Steps to preparing the mare for the breeding season It's the time of year matchmaking is on our minds. Breeding season is around the corner, and we need to think not only of which stallion to breed to-but also the preparation needed to ready our mare for breeding. Breeding can be as simple as nature designed it to be or as complicated as timing the insemination of frozen semen. To optimize your chances of a successful breeding, there are a few steps and questions we need to ask ourselves. First and foremost, what is the body condition of the mare? Every year, I see mare after mare presented for breeding that is in poor body condition. Body condition scores of horses range from 1 (a rack of bones) to 9 (obese) with most broodmares in the 5-6 range. The best pregnancy rates occur when a mare is gaining weight or at least on a positive plane of nutrition. Thus, make sure your mare is in good condition when she is sent to the stud farm. Make sure your mare is current on all vaccinations at least three weeks prior to being sent to the stud farm. It is little value to vaccinate the day you send her off. Find out what shape your mare's uterus is in. This is best accomplished by having a complete breeding soundness exam performed. What time of year are you planning on breeding the mare? If you are aiming for an early winter breeding, e.g., late January or February, in North America, then you must place your mare under artificial lights for about 30-45 days prior to the start of the breeding season. The length of daylight regulates the estrous cycle of the mare; mares show heat when the days are long and stop cycling during the short cold days of winter. They are also referred to as seasonal polyestrous (they show many heats during a specific season, i.e., spring and summer). The length of light needs to be about 16 hours a day. When the mare is placed under artificial light the pineal gland (which controls the release of melatonin) is fooled into thinking that spring is here and summer is around the corner. Temperature has little, if any, to do with the onset of estrus in the mare. Towards the end of the artificial light period, it may benefit your mare to undergo some teasing with a stallion. Additionally, some veterinarians will administer a hormone, e.g., progesterone, for a short period of time to augment the start of the cycle. Most Breeding farms require the mare to have a negative uterine culture prior to being sent to the farm? Uterine cultures are often performed to save time when breeding mares. No one wants to waste semen breeding infected mares. Three complete cycles are the limit with some facilities. If the mare does not become pregnant, will they have a veterinarian conduct a complete examination to discover the cause? Will your mare be bred via live cover or artificially inseminated with fresh, shipped, or frozen semen? These are all questions that need to be address prior breeding the mare Lastly, You need to send a copy of the mare's recent medical history that might be important to the stud farm's veterinarian. If your mare tends to get a uterine infection with natural breeding but not with artificial insemination, the breeder should know. Most important of all, I think, is to have contact numbers so that the farm can contact you in case of an emergency. If your mare is up to par then you are ready to send your mare. May she get pregnant on the first breeding. |
||||||||||||||
| Getting Close to Foaling? Alright, so you've got her bred, and you've given her all of her shots. You have the foaling kit ready ( See foaling Kit list below)and you've put straw down in her stall.....now what? Wait and observe. Read on to find out about sure fire signs that your mare is getting closer to giving birth. One of the first signs that your mare will show will be at 2-6 weeks prior to foaling. This is the development of her mammary glands. Her udder will begin to get larger and sore to the touch. At 1-3 weeks prior to foaling, she will begin to have perineal relaxation. (relaxing of the muscles in the rear-end) This will only continue to get looser as she gets closer to having her foal. Once she gets to 7-10 days prior to foaling, the ends of her teats will fill up with colostrum. 48-72 hours prior to foaling, the ends of her teats will begin to "wax up." This is caused by the sticky colostrum leaking slightly. It will look like tiny little balls of wax at the tips of her teats. 0-24 hours prior to your mare giving birth, her vulva will begin to loosen up and elongate. At 12-24 hours prior to foaling, you will start to see milk dripping from her udder. It generally will get heavier as she gets closer to giving birth. And lastly, as your mare gets ready to give birth, she will get very uneasy. She will start to walk around and try to get comfortable. She will, more than likely, lay down and get up multiple times before she is ready to have the baby. And of corse every mare is different. Not all mare will show all of these signs. |
||||||||||||||
