JANUARY 2022 VOLUME 31, NO. 1

A PUBLICATION BY THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY SCIENCE, MAXWELL H. GLUCK EQUINE RESEARCH CENTERSPONSORED BY:

EQUUS / STANDARDBRED STATION, INC.
M&J INSURANCEIN TH IS IS S U E
INTERNATIONAL
Third Quarter 2021........2
Genome Sequencing......3
NATIONAL
Winter Care Tips............4KENTUCKY
Vertebral Pathology.......5
Sepsis in
Newborn Foals...............6

TH A N KIN GSPONSO RSC O MME N TARY

Breeders in the northern hemisphere are anxiously awaiting the upcoming foaling season and thepotential arrival of a future Triple Crown winner,or second Totilas. Foaling is the culmination of
11 months of preparation involving a team of themare’s owner, stud farm personnel, and veterinarians, who have supported and navigated the marethrough pregnancy. This often involves carefully
monitoring the fetal-placental unit, which maintains an intricate balance involving nutrients, oxygen, and waste products between the foal and themare’s uterus. This complicated interaction steers
and regulates fetal growth and development. Any
disturbance can affect fetal growth and development and may result in abnormal behavior, adaptation, or configuration. These abnormalities are often observed in the first minutes or hours after birthand dictate the need to closely observe the mareprior to and during parturition and the foal within
hours after birth.
A foal born under normal circumstances should
function with the precision of a Swiss wristwatch.
Within minutes after parturition, the foal should exhibit a righting response, in which the foal maneuvers into a sternal position, and attempts to get up
on its spindly legs in quest of the dam’s teat(s) andudder. The foal should stand within an hour of birthand suckle within two hours. This is succeeded by aroutine of sleeping, getting up, stretching, suckling,
passing urine (and feces), exploring, and then sleeping again. Any deviation from this routine, subtle orprofound, can be a sign of developmental abnormalities. Poor nursing can lead to decreased colostrum

or milk consumption and inappropriate swallowingthat can result in milk aspiration into the lungs due
to fatigue of the pharyngeal musculature. Inability
to stand or a lack of strength results in an increased
ground/floor contact that increases the risk of infection from the environment. As soon as abnormal behavior is noted, a reason for the abnormality
should be identified and appropriate intervention
initiated. Tendon laxity or limb contracture will
make it difficult for a foal to stand or ambulate. This
is not a generalized illness. Conversely, sepsis (asdiscussed by Dr. Christie in this issue) carries therisk of infection and inflammation in many organsystems.
Importantly, a poor start is not the end of the foal’s
career. Mild abnormalities may only need a little
jumpstart by experienced farm personnel and an
expedited examination by a veterinarian. Moreseverely affected foals often require referral toa veterinary hospital and placed under intensive
care. The sooner a foal is referred, the better theoutcome. All foaling units should be prepared forcomplications and have a plan in place to rapidlytransport the mare and foal to a veterinary hospital.
Transportation should include a warm, dry space
for the foal and ample space for the broodmare.
CONTACT:
Lutz S. Goehring DVM, MS, PhD
l.goehring@uky.edu
Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

REMINDER: This is the final printed Equine Disease Quarterly publication you
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JANUARY 2022 | 1

I N T E R N AT I O N A L
Third Quarter 2021

The International Thoroughbred Breeders Federation,
International Collating Centre, Newmarket, United
Kingdom, and other sources reported the following
equine disease events.

Games in Tokyo) and the RSA. The disease is considered endemic in the RSA, with a total of 38 cases confirmed in five premises, of which 26 were recorded inGauteng Province.

African horse sickness was reported as endemic in the
Republic of South Africa (RSA). One case was confirmed in Gauteng Province.

Multiple outbreaks of contagious equine metritis(CEM) were recorded by Germany, three had two cases
each, and the remaining 10 had a single case. Six ofthe outbreaks involved stallions, and seven outbreaks
involved mares.

Canada, the UK and the USA recorded equine influenza. The number of outbreaks ranged from one (Canada),
three (the UK), to single or multiple outbreaks in 23
states in the USA, where the disease is endemic.
Outbreaks of strangles were reported by Belgium(one), France (22), Germany and the Netherlands (twoapiece), Switzerland (five) and the USA (25), where thedisease was diagnosed in eight states and is considered
endemic.
Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) respiratory disease isendemic in most countries. Infection was confirmedby Germany (two outbreaks), the RSA (nine cases involving outbreaks on three premises), and the USA (oneoutbreak).

