chandab
Well-Known Member
Ok, so I borrowed this information from a donkey/mule forum; but it happens in horses, too. How common is NI in miniature horses? Anyone know? Does anyone check compatibility with their new foals? [i never have, and to my knowledge this hasn't been a problem for me. I've only lost two foals; one late term abortion and one pre-mature foal that didn't survive.]
Not something we've talked about, so thought I'd ask.
Neonatal Isoerythrolysis (NI) in Newborn Mules The reported incidence of NI in newborn mules is about 10%, which is higher than the incidence in horses. All donkeys possess the red blood cell antigen known as donkey factor, therefore every donkey/horse breeding has potential for NI. Mules suffering from NI frequently manifest thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) as well as anemia, presumably because of the presence of anti-platelet antibody as well as anti-red cell antibody. Alloimmune thrombocytopenia (platelet destruction due to anti-platelet antibody) may occur without NI as well. The article below helped me so much to understand better and I'm prepared to do this.After all of the colostrum has been fed, a high quality powdered mares milk will satisfy the foals hunger for the next 24-36 hours. The directions on the powdered milk usually instruct a much more highly concentrated mix than is necessary. The least amount of problems are encountered with a 50/50 mix of powdered milk and water. Even with this watered down mix the foal will usually experience at least some gas colic over the course of bottle feeding. If the foal begins to nurse smaller amounts and wants to lay on its back with its feet curled up it is uncomfortable. 1cc of Bantomine can be administered orally with a syringe to help alleviate stomach pain. It is also imperative that the foal passes its meconium or first manure. An enema may be warmed up and gently administered if you see the foal straining to defecate.
If you have continued to milk the mare vigorously each time you feed the foal, at 30-36 hours you can begin to prepare to return the foal to normal nursing. At this time the foal should be bottle fed under the mare in a nursing position. Stand on the opposite side of the mare as the foal and hold the bottle very near her udder. You may have to allow the foal to get a hold of the nipple and then slowly move the bottle into position. Completing 2-3 feedings in this position will hasten your success as the foal transitions completely back to the mare. The final bottle feeding you should milk the mare and use that to fill your bottle and feed the foal so it gets used to the new taste.
Finally, at 36-48 hours old, the foal can no longer absorb any harmful antibodies. Now it is time to get the foal nursing solely from the mare. Position yourself again on the opposite side of the mare from the foal and bait the foal with the bottle of mares milk. Hold the bottle as near to a teat as you possibly can. You can also coat the mares teats with milk. Attempt to get the foal to look for the bottle and move over to the mares teat instead. You can also dip your fingers in the milk and get the foal sucking on your fingers and moved over to a teat. Once they actually nurse from the mare nature takes over very quickly. Some mares are very tolerant of this process and some may need to be restrained. It is helpful to have a tube of Dormosedan Gel on hand. It can be administered orally and is a very effective sedative. It will not effect the foal.
Monitor the mare and foal carefully over the next hour or two to be sure the foal is nursing properly and the mare is stepping back into a motherly role. If the mare wasnt milked enough during the previous 48 hours she may have reduced milk production for a short time and you might have to supplement the foal with a bottle of powdered milk for another few hours until the mare begins to accommodate the entire meal.
Many farms have a veterinarian come out and do a foal wellness check. This is particularly important in an NI foal. IgG levels should be checked to be sure the foals passive transfer was successful. An apparently healthy foal can die in a matter of hours without the proper protection from infections. If the foal is checked at about 6 hours old, if it is found to have a failure of passive transfer plasma can be tubed orally and the foal can be rechecked. If you have a wellness check at 24-48 hours old and there is a failure of passive transfer then the foal must be sedated and plasma administered intravenously.
After 11-12 months of waiting, there is no reason to lose a foal to NI. It is your responsibility to test and also to know the symptoms and treatment. NI foals grow up to be healthy, normal mules with no adverse effects. As always, be sure to include your veterinarian in your plans and care.
Not something we've talked about, so thought I'd ask.
Neonatal Isoerythrolysis (NI) in Newborn Mules The reported incidence of NI in newborn mules is about 10%, which is higher than the incidence in horses. All donkeys possess the red blood cell antigen known as donkey factor, therefore every donkey/horse breeding has potential for NI. Mules suffering from NI frequently manifest thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) as well as anemia, presumably because of the presence of anti-platelet antibody as well as anti-red cell antibody. Alloimmune thrombocytopenia (platelet destruction due to anti-platelet antibody) may occur without NI as well. The article below helped me so much to understand better and I'm prepared to do this.After all of the colostrum has been fed, a high quality powdered mares milk will satisfy the foals hunger for the next 24-36 hours. The directions on the powdered milk usually instruct a much more highly concentrated mix than is necessary. The least amount of problems are encountered with a 50/50 mix of powdered milk and water. Even with this watered down mix the foal will usually experience at least some gas colic over the course of bottle feeding. If the foal begins to nurse smaller amounts and wants to lay on its back with its feet curled up it is uncomfortable. 1cc of Bantomine can be administered orally with a syringe to help alleviate stomach pain. It is also imperative that the foal passes its meconium or first manure. An enema may be warmed up and gently administered if you see the foal straining to defecate.
If you have continued to milk the mare vigorously each time you feed the foal, at 30-36 hours you can begin to prepare to return the foal to normal nursing. At this time the foal should be bottle fed under the mare in a nursing position. Stand on the opposite side of the mare as the foal and hold the bottle very near her udder. You may have to allow the foal to get a hold of the nipple and then slowly move the bottle into position. Completing 2-3 feedings in this position will hasten your success as the foal transitions completely back to the mare. The final bottle feeding you should milk the mare and use that to fill your bottle and feed the foal so it gets used to the new taste.
Finally, at 36-48 hours old, the foal can no longer absorb any harmful antibodies. Now it is time to get the foal nursing solely from the mare. Position yourself again on the opposite side of the mare from the foal and bait the foal with the bottle of mares milk. Hold the bottle as near to a teat as you possibly can. You can also coat the mares teats with milk. Attempt to get the foal to look for the bottle and move over to the mares teat instead. You can also dip your fingers in the milk and get the foal sucking on your fingers and moved over to a teat. Once they actually nurse from the mare nature takes over very quickly. Some mares are very tolerant of this process and some may need to be restrained. It is helpful to have a tube of Dormosedan Gel on hand. It can be administered orally and is a very effective sedative. It will not effect the foal.
Monitor the mare and foal carefully over the next hour or two to be sure the foal is nursing properly and the mare is stepping back into a motherly role. If the mare wasnt milked enough during the previous 48 hours she may have reduced milk production for a short time and you might have to supplement the foal with a bottle of powdered milk for another few hours until the mare begins to accommodate the entire meal.
Many farms have a veterinarian come out and do a foal wellness check. This is particularly important in an NI foal. IgG levels should be checked to be sure the foals passive transfer was successful. An apparently healthy foal can die in a matter of hours without the proper protection from infections. If the foal is checked at about 6 hours old, if it is found to have a failure of passive transfer plasma can be tubed orally and the foal can be rechecked. If you have a wellness check at 24-48 hours old and there is a failure of passive transfer then the foal must be sedated and plasma administered intravenously.
After 11-12 months of waiting, there is no reason to lose a foal to NI. It is your responsibility to test and also to know the symptoms and treatment. NI foals grow up to be healthy, normal mules with no adverse effects. As always, be sure to include your veterinarian in your plans and care.
