Feeding management of sick neonatal foals.
Nutritional support of the foal can be challenging because of the constant changes in nutritional requirements and dietary composition during the transition from neonate to weanling. Additional complexity arises because of dilemmas regarding the means and route of delivery of nutrition to the foal, and the possibility that metabolic dysfunction may impair the ability of the foal to use nutrients appropriately. This article provides practical information on enteral and parenteral nutritional support of sick neonatal foals. The potential benefits of a conservative, hypocaloric feeding strategy, particularly in the very sick patient, are also discussed.
McKenzie
Harold C
HC
Marion DuPont Equine Medical Center, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Leesburg, VA 20177, USA. hmckenzi@vt.edu
Geor
Raymond J
RJ
D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D016638:Critical Illness; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D006736:Horses; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition