Seizures in a Newborn Foal

Seizures in a newborn foal should be considered a medical emergency and a vet should be notified immediately. There are many serious physical causes for "dummy foal syndrome," which is marked by seizures.

  1. Causes

    • Foal convulsions are brought about by a blow to the head, a ruptured bladder, by the first feces or meconium not being able to pass or from problems with the central nervous system. These problems include encephalitis, also called water on the brain, or bacterial meningitis or a brain hemorrhage.

    Significance

    • In meconium colic, the foal can get poisoned if it cannot pass feces. Also, feces painfully build up inside of the body. With other problems, such as encephalitis, the foal's brain cannot get enough blood and oxygen in order to function.

    Identification

    • Seizures in foals are pretty obvious. The foal staggers, has trouble moving, collapses, thrashes and may bark like a dog. Some have partial focal seizures, where a lip keeps curling, an eye keeps blinking or the foal may act blind and walk into walls.

    Time Frame

    • Meconium colic happens if the meconium has not passed in 12 hours from being born, or foaled. Blows to the head can happen anytime. "Dummy foal" behavior, which is an umbrella term for any central nervous system problem, usually begins within a week of being foaled.

    Prognosis

    • Prognosis is generally good for meconium colic. A ruptured bladder requires immediate surgery, which the foal may not survive. "Dummy foals" have a poor prognosis, but some do manage to grow up to be relatively normal horses.