Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Our neonatal intensive care unit was established to treat critically ill foals, which require twenty four hour a day monitoring and nursing. It comprises four mare/foal boxes with a nursing station between them. The boxes are well equipped, with mare/foal divider, infra-red lamps, piped oxygen, fluid pumps, and indirect blood pressure monitoring. We have also have specially designed, padded beds which support the foal in sternal recumbency. Full laboratory and diagnostic facilities are available on a 24 hour basis for foals requiring critical care.

During the foaling season, we have a veterinary surgeon and nurse in the hospital at all times after-hours.

Neonatal maladjustment syndrome is a complex and sometimes rapidly fatal syndrome if it is not managed promptly and intensively. Often this syndrome is complicated by infection/septicemia related to a foal's immature immune system and failure to receive sufficent colostrum in the first 12 hours of life.