Respiratory studies in foals from birth to seven days old

Respiratory measurements and blood-gas and acid-base values are reported in nine term induced foals. Measurements were performed at 2, 15, 30 and 60 mins, 4, 12, 24 and 48 h, and four and seven days after birth. Minute respiratory volume was significantly lower at birth than values from 12 h old. Tidal volume peaked at 60 mins old, while respiration rate decreased significantly at 15 mins after birth. Oxygen consumption was high at birth and decreased to its lowest values at 24 and 48 h. The respiratory exchange ratio and ventilatory equivalent showed few significant changes to seven days, as did the minute alveolar ventilation and physiological deadspace. The blood-gas and acid-base values indicated that the foals rapidly establish adequate pulmonary ventilation within minutes of birth, and that those values changed little from 12 h to seven days after birth. Body position had a significant effect on arterial oxygen tension with Pao₂ values in lateral recumbency being, on average, 14 mmHg lower than when the foals were standing.