EQUINEDISEASEQUARTERLYEDITORS
Alan Loynachan
Rebecca Ruby
Lutz Goehring
STAFF
Tawana Brown
EDQ@uky.edu

Outbreaks of EHV-1 abortion were reported by Germany (one) and the USA (two), all represented by individual cases. Cases of EHV-1 neurologic disease wereconfirmed by Argentina (four on one premises), Canada (one), Germany (two outbreaks, one involving fivecases), the RSA (one of nosocomial infection), and theUSA (six outbreaks, one involving several animals that
had attended a show and the remainder by individual
cases).
Equine herpesvirus 4 (EHV-4) respiratory disease wasrecorded by France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands,
RSA, and Switzerland. The number of outbreaks ranged
from one (Italy, RSA), two (Germany, the Netherlands,
and Switzerland) to four (France). The majority of outbreaks involved a single case.
The USA reported cases of infection with equine herpesvirus-2 and -5 (EHV-2/EHV-5). EHV-2 (18) andEHV-5 (25) infections were diagnosed in five states,
some associated with respiratory disease.
Infection with equine arteritis virus was recorded by
France. A three-year-old colt and a stallion were involved.
The USA diagnosed 11 single cases of Rhodococcus
equi related respiratory disease.
Equine infectious anemia was confirmed by Canada, Italy, and the USA. The number of outbreaks varied fromthree (Canada), six (USA), to eight (Italy). The majorityof outbreaks comprised single cases. The outbreaks in
the USA involved American Quarterhorses in Texas andferal horses in Utah.
Equine piroplasmosis was reported by Japan (single
clinical case of Theileria equi infection at the Olympic

2 | EQUINE DISEASE QUARTERLYThe USA reported a case of equine coital exanthema(equine herpesvirus 3) and single cases of leptospiralabortion and renal disease in Kentucky.
The USA also diagnosed 20 cases of Salmonella infection involving serogroup B and five cases of untyped
Salmonella spp.
Clostridial enterocolitis associated with Clostridium
perfringens was reported by Switzerland (one case).
The USA recorded 11 cases of C. perfringens and threecases of Clostridiodes difficile, the majority in Kentucky.
The USA confirmed nine outbreaks of Neorickettsia risticii infection involving four states.
Rotavirus diarrhea in foals was reported by France (sixoutbreaks, primarily single cases) and the USA (twocases of rotavirus Type A infection).
One case of rabies was confirmed in Montana, USA.
This marked the 12th case in the state in 2021.
Canada and the USA recorded cases of eastern equine
encephalomyelitis (EEE). Five outbreaks were diagnosed in Canada and 28 in the USA. With two exceptions, the outbreaks consisted of single cases. The majority of cases were in unvaccinated horses.
Outbreaks of West Nile encephalitis were reported by
Canada (three), Germany (seven), Italy (two, one involving lineage 2 virus), Portugal (three), Spain (six),
United Arab Emirates (one), and the USA (58 cases in
15 states).
Equine encephalosis is considered endemic in the RSA,
and two cases were confirmed in the Western Cape
Province.
Three cases of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis werediagnosed in Kentucky, USA.
Kazakhstan, Spain and the USA reported cases of anthrax. The disease affected horses, cattle and sheep ona farm in Kazakhstan. Of 115 horses, 10 developed disease and nine died. Three cases were confirmed in Spainand one in Texas; the latter represented the third case in
Texas in 2021.
Switzerland diagnosed three outbreaks of intercurrent
anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis in separate Cantons.

