Hydrocephalus (Friesian, B3GALNT2)

Veterinary care required

This condition belongs in veterinary diagnosis and treatment. Compounds are at most supportive.

Priority · vet & management

On suspicion of a hydrocephalic foal, the birth is a veterinary emergency — because of the dystocia danger for the mare, call in the vet early. The disease is not curable and mostly lethal; for breeding, the carrier gene test of the parent animals is decisive.

Possible causes

• · autosomal-recessive nonsense mutation in the B3GALNT2 gene
• · only homozygous foals affected; carriers clinically healthy
• · occurrence in the Friesian (narrow breeding base)
• · enlarged head as the cause of a high dystocia risk

Supportive compounds · supplementary feed, not medication

Prevention

Gene testing of Friesian breeding animals and avoidance of carrier-x-carrier matings prevent affected foals and protect the mare from risky difficult births.

Equiterna's take

Equiterna accompanies Friesian hydrocephalus factually and honestly: the B3GALNT2 gene test, breeding management and the protection of the mare from dystocia are in the foreground — no promises of cure, no role for active substances.