Examination of the Neonate
Most of the physical diagnostic techniques described in the preceding paragraphs for the adult may be applied to examination of the neonate. Most spinal reflexes of livestock are well developed after birth.
In the normal foal younger than 3 weeks of age, the limbs are hypertonic and hyperreflexic, with occasional myoclonus occurring after percussion of the patellar or triceps tendons. This hyperreflexia is most pronounced in the pelvic limbs. A lack of menace response for up to 2 weeks after delivery is expected because the menace response must be learned. When restrained, the newborn foal relaxes into a trancelike state, periodically awakening and struggling violently before becoming passive again.Bottle-reared calves aggressively attempt to suck while being examined, including vigorously head-butting the handler. Beef calves attempt to escape restraint and do not attempt to suck. See Chapter 17 for more on foals and Chapter 20 for more on neonatal ruminants.
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