Whole Genome Sequencing in 101 Thoroughbreds
Breeders have always used pedigrees to manage thegenetics of Thoroughbred horses. Pedigree analysis isfirmly rooted in our understanding of classical, Mendelian genetics. However, pedigrees only track relationships. The actual genetic variation present in any animal
can only be assessed by reading the DNA itself. In 2006,
the whole genome sequence of the horse was first reported. It was an expensive undertaking, but since thenthe costs of doing this work decreased dramaticallysuch that sequencing the whole genome of a horse is aroutine activity in research laboratories. The DNA sequence contains information about the extent of genetic
variation, relationship to other horses, relationship toother breeds, levels of inbreeding and can even provide
raw material for discovery to potentially deleterious
genes that interfer with the success of the breeder.
On August 6, 2021, Teruaki Tozaki and colleagues fromthe Laboratory of Racing Chemistry and Japan Racing
Association published a landmark paper describing wholegenome sequencing of 101 Thoroughbreds in Japan(https://nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95669-1).
While scientists have been identifying DNA variationin short regions for the last three decades, this study is
unique in that these scientists collected data on all 2.41
billion DNA nucleotides of the 101 horses.
This work provides a baseline for comparison of different populations of Thoroughbreds as well as a benchmark to assess changes over time. In addition, we cancompare the variation found in this study to variation
found in other breeds. Jagannathan and colleagues (2019Anim. Genet. 50, 74–77) sequenced the whole genomesof 88 horses of diverse breeds including Warmblood,
Standardbred, Quarter Horse, Arabian, Morgan, Franches-Montagne, Paint, Icelandic, Shetland, Akhal-Teke,
Noriker, Welsh ponies, and one Thoroughbred. The twostudies were similar in design, so we can directly compare their results such as those shown in Table 1.
The total numbers of single nucleotide variants (SNVs)
found in the Jagannathan study was almost twice aslarge as those found in the Tozaki study. This illustrates
the great amount of diversity existing among horses ofall breeds. However, when we examine the number of
SNVs found in each horse (Max-Min), Thoroughbred
horses fall within the range for the diversity of breeds.
Specifically, while the Jagannathan study reported arange of 4.4 million-6.6 million SNV per animal, theThoroughbred counts fall within that range, 4.8 million-5.3 million.

Two technical caveats bear mentioning here. SNVs are
just one type of DNA variant. Other types of variants
exist, including DNA insertions, deletions, and repeats.
Therefore, the total number of variants including thosein other categories is certainly greater than the numberof SNVs reported. Another—and perhaps very consequential—caveat is that the number of SNVs were determined through comparisons with reference to the
genome of a Thoroughbred mare (the equine reference
genome). If we were to use a different breed as a reference, say a Shire horse, we will see a larger numberof variants for Thoroughbred horses when compared tothis new reference, but less for Shires.
Regardless of how we count the variants these results
suggest that the amount of variation found among Thoroughbreds is not exceptionally depleted when comparedto the range of variation among other horse breeds.
Arguably, some of the most important outcomes of thisstudy are yet-to-be generated products of these data. For
instance:•

The information serves as a baseline of diversity toassess and model/predict changes in the future population resulting from current and evolving breeding practices.

•

The 12.1 million genetic variants identified among
these 101 Thoroughbreds can be assessed to determine which may cause fitness problems, and thosedesirable for health and racing performance.

•

These data can be applied to assist in detecting
inappropriate modifications of DNA, called gene
doping, done in order to enhance racing performance.

CONTACTS:
Ernest Bailey, PhD
ebailey@uky.edu, (859) 218-1105
Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center
University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Ted Kalbfleisch, PhD
ted.kalbfleisch@uky.edu, (859) 218-1147
Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center
University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

Material published in the
Quarterly is not subject
to copyright. Permissionis therefore granted
to reproduce articles,
although acknowledgmentof the source and author isrequested.
Maxwell H. Gluck
Equine Research Center
Lexington, Kentucky
USA, 40546-0099
Telephone (859) 257-4757
Fax (859) 257-8542
gluck.ca.uky.edu

Jessica Petersen, PhD
Jessica.petersen@unl.edu, (402) 472-6328
Department of Animal Science
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska

Table 1. Comparison of the number of single nucleotide variants (SNV) among horse breeds in two studies.
Study