| 'What to expect when it’s time for your mare to deliver her foal' Are you expecting any foals this year? If so, are you an old hat at recognizing the signs of impending parturition and normal delivery or do you need a refresher. Well let’s review what you’re likely to see as your mare nears delivery. How long do you expect your mare is going to carry her pregnancy? Do you have a gestational calendar written out for her? In other words, do you know the day she ovulated and therefore the gestational age of her fetus today? If not, make your best guess on her ovulation date (based on her last breeding date) and calculate her current day of gestation. That’s the best place to start when you’re developing a management plan for monitoring your mare near term. Typical gestation length averages 335 to 345 days, yet can range from around 300 to well over 400 days and be perfectly normal. In a normal pregnancy parturition is initiated by a mature fetus that’s ready for birth. All the factors involved in determining fetal readiness for birth in horses aren’t completely understood. Nevertheless photoperiod appears to have a substantial impact on gestation length as does fetal gender only to a lesser extent. Udder size and secretions are the most reliable indicators of approaching delivery in mares. Development typically begins about a month before parturition although it can vary considerably among mares. The character of mammary secretions progresses from a serum-like clear fluid to a cloudy or straw-colored tacky secretion nearer delivery and finally to a white milk or colostrum. Secretion analysis, though useful, is most suited for determining 24 hour periods during which your mare is unlikely to deliver rather than telling you the day she’ll foal. The most predictive value in mammary secretions is the calcium concentration. A steep rise in calcium concentration occurs over the last 3 to 4 days before parturition. (I’ll devote a future article to analysis of mammary secretions). The majority of udder growth occurs in the last 2 weeks of gestation with final changes in the secretions coming 24 to 48 hours before foaling. Your mare’s parity (number of previous foals she’s had) and body condition can greatly influence the extent of her udder development and the amount of secretion present; maiden or under conditioned mares can foal with minimal mammary changes. Waxing (i.e., accumulation of a waxy secretion on the teat ends from early colostrum) usually occurs during the last day or two but can occur up to a couple of week before delivery. Less reliable but easily detected physical signs you can watch for are relaxation of the sacrosciatic ligaments evidenced by a visible sinking and softening around the tail head. The vulva will also relax and elongate in the last few hours before delivery. I’ve heard more than one “old timer” say that a mare’s vulva will actually cycle through a relaxed state 3 times over a period of days or hours before a she foals. When her vulva relaxes the third time you know that she’s really close. Now I have to say that I’ve never actually witnessed this three relaxation cycle but perhaps I just don’t observe near term mares close enough. If you’ve seen this cycle in your mares let me know, I’m interested as to whether it really happens or not. Temperature has also been used as a crude method of predicting parturition. Body temperature follows a circadian rhythm with peak temperatures typically occurring in the evening between 3:00 and 11:00 pm while the lowest temperatures are recorded around 7:00 am. Some reports indicate a mare will experience a significant decline in body temperature in the evening hours before delivery. However, other researchers were not able to confirm a change in body temperature before delivery. If you intend to use body temperature as an indicator you should religiously record your mare’s rectal temperature every evening for at least a couple of months so you know the average range she normally experiences. So now you know how to determine your mare is within a day or two of foaling but what are you going to see in the last few hours before and then during the delivery process. Parturition is divided into 3 stages. First stage of parturition (or the preparatory stage) usually lasts from 30 minutes to 4 hours. During first stage the fetus is positioning for delivery, the uterus is contracting with increasing frequency and intensity, and the cervix is relaxing and dilating. Signs can be longer and more obvious in younger or maiden mares. Mares are often restless and may exhibit signs similar to those of colic. Your mare may frequently look at her flank, switch her tail, urinate small quantities, perspire, pace in her stall and repeatedly get up/down. This is a great time to ensure the mare’s tail is wrapped and her perineum and udder are washed and dried. Mares prefer to foal in quiet solitude, so once prepared it’s better to let your mare to herself and only observe from an inconspicuous vantage point incase she needs help. Near the end of first stage your mare will lie down. By now uterine contractions have forced the fetus and placenta into the