Thermoregulation in sick foals aged less than one week.
Metabolic rate, rectal temperature Tr and respiratory quotient (RQ) were determined in 16 sick foals, aged 0-182 h. The foals were categorized into three groups: premature, dysmature or those suffering from neonatal maladjustment syndrome. The mean metabolic rate of the premature foals was 71 watts per unit area of body surface (W m(-2)), significantly lower than that of the other two groups. The overall mean metabolic rate for the sick foals was 82 W m(-2), about 25% below that of healthy foals of similar age. Air temperature (Ta) was 9.5-26.3 degrees C, and several foals shivered despite the provision of additional 'warmth' and insulation. Values of Tr were below 38 degrees C until after 4 h postpartum. Thereafter, Tr averaged 38.1 degrees C but fluctuated widely. The RQ (mean value 0.83) was not correlated with Ta. The lower critical temperature for the sick foals was estimated at 24 degrees C, on average. Methods to prevent excessive heat loss from sick foals are suggested.
Ousey
J C
JC
Beaufort Cottage Stables, High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8JS, UK.
McArthur
A J
AJ
Rossdale
P D
PD
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D001831:Body Temperature; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006736:Horses; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008297:Male; D013696:Temperature