Measurement of plasma colloid osmotic pressure in normal thoroughbred neonatal foals

A normal plasma colloid osmotic pressure (COP) interval was established for foals and compared to values for adult horses. Plasma samples were obtained from 38 Thoroughbred foals that had normal findings on postfoaling examination and 10 healthy Thoroughbred adult horses. Samples were analyzed using a commercially available colloid osmometer. Fifty samples were obtained from 38 foals. Twelve foals had 2 samples taken, 1 during the 1st 24 hours of life and the 2nd between 24 and 72 hours of life. For foals with 2 samples, only 1 randomly selected value was used in group analysis. Total plasma protein, albumin, and globulin concentrations were measured on all samples from foals. The mean measured plasma COP for foals was 18.8 +/- 1.9 mm Hg for the 38 samples analyzed. Measured plasma COP did not differ significantly over the time period examined for either the 12 paired samples (P = .13) or with regression analysis of the 38 samples (P = .13). Calculation of mean COP, based on previously published quadratic equations using total protein, albumin, and globulin concentrations, underestimated mean measured foal COP values except for when total protein measured by refractometer was used in the Landis-Pappenheimer equation. In conclusion, the plasma COP interval (95% CI: 15.0 mm Hg, 22.6 mm Hg) obtained for healthy foals in this study was found to be lower than that of healthy adult Thoroughbreds (20.6 +/- 0.7 mm Hg, P = .006).