dilated cervix and pelvic canal. Continued pressure from the fetus and fetal fluids culminates in rupture of the chorioallantois membrane (i.e., the red bag). The membrane should rupture in the pelvic canal before it reaches the vulva. If for any reason the membrane does not rupture and you see its red, velvety surface pushing through the vulva you should immediately rupture it. By the time it appears at the vulva considerable separation from the endometrium has occurred which greatly reduces oxygen exchange from maternal circulation and quickly leads to fetal distress. As the membrane ruptures you’ll see gallons of fetal fluids pour from the vulva (i.e., the “water breaks”). This is typically considered the end of first stage and beginning of second stage of parturition. By now the cervix is fully dilated and the fetus has entered the pelvic canal. As the fetus engages the pelvic canal oxytocin release is triggered to reinforce the uterine contractions and periodic abdominal contractions with forceful straining begin. Within 5 minutes of the water breaking, the amnion (white, glistening membrane) should be forced between the vulvar lips. One forefoot will appear at the vulva then the other with the soles of the hooves directed downward. The head soon follows resting on the forelimbs between the fetlock and carpus. Don’t be surprised if your mare stands up, turns around and lies down again while the front limbs are hanging out of her vulva. She’ll be ready to resume pushing once she lies down again. Your mare will have her most forceful contractions as she’s pushing the head and shoulders through her pelvis. The amnion will usually rupture at this point but if it doesn’t you can quietly enter the stall, tear the membrane and move it back away from the foal’s head. This will help provide the foal unobstructed breathing once its chest clears the pelvis. Once the shoulders pass the vulva the rest of the foal quickly follows. As the foal completely passes from the vulva second stage parturition ends and third stage begins. Second stage is explosive and shouldn’t take more than 20 to 30 minutes from beginning to the end. If the process ceases or takes longer than this you should assess fetal position and posture (if you feel competent) or seek qualified assistance immediately. Your mare will be exhausted after the delivery and will likely want to rest for 15 or 20 minutes before rising. Don’t disturb her if possible. The only thing you need be worried about during this period is that the amnion has ruptured, the foal’s nose has cleared the membrane and it’s breathing normally while it struggles to get into a sternal position. If your mare is a maiden don’t be surprised if she experiences considerable colic after delivery. Uterine contractions can be intense as the placenta is expelled and the uterus involutes which can make your mare very uncomfortable. Maiden mares don’t seem to tolerate the intense contractions as well as older, multiparous mares. However, if there is any question about your mare’s condition don’t hesitate to have your veterinarian check her out before the regular postpartum mare and foal exam the next day. It’s better to be safe than sorry because some mares displaying discomfort will have other problems including gastrointestinal colic (often a simple impaction due to a lack of water intake in the prepartum period) or even a middle uterine artery rupture. Stage 3 of parturition encompasses placental expulsion and uterine involution. The placenta should be expelled during the first 30 minutes to 3 hours after delivery. Uterine involution however will take several days. |
||||||||||||||
| A foals first 30 days First Exam "The immediate post-partum examination is very important," said Pierce. "Early detection of problems and prompt veterinary care are critical to the overall outcome of the compromised foal." Farm personnel are usually the first to examine the foal, and they should be able to recognize abnormalities, he said. All farms should have an emergency kit, and foaling staff should have basic knowledge of pulmonary resuscitation of the newborn. "Many times, a brief administration of nasal oxygen will make a great difference in the immediate health of compromised foals. Respiratory rate should be 60-70 breaths per minute, and the foal should begin breathing within 30 seconds of birth. Mucous membrane color should be pink one minute after delivery, and capillary refill time should be two seconds or less. Pierce also said the foal should respond to external stimuli, such as touch and noise, begin a suckle reflex within about five minutes. Heart rate can be evaluated by watching for the heartbeat through the chest wall. Normal heart rate for newborns is 60-120 beats per minute. The umbilical cord should be allowed to break on its own (usually within five to six minutes after birth), then it should be immediately dipped in 0.5% chlorhexidine or undiluted povidone solution. Handlers should wear gloves to prevent contamination of the umbilicus. The foal will usually stand within one hour of birth and nurse