A 4 month old Thorobred presented in acute respiratory distress. On physical examination his gums were purple and tacky, chest auscultation revealed wheezing and crackles throughout the entire chest area. Normal air sounds were hard to identify. His temperature was 106.4. Emergency medical treatment was initiated and the foal was treated with IV fluids, steroids, bronchodilators and antibiotics. The foal was given a poor prognosis and I asked the owner to let me necropsy the foal should it die during the night.