Congenital and Genetic Disorders

Present at birth

Congenital

May be caused by placental abnormalities, twins, or developmental issues

Congenital

Caused by specific gene mutations

Genetic

When should a foal have spontaneous breathing?

1 minute

What type of disease is flexural limb deformities?

Congenital

Also known as “contracted tendons”

Flexural limb deformities

Cannot fully extend one or more limbs

Flexural limb deformities

Often due to intrauterine positioning, maternal malnutrition, or genetic

Flexural limb deformities

What type of disease is angular limb deformities

Congenital

Involved an inward or outward deviation of a limb most commonly at the knees or fetlock

Angular limb deformities

Common causes include premature birth, weak ligaments, over-nutrition, or rapid growth

Angular limb deformities

What type of disease is wry nose

Congenital

Also known as Campylorrhinus lateralis

Wry nose

Deviated or twisted upper jaw and nasal bone

Wry nose

Leads to malnutrition, respiratory noise and difficult breathing, malaligned teeth

Wry nose

Caused by fetal malpositioning

Wry nose

What type of disease is scoliosis

Congenital

Lateral bending of the spine, often accompanied by neck curving or leg abnormalities

Scoliosis

Swelling at the navel where part of the intestine or abdominal tissue protrudes through an incompletely closed abdominal wall

Umbilical hernia

A common neonatal condition where the fetal tube connecting that bladder to the umbilicus fails to close at birth, causing urine to drip or stream from the navel

Pervious urachus

Openings in the wall between the left and right ventricles, often causes a loud murmur

Ventricular septal defect

A fatal congenital condition characterized by an excessive buildup of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain

Hydrocephalus

Fatal deficiency in storing sugar, leading to weak foals

Glycogen branching enzyme deficiency

Causes severe and painful skin defects where the skin separates from the underlying tissues

Hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia

Fatal neurological condition where foals are born with a lavender coat color, seizures, and inability to stand

Lavender foal syndrome

An inherited, neurological disease, caused by the premature death of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum

Cerebellar abiotrophy