Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in newborn foals

At-birth resuscitation of foals is mechanically possible and worthwhile. Because of the short time for action, an ordered plan and the appropriate equipment should be prepared in advance. Resuscitation should be initiated in foals that have absent or gasping breathing, absent or irregular heartbeats, or heart rates below 40 beats/min, as well as in foals that are nonresponsive or are delivered by cesarean section. The initial phase of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which should be completed in 20 seconds, consists of clearing the airway and assessing the need for subsequent resuscitation. Positive-pressure ventilation is required in foals that have no spontaneous respiration or have gasping breaths or a heart rate below 60 beats/min. GPR should be stopped when the heart rate is above 80 beats/min and regular, spontaneous breathing is well established.