Tozaki et al. 2021
Jagannathan et al. 2018

# Horses

Total # SNV

101 Thoroughbreds

12.1M

88 from Diverse Breeds

23.5M

Range of
SNV/Horse

Average #SNV/Horse

4.4M-6.6M

5.9M

4.8M-5.3M

5.1M

JANUARY 2022 | 3

N AT I O N A L

Eight Tips for Equine Winter Care

Caring for horses in winter can be challenging. Horses
may need additional feed, water, and close monitoringof body condition. Additionally, changes in exercise
routines, hoof care and blanketing are needed. As
conditions become icy, increased risk of injury can occur
if paddocks and barn areas are not properly maintained.
This article discusses eight key areas to focus on to help
ensure the horse’s needs are met during winter.
Water is important. Most adult horses need 10 to 12
gallons of water daily. During the summer months,
pastures contain about 80% moisture and can contributeto your horse’s water requirement. In contrast, dried
hay contains less than 15% moisture, therefore, yourhorse will require more water in winter. To encourage
drinking, keep your horse’s water temperature between
45° to 65°F, regularly clean waterers, make sure tankheaters are in working condition, and check waterers forelectrical sensations or shocks. Remember, snow and
ice are not adequate water sources for horses.

Monitor feed intake. Lower critical temperature
is defined as the temperature below which a horseneeds additional energy to maintain body warmth.
The lower critical temperature estimate for horses is
41°F with a summer coat and 18°F with a winter coat;
however, younger horses may reach their lower criticaltemperature before a mature horse. For every degree
below 18°F the horse requires an additional 1% energy
intake in their diet to help maintain body temperatureand condition. The best source of additional dietaryenergy is silage, frequently grass that is fermented by
microbes which produce heat and keep the horse warm.
Other nutrient requirements don’t change during cold
weather.

Track body condition and weight. During wintermonths, heavy hair coats can hide weight loss or gain.
Body condition and weight should be assessed monthly
to help track horse health and to note purposefulor unwanted changes. Body weight can be tracked
using weight tapes, the Healthy Horse mobile device
application, or mathematical equations that use various
body measurements.
Blanketing a horse is necessary to reduce the effects ofcold or inclement weather when shelter is not available
during turnout periods; temperatures or wind chill drop
below 5°F; and when the horse has become wet, had
its winter coat clipped, is very young or very old, isn’t
acclimated to the cold, and/or has a body condition scoreof three or less. Make sure blankets fit, because poorly
fitted blankets can cause sores and rub marks. Remove
the blanket daily, inspect it for damage, reposition it,
and make sure it stays dry.
Provide access to shelter. In the absence of windand moisture, most horses tolerate temperatures at orslightly below 0°F. If horses have access to shelter, they

4 | EQUINE DISEASE QUARTERLY

can tolerate temperatures as low as -40°F. Researchers
found that in mild winter weather, horses housed
outdoors tended to use very little shelter. However,shelter usage increased to 62% when it snowed andwind speed was greater than 11 miles per hour. Althoughfrostbite of the ears is uncommonly reported in horses,
there is the potential for it to occur under very adverse,
sub-zero weather conditions.
Provide exercise with turnout, or as often as possible.
One challenge with winter riding is the process ofcooling down a horse with a winter coat. A hairclipping technique, known as a trace clip, can be usedon regularly exercised horses to help speed the coolingprocess. However, clipped hair doesn’t grow backrapidly in winter; therefore, use appropriate shelter andblankets throughout the winter and into the early springmonths. Take caution when riding in deep, heavy, or wet
snow to prevent tendon injuries and avoid icy areas.

Maintain regular hoof care. Horse hooves generally
grow slower in the winter; however, trimming shouldstill occur every 6 to 12 weeks. Horse hooves are prone
to “ice or snowballs” during the winter. These balls of
packed ice or snow make it hard for a horse to walk,increase the chance of slipping and falling, and put
stress on tendons and joints. Make sure to pick yourhorse’s hooves daily, especially after a heavy snow andconsider fitting snow grips.
Keep paddocks in working order. Icy paddocks cause
slips and falls that can lead to serious injury. Use sandto increase traction on ice, but don’t feed horses nearsand as they may accidentally ingest it. Straight salt can
speed the melting of ice if temperatures aren’t too cold.
Research has not documented the effect of salt on horse
hooves, but to be safe, use pure salt in moderation. Don’t
use a mixture of sand and salt in paddocks since horses
may accidentally ingest the sand due to their interest in
the salt. Additionally, a thin layer of wood ash or fresh
manure can help improve traction. Avoid shavings, hay,and straw as they tend to slide over ice and provide little
traction.
By paying attention to these eight areas, owners canprovide a safe environment for their horses throughout
cold weather months.
CONTACT:
Krishona Martinson, PhD
krishona@umn.edu(612) 625-6776
Department of Animal Science
University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota

