth, and is defined as failure to expel the placenta, or fetal membranes, within 3 hours after birth. Retained fetal membranes can be a life-threatening situation, but is successfully treated in the field, or in the veterinary hospital, with systemic antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, uterine lavage, and oxytocin therapy. Victory Dance and her colt were discharged from the UCDavis Neonatal ICU 5 days later. The foal was nursing the mare; big, strong and active, and with straight legs. Their story was one like many others, where the combination of expertise, teamwork, and a strong will to live can combat many problems and have a happy ending. Sadly, months later the mare was infected with West Nile Virus and was humanely euthanized. Today the colt is strong and healthy, as his picture shows, and will one day be tough competitor on the Standardbred racetrack.