Which diagnostics help r/o enterocolitis (septicemia) in a foal?

• A. IgG, CBC, chem, ultrasound
• B. CBC alone
• C. Urinalysis only
• D. Blood culture only

Answer: (A)

In foals, ruling out septicemia requires a broad screen rather than a single test. Assessing passive transfer with IgG tells you whether the foal has adequate maternal antibody support, which strongly influences susceptibility to sepsis. A CBC then shows how the immune system is responding—leukocytosis or leukopenia, toxic changes in neutrophils, and evidence of inflammation or stress. Chemistry evaluates dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and organ function, revealing renal or hepatic involvement that can accompany systemic infection. Ultrasonography of the abdomen adds imaging evidence of enterocolitis, such as bowel wall thickening, abnormal motility, free fluid, or other intra-abdominal pathology that supports a septic process. Taken together, these tests provide a comprehensive evaluation to rule out septicemia more reliably than any single test. Blood culture can aid diagnosis but may be negative early or intermittently, so relying on it alone isn’t as informative for ruling out sepsis.