Neonatal foals are small in stature, but they can develop big problems needing immediate veterinary attention. Several of these issues center on the bladder, urachus, and umbilicus, and some are possibly life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Robert L. Linford, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, a professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, discussed some of these problems at the 2012 Western Veterinary Conference, held Feb. 19-23 in Las Vegas, Nev.

"Problems associated with the urinary bladder, urachus (the fetal tubelike structure in the umbilical cord that connects the urinary bladder to the placental cavity known as the allantois), and umbilicus in neonatal foals can produce career-limiting and life-threatening injuries," Linford began. He discussed the clinical signs, implications, and treatment options available for three disorders found in neonatal foals.

Ruptured Bladder

A ruptured bladder and subsequent uroperitoneum (urine accumulation in the abdominal cavity) should be considered a medical emergency for neonatal foals, Linford said, as without treatment, affected foals will die. A relatively uncommon disorder in foals (the reported prevalence is between 0.5% and 2.5%), ruptured bladders are thought to occur during birth when the bladder is full and result from increased pressure associated with uterine contractions or a strenuous birth, he relayed. Other potential causes include tissue damage in the urachus or bladder wall, ureteral tears, and congenital defects, he added. When the bladder ruptures, urine accumulates in the foal’s abdomen