Patient Stories

This is Lucky, a one month old foal the owners saw laying around the pasture all day and has not been nursing very much from his mother.  Upon examination, Lucky, was diagnosed with Neonatal Septicemia.  This is a very common, life-threatening illness of young foals caused by a bacterial infection.  Symptoms include lethargy, fever, not nursing, and oftentimes diarrhea and/or lameness.  Lucky was very fortunate to be diagnosed early and survived with treatment. He didn't suffer from some of the secondary complications foals oftentimes endure. His treatment consisted of intravenous antimicrobials and fluds, intubation for nutrition, and careful monitoring of his laboratory work.  It is of utmost importance that newborn foals are checked during the first day of life to assure they have received colostral antibodies from the dam.  These antibodies help protect the young foals for the first few months of life until their immune system matures enough to form it's own protective antibodies.  Owners should monitor these young foals carefully at least twice daiy to assure they are nursing well and feeling strong and bright. Foals exhibiting any of the aforementioned symptoms should be seen immediately by your veterinarian since septicemia is deemed an emergency.

Bob's Eye is Healed - with Automated Medication

Hi my name is Bob. I was presented to EA about a week ago because my right eye was very painful and tearing. It was examined, stained, and treated appropriately by another vet, but I continued to be painful for several days. After a thorough workup it was discovered I had a fungal infection in my eye (fungal keratitis). I was placed on the proper anti-fungal medications and since it has to be given every couple hours, a catheter system was placed just under my upper eyelid so the medication could be delivered automatically every hour without someone holding my eyelids open and squirting medication into my eye.