within two hours. If a foal does not nurse within five hours, a veterinarian should be called. The veterinarian will give the foal colostrum (a mare’s first milk), which contains needed antibodies so that the foal can fight infection. In addition, the mare’s udder should be examined. The mare’s colostrum can be measured with a Colostrometer. If the colostrum measures a specific gravity under 10.6, then donor colostrum should be given. Some mares will object to the foal's nursing. In this instance, they can be sedated with acepromazine. In addition, a foal should pass his meconium (first feces) within 24 hours after birth. To help this along, he can be given an enema. It is recommended either a commercially available human enima product or warm soapy water. Veterinary Exam The veterinarian will usually come the morning after delivery (as most foals are born at night) or when foals are only a few hours old. He or she will examine the foal's general condition, strength, mental status, and ability to nurse, along with conformation. The veterinarian will listen to the heart and lungs for any abnormalities, palpate for fractured ribs and a cleft palate, examine the umbilicus, and look in the eyes. When a foal is past 12 hours of age, or it is six to eight hours after the first nursing, a complete blood sample can be drawn to measure immunoglobulin (IgG, a type of antibody) levels. You would want to see IgG levels above 400 mg/dl. Foals at risk for disease should have an IgG level above 800 mg/dl. If IgG levels are lacking, fresh frozen plasma can be given intravenously. It is recommended that the foal is given flunixin meglumine (Banamine) along with the plasma to prevent adverse reactions. CBC's can also be performed to determine the WBC counts. Occassionally these bloods have to be drawn more than once.Sometimes WBC counts are not normal until Day 4, but if any of the measurements are abnormal, farm personnel should watch the foal more closely for signs of depression, lameness, diarrhea, or lack of nursing. In a normal foal with an abnormal WBC count, the temperature should be taken twice daily. A mare and foal are usually turned out by themselves for at most an hour in the first day, with the time increasing each day. After 10-12 days, they join other mares and foals in a large field. Common Abnormalities Angular Limb Deformities--angular limb problems are common. Foals are usually graded on a scale of zero to three (with zero being straight) to help evaluate severity and improvement of the problem. "Most foals will improve without treatment within the first 30 days of life," he said. "Therefore, one should let the foal improve on its own and initiate specific therapy only when the foal has stopped improving, the rate of improvement has slowed, or a drastic change in the conformation has occurred." Each type of deformity is treated differently, but treatments can involve periosteal transection, limited turnout, special trimming and/or shoes, and monitoring through radiographs for changes and/or a deterioration in the foal’s conformation. Congenital Papillomas (Warts)--These can be found on various parts of the body; however, the head and legs are the most common locations. Pierce said that warts are usually not a problem unless they hemorrhage from trauma. Hemorrhaging can usually be easily stopped. He said that warts will usually go away on their own. Delayed Ossification of Cuboidal Bones--Crushing of the carpal (knee) or tarsal (hock) bones can be found in premature foals or term foals with conformational problems. "Foals with severe conformational defects or delayed ossification of their cuboidal bones are stall confined, and radiographs are taken weekly until cuboidal bone mineralization has occurred, Splinting might be required in the occasional severe case, especially with concurrent soft tissue laxity; however, it should be avoided if possible." Diarrhea--This problem can be serious with many unfavorable results. Diarrhea in the foal can be due to a non-life- threatening situation, such as milk overload, a change in the gastrointestinal flora, or be related to foal heat. However, it could be related to such serious diseases as rotavirus or bacterial infections. Rotavirus can affect foals at any age, is highly contagious, and is very hard to control, with bleach being the disinfectant of choice. Treatment involves supportive care and isolation. A vaccine is available pre-foaling for broodmares to reduce the severity of the disease in older foals, although it has not been known to help young foals. Bacterial diarrheas are typically caused by Clostridium and Salmonella species, are usually profuse and watery, and are usually seen with depression and toxemia. Fecal cultures, virus isolation, and Rotazyme tests are used for diagnosis, and depending on the specific diagnosis, a variety of treatments can be used. Fluid therapy is common and can help foals recover faster. "Many foals can be treated on the farm if the personnel are qualified," Pierce said. "A major complicating factor is abdominal pain. Most painful