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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