KENT U CKY

Equine Vertebral Column Pathology

As technology associated with advanced imaging anddiagnostic modalities progresses, more attention is
being given to equine vertebral column pathology. The
vertebral column serves important roles in protectionof the spinal cord and locomotion. Therefore, diseases
that impact the vertebral column can have a significant
impact on equine health and rider safety.
Equine submissions to the University of Kentucky
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory over a 10-year
period (2011-2021) were queried for diagnoses related
to significant vertebral column pathology. A total of
426 cases were identified. Distribution of diseases
included equine cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy(n=224), fracture/subluxation (n=123), abnormal spinal
curvature (n=51), osteomyelitis (n=13), intervertebral
disk disease (n=7), congenital vertebral anomaly (n=5)
and neoplasia (n=3).
Vertebral pathology associated with equine cervicalvertebral stenotic myelopathy (wobbler syndrome)comprised the majority of cases. This is no surprise given
the density of Thoroughbreds in the central Kentucky
area and their documented breed predisposition todevelop the disease. Wobbler syndrome occurs whenmalformation of the cervical vertebrae results in spinal
canal narrowing and cervical spinal cord compression.
In general, wobbler syndrome is categorized as affecting
two groups of horses. The first being young, growing
horses with complex multifactorial interactions between
gender, growth rate, diet and genetic determinants. The
second group is seen in older horses with age relatedchanges in the neck, mainly osteoarthritis. In thisretrospective, males were more commonly affected(male n=182; female n=34), the average age was 23.1
months (4 months-168 months) and Thoroughbreds
were the most common breed (n=165). Vertebrae areclassified as irregular bones due to their complex shape.
Therefore, changes in different locations of the bone itself
can result in spinal cord compression. Articular process
joint lesions were the most frequent cause of spinal
cord compression (n=71) followed by subluxation of
the vertebral body (n=67), generalized narrowing of thecanal (n=27) and thickening or elongation of the dorsal
lamina (n=13). Articular process lesions were largely
due to osteoarthritis, followed by osteochondrosis.

Acquired spinal curvature disorders (i.e., scoliosis,
lordosis, or kyphosis) were identified in 51 cases, with50 considered congenital and one case of acquired
scoliosis. Of the congenital cases, 71% had otherskeletal abnormalities including limb contracture or
facial malformations. Dystocia was described in 66%
of the submitted histories. The thoracic column was themost common location (n=27) followed by the lumbar
column.
All vertebral osteomyelitis cases occurred in horses
under one year of age. The lumbar vertebrae werethe most frequent location. Rhodococcus equi andStreptococcus zooepidemicus were common bacterial
isolates. Secondary pathologic fracture was noted in six
cases.
Clinically significant intervertebral disk disease is a more
recent area of interest. In this review, intervertebral disk
disease cases exhibited yellowing of the disk material
with varying degrees of fibrillation, clefting and loss.
All cases had a clinical history of ataxia. Secondaryspinal cord compression was noted in four cases.
Of the remaining disease categories, congenital vertebral
anomalies included cystic vertebral body or vertebral
fusion. Neoplastic processes impacting the vertebral
column included primary vertebral body sarcoma,
metastatic lymphosarcoma and metastatic melanoma.
A variety of disease processes can impact the equinevertebral column. Pathologic evaluation of the equinevertebral column in conjunction with clinical information
will continue to help better our understanding of theseprocesses and their impact on equine health.
CONTACT:
Jennifer Janes, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVP
jennifer.janes@uky.edu (859) 257-8283
University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory
Lexington, Kentucky

The cervical column was the most commonly reportedsite of fracture/subluxation (n=69), with the vertebral
body being most frequently affected. In eleven cases,
partial spinal cord transection was described. While aclinical history of trauma was reported in all identified
cases, six cases had evidence of underlying neurologic
disease (wobbler syndrome or equine protozoal
myeloencephalitis).