foals are referred to the hospital." Entropion--This occurs when the eyelid turns inward against the eyeball. This is the most common eye problem, and it can be treated with an injection of procaine penicillin in the affected eyelid. Restraint of the foal is very important during this procedure to prevent needle damage due to movement. Failure of Passive Transfer--Foals which don’t receive enough antibodies through the colostrum suffer from failure of passive transfer. Pierce recommends that all foals which have not reached an IgG level of 400 mg/dl receive one or more liter of plasma intravenously. Blood is then drawn to see if levels are high enough. Foals at risk for disease should have immunoglobulin (IgG) level above 800 mg/dl. Those below 200 mg/dl are considered an emergency. If the quality or amount of the colostrum is in question, then the foal should be given stored, tested colostrum within 12 hours of birth. Flexor and Extensor Abnormalities--The most common flexural weaknesses--back at the knees and weak pasterns-- will usually correct themselves in the first few weeks. Turnout is restricted. Trimming and special shoes can be used for support. "A small bandage with extra padding behind the heel bulbs can serve as adequate protection until the foal strengthens or until shoes can be applied," said Pierce. "Without protection, heel bulb and pastern lacerations are common in these foals. Usually, a round pen or small temporary pen works well for initial turnout." Fractured Ribs--Fractured ribs can be deadly if the rib penetrates the lungs or heart. "No foal should be turned out into a paddock until its ribs have been palpated," he said. "Fractured ribs are most common after dystocia or in very large foals. If the foal has fractured ribs, it should be restricted to a stall for approximately three weeks. Usually, this length of time will allow for stabilization of the fracture site, and an adequate fibrous callus over the fracture will form. With mild fractures, signs might include colic after exercise or an increased heart or respiratory rate. Ultrasound can confirm a fracture if it is not readily palpated. Head Tilt--This is seen in many normal foals and usually does not last longer than seven days. It is possibly caused by birth asphyxia or maturation of the nervous system. It's recommended that a careful examination and a CBC be performed in case of underlying disease. Heart Murmurs--Most heart murmurs can be considered normal and will go away within two weeks, but if one does persist, a cardiac ultrasound examination is suggested. Normal heart murmurs can be found in very excitable foals, but will go away if the foal is lightly tranquilized. However, abnormal murmurs will not diminish with tranquilization. Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (dummy foals)--This syndrome is also known as neonatal maladjustment syndrome and can be seen in foals which might have been affected by premature placental separation (red bag delivery), dystocia, or non-elective Caesarean sections. Signs such as delayed nursing or standing, wandering, and/or seizures can appear as early as 48 hours after birth or as late as five days. These foals are usually referred to a veterinary hospital. Leg Edema--Some foals might develop swelling in the lower legs, with no fever or illness. Management with turnout in a small paddock and banamine for one day can reduce swelling, with a few requiring bandaging. Meconium Impaction--If the foal has a problem passing his meconium, he might experience abdominal pain. Another enema of warm, soapy water can be given along with Banamine and mineral oil given through a nasogastric tube. If the foal passed his meconium before birth, then the amnionic fluid will be fecal tinged and the amniotic fluid that entered the foal’s lungs might have been contaminated. This could lead to meconium pneumonia. Neonatal Isoerythrolysis (NI)--"Neonatal isoerythrolysis occurs when the foal inherits different blood antigens (types) from the stallion and the mare," Pierce explained. "As a result, the mare has produced antibodies to these antigens, which are concentrated in her colostrum. The foal nurses the colostrum, and, depending on the concentration and type of antibodies, the foal develops hemolytic anemia (anemia resulting from decreased red cell survival time) within 24-96 hours of age. Affected foals become icteric (have yellow membranes), depressed, and anemic." Treatment involves supportive care and blood transfusions; however, prevention through the use of a red blood cell (RBC) antibody screen within 30 days of birth can help determine if a foal is at risk. It's recommended that if a mare had not foaled within 30 days of the screening, that it be repeated. He said that he will muzzle a positive foal for 15 hours after birth to prevent nursing. The foal will receive compatible colostrum through bottle feeding, and the mare is milked and her colostrum discarded. Some veterinarians prefer to muzzle the foal for 24 hours. Omphalophlebitis--Inflammation of the umbilical veins and umbilical remnant