Neonatal Care Unit
- Facility is unique to Wisconsin, and one of a few in the Midwest
- Success rate ranks among the best in the nation
A mare watches as a veterinary technician cares for her ailing foal. The neonatal foal stall is designed to keep the mother and her foal in close contact while permitting staff to provide necessary treatments around the clock.
Features
Specially designed four-stall unit
- Allows continued contact between mare and foal, even when foals are sick and receiving intensive care
- If strong enough, foal can be put in with the mare for nursing
Expert Medical and/or Surgical Care
24-hour nursing/supportive care for sick foals including:
- Oxygen
- Intravenous fluids
- Special feeding
- Physical therapy
- Cardiovascular, respiratory and nutritional support as needed
Immediate access to necessary support services:
- Immediate availability of laboratory analysis of foal's blood
- Radiography
- CT scans
- Ultrasonography
- Endoscopy
Common Problems
- Septicemia (blood infection)
- Failure to nurse
- Weak foal syndrome (unable to get up)
- Seizures
- Neonatal isoerythrolysis (mare's milk contains antibodies against her own foal's blood cells)
- Colic
- Umbilical infections or hernias
- Ruptured bladder
- Limb deformities
- Calf diarrhea and dehydration
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