Potranca dismadura con retención de meconio y deformidades angulares y flexurales.

Abstract

Equine newborns are vulnerable to present several pathologies around birth, from neonatal sepsis to musculoskeletal alteration, in this case we will address several alterations in a 1-day-old dismatured filly that presented a retention of meconium and that in its front and rear extremities had two angular deformities (valgus and varus) and laxity of the flexor tendons of the forelimbs. The specimen in this case the day after its birth was lethargic, in sternal decubitus and with its head in an abnormal position as shown in Figure 7, a complete clinical examination was performed, and glucose, hematocrit and total serum protein tests were also taken; From the above, only the glucose was altered, but it was deduced by medical criteria that it was increased by the stress that causes pain, since the filly tried to defecate and urinate but she could not, digital rectal palpation was used and a hard consistency obstruction was found, which did not allow the normal transit of the feces, therefore it was concluded that it was a meconium retention; such retention is the result of the small amount of colostrum that the filly ingested because her suction reflex was diminished. For the treatment, the main thing was to administer an antibiotic to avoid a sepsis due to the meconium accumulation; a fluid therapy with lidocaine was installed to stimulate intestinal motility; at the same time, rectal enemas with warm water and neutral soap were performed; 10 minutes later the filly began to evacuate the fecal matter in the form of facalites and after a few hours of treatment she was able to defecate and urinate by herself, but the feeding still had to be assisted since she was still unable to suck well, so it was decided to supplement the filly with vitamins and minerals. Once the filly's digestive problem was solved, it began to be observed that the specimen did not move with total normality, due to its dismaturity, the spindles were taking inadequate forms and angular and flexural deformities were developing; Magnética had varus in the anterior limbs and valgus in the posterior ones, this was later deduced by putting the filly to walk on a flat and straight surface, the veterinarian did not see the need to implement any type of help such as bandages and splints; It was decided to opt for a conservative treatment that consisted in putting the filly in confinement in her manger for 4 weeks so that her bones would ossify a little more and the restriction of movement would not put any effort on the limbs. After 4 weeks, the filly was observed to have improved her front legs, but the hind legs were still closed with hock towards the medial side (Figure 15).