infections are now less common. Inappropriate handling of the umbilicus during delivery or an unsanitary environment could cause this problem. Less than 1% of foals are affected. As with patent urachus (more on this later), weak or recumbent foals are more at risk due to increased exposure to bedding, dust, and/or fecal matter. Infections are usually found three to four weeks after birth when the dried umbilical remnant does not fall off. Some foals develop fevers, an elevated white blood cell count, pus- like drainage, and/or an abscess. Ultrasound can help determine the severity, structures involved, and extent of the infection, allowing the veterinarian to make a judgment on the type and length of treatment, he said. Treatment is usually with antibiotics, although occasionally an abscess might be lanced and cultured. Surgery is rarely needed. A follow-up ultrasound exam and CBC counts can be done to determine when treatment should be ended. Patent Urachus--"The urachus is the in-utero connection between the fetus’ urinary bladder and allantoic cavity," he explained. "In normal foals, this structure closes soon after delivery, and it eventually completely regresses to a group of ligaments. If the urachus does not close, urine will exit the umbilical area." Pierce said that a urine-soaked umbilicus can sometimes be seen, especially in weak foals, those which struggle to rise, and foals which strain to defecate due to meconium retention. One concern is that bacteria can gain entry through the foal’s abdomen. Therefore, broad- spectrum antibiotics are used, and after two to three days, closure is attempted with the use of silver nitrate sticks over three to four days. In some cases, surgery is required to correct the problem. Premature Foals- Due to differences in fetal maturation, a wide range of gestational lengths is possible, with a normal gestational length between 322-345 days. Some mares will foal as early as 310 days and have a normal foal. However, foals born under 310 days might need intensive therapy to survive. "One must consider the advisability of these attempts, because many foals have developmental skeletal issues as they grow on their relatively immature skeletal structure.The cost of salvaging these very immature foals is considerable. Scleral (Eye) Hemorrhage--Although no problems have been associated with bleeding in the sclera, it might be noticed. It can be caused by trauma at birth. Septic Arthritis (Joint Ill or Navel Ill)--When circulating bacteria are shed into the blood, they can lodge and grow in the epiphyseal or metaphyseal growth complex, and possibly extend into the joint cavity. Synovial colonization is less common. Bacteria can then cause septic arthritis, also known as joint or navel ill. Not only can infection begin in the umbilicus, but that bacteria from the intestine and respiratory tract could be more common sources. "Any time a foal presents with lameness and fever, septic arthritis is the first problem to rule out,” he said. "Waiting just one day can many times make a serious difference in the eventual outcome. It cannot be stressed enough that a lame foal with or without a fever should be looked at very closely for the presence of septic arthritis. The longer one waits to lavage (wash) the joint, the more the cartilage is damaged. Additionally, the infection seems to become more deeply seated in the bone, making the treatment more extensive and costly with a poorer prognosis." In addition to joint lavage, the foal is given antibiotics targeted to the specific bacteria; the antibiotic choice has been determined through a culture. "Foals with a clinically identifiable septic joint that is not obvious along with lameness and fever are started on systemic antibiotics and monitored very closely. Radiographs can also determine if metaphyseal osteomyelitis (bone infection) is causing pain and lameness. Septicemia--Septicemia, or systemic disease, can appear within the first few hours of life. Signs include inability to stand and nurse, discolored mucous membranes with poor perfusion, and septic shock with cardiovascular collapse. Immediate treatment is necessary. Despite treatment, foals can develop septic arthritis or osteomyelitis. Affected foals are referred to a hospital for treatment. Many cases of septicemia are caused by bacterial placentitis. Those born with equine herpesvirus usually die. Foals born with leptospirosis might be small, but they are usually mature. Umbilical Bleeding--If hemorrhaging occurs, a commercially available clamp can be used to stop the bleeding. These foals should be watched for signs of infection over the next two to three weeks. If an infection develops, antibiotics can be given. Umbilical Hernia--These can be palpated upon first exam; however, they become more obvious after several weeks. Hernias are usually treated closer to weaning. ”Windswept” Foals--A foal might be termed a windswept foal if he has a conformational abnormality that results in both limbs being slanted in one direction. This could be caused by improper fetal position during the