JANUARY 2022 | 5

Sepsis in the Newborn Foal

The newborn foal is a remarkable animal, born with theability to stand and run within hours of birth. Despite
this, they are more at risk than adult horses for certain
medical conditions, including sepsis. Sepsis is a major
cause of illness and death in newborn foals and iscaused by overwhelming inflammation in response toinvasion of the bloodstream by bacteria. The septic
foal is also at risk for infection at specific locationsin the body, including the lungs, joints, growth plates,
gastrointestinal tract, and central nervous system.
Unlike people, foals do not receive antibodies fromthe mare during gestation. They rely on absorption of
antibodies from the mare’s colostrum—the first milkthat is produced following birth. Colostrum is rich inantibodies, which are absorbed across an “open” gut inthe first twelve hours of the foal’s life. These antibodies
help provide protection against infection until thefoal begins to make antibodies of its own. This open
gastrointestinal tract leaves them more susceptible
to infection as bacteria can move from the GI to thebloodstream. Other potential sites of infection include
the respiratory tract, umbilicus, and dam’s reproductive
tract during gestation.
The biggest risk factor for sepsis is failure to receive
enough antibodies from colostrum within the first 12
hours of life. This can be due to the foal not standing
and nursing appropriately, or production of poor-quality
colostrum by the mare. Failure of passive transfer (FPT)
can be detected by your veterinarian and is one of themost important reasons to have newborn foals evaluatedduring the first 24 hours. A blood sample can be used
to measure antibody or IgG as a marker of antibody
transfer. FPT can be partial or complete, and both canleave the foal susceptible to infection. Additional risk
factors include maternal illness, prematurity, and poor
environmental conditions. Foals that experience FPT
can receive alternate sources of antibodies; intravenous
plasma transfusion is the most common and can beprovided by your veterinarian, if needed.

Treatment of septic foals is often intensive andcan require hospitalization in severe cases.
Antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment,
and a broad-spectrum approach is essential at
onset to treat for common bacterial culprits. Longer
courses of antibiotics may be necessary in foals thatdevelop localized signs of infection. Intravenous fluids
and a nutritional plan are also important aspects oftreatment in severe cases. Good nursing care is essential
for successful treatment in these patients as they areoften unable to stand; unable to handle enteral feeding
including difficulties with swallowing, and are prone tourine scald and bed sores.
Survival rates have improved with advancements
in treatment and are reported to be as high as 72% atdischarge. Factors associated with decreased survival
rate include duration of illness prior to admission,
inability to stand at presentation, severity of clinicalsigns, and certain blood work abnormalities. The
development of infection of one or more joints can also
decrease overall survival rates in these foals.
Prevention can be the most important aspect of ensuring
health of newborn foals and includes maintaining a cleanfoaling environment, ensuring adequate nursing of goodquality colostrum, treating the umbilicus appropriately,and having your veterinarian evaluate your foal within
24 hours of life. None of these can completely eliminate
the risk of sepsis – early recognition of illness and rapid
treatment by your veterinarian is essential for a goodoutcome.
CONTACT:
Katharine Christie, DVM, MS, DACVIM
kchristie@roodandriddle.com(859) 233-0371
Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital
Lexington, Kentucky

As with most foal diseases, the sooner treatment isinitiated, the better. Early detection of clinical signs
and rapid intervention are key. Any foal not standing
within an hour of birth and nursing well within twohours of birth should be immediately evaluated by aveterinarian. Initial clinical signs of foals that develop
sepsis can be mild and non-specific including decreased
nursing, lying down a lot, and diarrhea. The foal’s gums
and whites of the eyes (Figures 1 and 2) may becomebright red, and the foal may have a fever or abnormally
low temperature. Limbs and ears may be cool to thetouch and the foal may become unable to stand as theillness progresses to septic shock (Figures 3 and 4).

6 | EQUINE DISEASE QUARTERLY

Figure 1. Injected mucous membranes in a
hospitalized foal—abnormal colorationof the mucous membranes is a common clinicalsign associated with sepsis.

Figure 2. Injected sclera(whites of the eye) can be
an early sign of sepsis inyoung foals.

Figure 3. Septic foals are often
excessively lethargic and canbe unable to stand without
encouragement and assistance.
Good nursing care is an essential partof treatment.

Figure 4. Neonatal foal showing
abnormal behavior and responseto stimulation.

JANUARY 2022 | 7

A PUBLICATION BY THE
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY SCIENCEMAXWELL H. GLUCK EQUINE RESEARCH CENTERSPONSORED BY:
EQUUS / STANDARDBRED STATION, INC.
M&J INSURANCEThe University of Kentucky is an equal opportunity organization.

10 | EQUINE DISEASE QUARTERLY