Equine critical care focuses on the rapid assessment, stabilization, and intensive management of life-threatening conditions in horses of all ages. This category covers equine critical care, equine emergency medicine, equine ICU monitoring, neonatal foal emergencies, equine shock treatment, fluid therapy in horses, sepsis management, and post-operative intensive care. Use this hub to explore clinical approaches to equine triage, hemodynamic resuscitation, acid-base correction, coagulation monitoring, and organ-support strategies. As additional articles are published, this page will continue to develop into a stronger reference for equine emergency and critical care protocols across referral and ambulatory settings. The FAQs below provide a concise starting point for common equine critical care questions, while the linked articles offer deeper clinical context and case-based learning. Please check back soon as this category grows into a broader pillar page for equine emergency medicine and intensive care. Listen to The Cost of Care, an Equine Express Podcast episode with Dr. Dawn Hoover on preparing owners for the cost of emergency care. Neonatal calls can produce significant anxiety in even the most experienced equine practitioners. Even before a primary diagnosis can be formulated, triage… Severe colic, colitis, septicemia, neonatal maladjustment, laminitis crisis, hemorrhage, and post-surgical complications are among the most frequent reasons horses are admitted to intensive care. Rapid assessment and early intervention improve outcomes. Clinical signs include tachycardia, prolonged capillary refill time, cool extremities, weak pulses, and elevated blood lactate. Treatment centers on aggressive intravenous fluid resuscitation, correction of the underlying cause, vasopressor support when indicated, and continuous hemodynamic monitoring with serial lactate and acid-base assessment. Core monitoring includes serial physical exams, packed cell volume and total protein, lactate, blood gas analysis, electrolytes, and urine output. Advanced monitoring may add central venous pressure, continuous ECG, and coagulation panels depending on case complexity. Foals showing failure to stand or nurse within expected timeframes, respiratory distress, sepsis indicators, or progressive lethargy warrant referral. Early transfer to a facility with neonatal ICU capability and 24-hour nursing care significantly improves survival. Fluid plans are tailored to the patient’s hemodynamic status, electrolyte derangements, acid-base imbalance, and ongoing losses. Colloids, hypertonic saline, and balanced crystalloids each have specific indications depending on the clinical picture. Point-of-care diagnostics, improved biomarker panels, plasma and blood product availability, and refined ventilatory support for neonates are expanding what is achievable in equine ICU settings. Telemedicine also supports triage decisions in ambulatory and rural practices.Critical Care
Neonatal foal with uroperitoneum and severe electrolyte and metabolic imbalances
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How to Fix the ‘Hypos’ in Critically Ill Neonates
Frequently Asked Equine Critical Care Questions
What conditions most commonly require equine critical care?
How is shock recognized and treated in horses?
What monitoring tools are essential in the equine ICU?
When should a foal be referred for neonatal critical care?
How does fluid therapy differ in critically ill horses?
What advances are improving equine critical care outcomes?
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9 Articles
May 2026
August 2023