Page 487 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

462 CHAPTER 2

VetBooks.ir • Retroflexion ventrally of head or head back 2.71
or flexed. The foal will require repelling after
a head rope has been attached to the head.
Traction on head and forelimbs should then
allow delivery.
• Complete carpal flexion. May be uni- or
bilateral. The affected limb(s) will be in the
pelvic canal. The fetal body must be repelled
and the hoof cupped in the palm of the hand and
then drawn forward into the pelvic canal.
• Partial carpal flexion (contracted tendons).
This is the most common congenital
deformity. It can be very difficult to deliver
vaginally and a caesarean section may be
indicated. If the foal is dead, then a careful
fetotomy incision through the carpus will
allow vaginal delivery. Fig. 2.71 A newborn Thoroughbred foal showing
• Shoulder flexion. Unilateral or bilateral. contracted foal syndrome, including bilateral carpal
Corrected in two stages: the shoulder flexion flexural deformities and wrynose. The foal presented
is converted to carpal flexion by bringing the as a dystocia in the mare because of a partial carpal
radius forward, and then the carpal flexion is flexion deformity.
corrected.
• Posterior longitudinal presentation. A rare
occurrence. Compression of the umbilical cord likely to be weak and require special attention.
necessitates rapid delivery if a live foal is to be Overdue foals rarely become too large to foal
obtained. Check foal for signs of ‘dummy foal’ normally.
syndrome. • Failure to get down. Mares that do not
• Transverse presentation. Dorsal or ventral; or cannot get down during the first stage
refer for caesarean section. of parturition are more likely to have a
malpostured foal. Maiden mares more
OTHER CAUSES OF DYSTOCIA commonly foal standing up. In such cases there
AND RECOMMENDED ACTION is an increased risk of the foal getting hip locked.
Lifting and supporting the foal, while it is being
• Congenital defects of the foal often lead turned, will often unlock the hips.
to dystocia, but they are relatively rare. • Pelvic deformities. Even quite pronounced
Foals with limb deformities such as flexural deformities do not generally impair foaling;
problems, especially if they are associated however, it is recommended that these mares
with arthrogryposis or contracted foal be watched closely in case a caesarean section is
syndrome (Fig. 2.71), are the most common. indicated.
Other syndromes include hydrocephalus, • Maiden mares. Relative oversize is rare, but
schistosomus reflexus and fetal monsters. in maiden mares, pelvic ligament relaxation
Some of these cases may require caesarean may be poor, which prolongs parturition. It is
section for delivery. debatable if help is required, but careful traction
• Length of gestation: variable, average 340 days. may minimise foal rib damage. Care must be
Mares can have a gestation of greater than taken as it is easy to damage the reproductive
12 months and produce a normal healthy foal. tract. Maiden mares will take longer to foal that
Foals born more than 1 month before term are multiparous mares.