last few weeks before birth. A veterinarian will need to evaluate the curvature of the long bones and look for any spinal deformities. Affected foals are confined to stall rest until improvement warrants a change to a round pen or paddock. Surgery, such as a periosteal transection or transphyseal bridging, might be needed; however, most foals will correct themselves. More on Flexural Deformities The most common mistake in treating flexural deformities is not being aggressive enough if the foal is not responding to treatment. If bandaging, tetracycline, and turnout are not enough, then splinting might be necessary; this should produce response within three days. Over at the knees conformation is very common, and most foals improve with exercise. "I have not had much success with surgery, casting, or tetracycline in severe carpal flexural deformities," said Pierce. "Even some of the more severe cases will improve in a couple months with paddock exercise." Owners can let the foal exercise in a small paddock with his dam; however, when the foal becomes tired--which is evidenced by trembling legs--the mare and foal should be put in a stall. This can occur after 30 minutes. However, the mare and foal can be turned out up to four times daily. "Patience is the most successful, non-stressful method of treating flexural deformity of the carpus in the foal. At the end of the foal's first month, most neonatal diseases become less frequent. Vets stress the importance of the initial exam, along with follow-up exams if needed. |
||||||||||||||
| In Living Color Stables * Lincoln, DE.19963 * (302) 684-3126 * www.InLivingColorStables.com |
||||||||||||||
| Home |
E-mail |
Stallions |
For Sale |
Foal Page |
||||||||||
Foaling Kits SPRING is almost here and that means BABIES ARE COMING!! Amidst all of this excitement, don't forget to pack your foaling kits...scroll down to see what Red Tail Arabians suggests to help make the foaling of your new arrival as easy as possible! First and foremost, a large, seal-able plastic box and tight lid make the best foaling kit container. It can be left in the barn and will stay dry and clean until needed. Clean tail wrap to wrap the mare's tail prior to foaling Betadine to wash the mare prior to foaling and to paint the navel after birth. Nolvalson can also be used. Regular exam gloves (rubber dish gloves work fine!) so you won't get betadine all over your hands. Sponges to apply the disinfectant A clean medicine dose cup (the kind that holds medicines like NyQuil) or an empty 35mm film container to put disinfectant in. Used to dip the chord. A large heavyweight trash bag to remove the placenta from the stall. (Your veterinarian may ask you to save the placenta so that it can be examined to see that all the pieces are present, ensuring that infections and problems will not crop up later.) Make sure you keep this away from the other barn animals. Sharp, clean scissors to open a thick placental sac or to cut the umbilical cord. Piece of chord/string in isopropyl alcohol to tie off umbilical cord. At least two fleet enemas to be used if the foal seems to have trouble defecating after it is born. Contact your veterinarian prior to using them, but having them on hand will shorten the time to treatment. A few large towels and a few small hand towels. These are used to grasp the foal's feet and legs if you need to help pull and to dry and clean the foal after birth. Sterile lubricant, such as Vaseline, and long OB gloves in case you have to go in and "help" the position of the foal. A flashlight with fresh batteries. This can be a small light. A watch to keep track of time during foaling. A thermometer to check temperatures. Make sure that the thermostat is used with caution on the foal; perforation of the bowl can occur very easily, resulting in the death of the foal. Temperature: Foals - 102 F or 38.5-39 C Mature - 99-101 F or 37-38.3 C A stethoscope to check heart rate and lungs Heart Rate (in beats per minute): Birth - 80-120 Six months - 60-80 Yearling - 40-60 Mature - 28-40 Probiotics for foal (vitamins, minerals, enzymes, live organisms in a paste to "jump start" the foal) Colostrum Bank phone number or commercial brand colostrums replacer on hand. Coffee, lots of Coffee for the foal watch person! A cordless phone with Vet's number! never hurts to be able to call a vet without having to leave the mare! Also, it's not a bad idea to have another box set up for the vet in which you have oxygen, IV fluids and administration kits, the long OB gloves, Rompun (Xylazine), and Oxytocin. You can always administer the oxygen, the tranquilizer or the oxytocin on his advice over the phone so as to improve a situation prior to his arrival. ***DISCLAIMER*** this list to you as only a suggestion. You should always consult with your veterinarian first! If your not comfortable with foaling out your mare, you should take her to a breeding farm that offers foaling services. In Living Color does offer these services, but you should take your mare to a farm that is close to your house or that you feel comfortable with. |