North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) Practice Test

In foal heat diarrhea, one of the hallmark features is that foals typically maintain a normal appetite and have normal vital signs despite experiencing diarrhea. This condition usually occurs around the time when a foal is around 7-10 days old, coinciding with its mother's first estrus post-partum. It is considered a benign self-limiting condition, and affected foals are generally bright and alert, which means they do not exhibit signs of systemic illness such as severe dehydration or disease.

The presence of normal appetite and vital signs indicates that the foal is not severely affected by the diarrhea, distinguishing it from more serious gastrointestinal conditions that would warrant concern. In contrast to this, the other symptoms listed such as severe hyperactivity, high fever, and hematochezia are not typically associated with foal heat diarrhea. Severe hyperactivity may suggest distress or other underlying issues, high fever indicates possible infection or inflammation, and hematochezia points toward more serious gastrointestinal bleeding. Thus, the correct portrayal of foal heat diarrhea focuses on the foal's overall health status, which remains relatively stable despite the diarrhea.