Page 16 - 17 February 2012

No matter how prepared you are, problems ranging from minor to very serious can occur.
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The birth of a foal is a highly-anticipated event that requires attentive management to ensure the best possible outcome.
The first step is determining an accurate foaling date. A normal gestation in the mare can be extremely variable, however, around 342 days from ovulation
is considered the average. Keep in mind that a viable foal can be delivered anywhere from 320 days to 365 days of gestation.
Approximately 30-45 days prior to her due
date, the mare should receive pre-foaling vaccina- tions and caslicks (vulvar sutures) opened if she has one. Most vaccination protocols include five-way (Encephalomyelitis, influenza, Tetanus) and West Nile as a minimum, but consult your veterinarian for any additional regional recommendations such
as strangles, botulism, rotavirus, or rabies. This important series of boosters stimulates your mare to produce high levels of antibodies at a time during late pregnancy when she is producing antibody rich colostrum. The newborn is dependent on the inges- tion of good quality colostrum for protection against a variety of viral and bacterial diseases.
A foaling stall should be prepared well in advance. It is important that the stall be a mini- mum of 12-feet by 14-feet, and free from any pro- truding nails, splinters, or other objects that could hurt a newborn foal. The stall should be properly cleaned, disinfected, and bedded. Straw bedding is preferred over wood shavings.
Feed and water buckets should be positioned
so that they don’t interfere with the newborn as it struggles to its feet and learns to walk. Cameras can be a useful, non-intrusive way to monitor a mare. In order to reduce stress from a new environment, your mare should be brought into her new stall at least two weeks prior to foaling.
Closely monitor the mare’s udder for signs of impending foaling. Your mare may begin to “wax” or have a waxy secretion around her teats. The muscles around the tail head and vulva will be very relaxed 24-48 hours prior to foaling. In addition, commer- cial mare foaling predictor kits are available that use mammary secretions to pinpoint parturition. Being present at the foaling is the best way to ensure minor problems don’t have devastating consequences.
No matter how prepared you are, problems rang- ing from minor to very serious can occur. The option to take your mare to a facility that specializes in foal- ing should always be considered.
BE PRESENT AT FOALING
An attended foaling is imperative to ensure a good outcome for both your mare and her newborn foal. There are many situations that can occur during foaling that can be easily corrected simply by having a knowledgeable person present and available.
The first reason to have someone present during foaling is to check the position of the foal. There is only ONE normal fetal presentation. As soon as the amniotic sac ruptures (the mare’s water breaks), it is important to clean the mare’s vulva, put on a sleeve, and enter vaginally to check the position of the foal. The foal should present with two feet—one slightly behind the other—and a nose. The soles of the foal’s feet should be pointed downward in the standing mare, indicating that the foal is on its belly. If any- thing other than the normal presentation is felt, you could have a serious problem.
Another problem that could be encountered is premature placental separation (Red Bag). A “red bag” delivery needs to be addressed immediately. If not, this can result in the death of the foal within minutes. The placental membrane should quickly be opened and the foal delivered as soon as possible. The foal should also be provided supplemental oxygen.
Even if a normal foaling occurs and the foal seems to be healthy, there are several things that need to be addressed soon after birth. The foal’s navel needs to be dipped with an antiseptic right away. The navel may become infected before an owner gets around to dipping it the next morning. The mare’s colostrum should also be checked to make sure the foal will get adequate immunity for a good start. Finally, the foal needs to be nursing within the first two hours. If the foal is not progressing in this man- ner, the foal may need veterinary attention.
Proper management will give you the best chance of welcoming a healthy foal into the world.
FOALING
Preparing for the birth of a foal.
by Kay Thurman, DVM, and Renae DelHomme, DVM
14 SPEEDHORSE, February 17, 2012
VETERINARY VIEWS
Courtesy Royal Vista Southwest