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Foaling Mare and
Newborn
Preparing for a Safe and
Successful Foal Delivery
CARING FOR THE FOALING MARE AND NEWBORN
If your mare has made
it through 11 months of pregnancy, you're almost home free. Labor and
delivery, while momentous, are generally uneventful. In most cases, you
will simply need to be a quiet observer - if, that is, you are lucky
enough to witness the birth. Mares seem to prefer to foal at night in
privacy, and apparently have some control over their delivery. Despite
your frequent visits to the barn, your mare may give birth the minute you step
away. While this is disappointing, don't worry. She is unlikely to
need your help anyway. However, in case problems arise, it is advisable to
have your veterinarian's telephone number nearby.
A SAFE PLACE TO FOAL
What your mare will
need, however, is a clean, safe, quiet place to foal. Horses have been
giving birth on the open range for eons, and this is still an acceptable choice.
Allowing the mare to foal in the pasture even has some advantages. An open
grassy area is likely to be cleaner than a stall and provides a healthy
environment with adequate room to foal. You won't have to worry about the
mare crowding into a corner or foaling too close to a wall. However, many
owners prefer to confine the mare to observe her progress.
Should you choose to foal your mare in a stall, provide one
that is minimum of 14' x 14'. If possible, the stall should have a floor
that can be readily cleaned and disinfected. Dirt or clay floors make
sanitation more difficult. Also, provide adequate clean bedding.
Straw (particularly wheat straw) is preferable to shavings, as it won't cling to
the wet newborn or mare the way small wood particles can. Remove manure
and soiled bedding promptly, and disinfect the stall between deliveries.
THE COUNTDOWN
Mare provide clues
that they will soon give birth. However, the timetable is far from
absolute. Some mares may show all the signs like clockwork; others show
practically none. The following is a general guideline, but be prepared
for surprises:
- The mare's udder begins filling with
milk 2-4 weeks prior to foaling.
- The muscles of the vulva and croup
relax. The tailhead may become more prominent a few days prior to
foaling.
- "Waxing" of the teats occurs.
(A yellowish, honey-like secretion [colostrum] appears 1-4 days prior to
foaling. The secretion may drip, and the udder may even drip mild
several days prior to birth.)
- The mare becomes anxious and
restless. She may appear to be colicky. She may kick at her
belly, pace, lie down and get up, look or bite at her flanks, and sweat.
She may frequently raise her tail and urinate. Generally, this is the
first stage of labor. (However, be aware that colic remains a
possibility. If such behavior is prolonged for more than an hour or
two without progress towards foaling, contact your veterinarian.)
PREPARING FOR BIRTH
Most mares foal
without difficulty. It usually is best to allow the mare to foal
undisturbed and unassisted. If a problem becomes apparent, contact your
veterinarian immediately.
What you can do:
- Write down your veterinarian's phone
number well in advance of the birth and keep it by all phones.
- Keep a watch or clock on hand so you
can time each stage of labor. When you're worried or anxious, your
perception of time becomes distorted. The watch will help you keep
accurate track of the mare's progress during labor. Take written notes
so that you won't have to rely on memory alone.
- Wrap the mare's tail with a clean
wrap when you observe the first stage of labor. Be sure that the wrap
is not applied too tightly or left on too long as it can cut off circulation
and permanently damage the tail.
- Wash the mare's vulva and
hindquarters with a mild soap and rinse thoroughly.
- Clean and disinfect the stall as
thoroughly as possible. Provide adequate bedding.
- Test strips that measure calcium in
mammary secretions are available commercially. These strips aid the
owner in predicting when the mare will foal because sudden increases in
calcium are associated with imminent foaling.
UNDERSTANDING LABOR AND DELIVERY
Labor is divided
into three stages:
Stage one
begins with the onset of contractions and generally lasts 1-2 hours.
During this phase, contractions move the foal through the cervix and into
position in the birth canal. The fetal membranes (allantois) may become
visible at the mare's vulva. When the sac breaks, signaled by a rush of
fluid, stage one ends.
Stage two is
the actual expulsion of the foal. This phase moves relatively quickly.
If it takes more than 30 minutes for the mare to deliver, there could be a
problem. Call your veterinarian immediately. If labor seems to be
progressing, wait and watch. Even in a normal delivery, the mare may stand
up, lie down, and roll several times in an effort to properly position the foal
for delivery.
Normal presentation of the foal resembles a diving position,
with front feet first, one slightly ahead of the other, hooves down, followed
closely by the nose, head, neck, shoulders, and hindquarters. If you
notice hoof soles up, the foal may be backwards or upside down, and you should
call your veterinarian immediately. If you suspect any deviation from the
normal delivery position, call your equine practitioner.
Stage three
labor begins after delivery and is the phase during which the afterbirth
(placenta) is expelled. Most placentas are passed within 1-3 hours after
the foal is delivered. If the placenta has not passed within 3 hours, call
your veterinarian. A retained placenta can cause serious problems,
including massive infection and laminitis.
POSTPARTUM CARE FOR MARE AND FOAL
In the excitement of
birth, it is important to remember some tried and true guidelines:
- Generally, it is not recommended to
cut or break the umbilical cord. If it has not broken during delivery,
it will usually break when the mare or foal gets up. The cord should
break at a site approximately one inch from the foal's abdomen, where the
cord's diameter is slightly narrower than the remainder of the cord.
If it is necessary to manually separate the cord, it should be held firmly
on either side of the intended break site, then twisted and pulled to
separate. (Never cut the cord!) Twisting and pulling of the cord
stimulate closure of the umbilical vessels and reduce the likelihood of
umbilical hemorrhage from the cord stump. If bleeding persists
following cord separation, pressure can be applied to the stump for several
minutes by squeezing with a thumb and finger.
- Encourage the mare and foal to rest
as long as possible. Give them an opportunity to bond undisturbed.
- Treat the umbilical cord with an
antiseptic solution, recommended by your veterinarian, soon after the cord
breaks and for several days thereafter to prevent bacterial infection.
- Observe the mare and foal closely
for the next 24 hours.
IMPORTANCE OF OBSERVATION
Following birth of the
foal, the mare and foal should be monitored for the following:
- Foal is breathing normally.
- Foal is bright and alert to its new
surroundings. The foal should make attempts to rise within 30 minutes
following its birth.
- Mare is non-aggressive, curious, and
accepting of her newborn. (Occasionally a mare will reject her foal.
In such a case, the foal should be removed and reintroduced with the mare
under restraint. Foal rejection is more common in maiden mares.)
- Foal should stand and nurse within 2
hours of birth. If the foal has not nursed within 3 hours, call your
veterinarian. The foal may be weak and in need of assistance or
medical attention.
- Foal should pass meconium (the first
sticky, dark stool) within 12 hours after birth. If not, an enema may
be needed.
- Mare should be bright and alert.
Allow her to eat as soon as she is ready, and supply plenty of clean, fresh
water.
- Once the placenta has been expelled,
examine it to make sure it is intact. The afterbirth will be Y-shaped
and should have only the hole through which the foal emerged.
- If you suspect the mare has retained
part of the placenta, call your veterinarian.
- You may wish to check the mare's
temperature and other vital signs periodically within the first 24 hours to
make sure they are normal. An elevated temperature may indicate
infection (normal is 100.5 degrees F).
IMPORTANCE OF COLOSTRUM
It is essential that
the foal receive an adequate supply of colostrum. Colostrum, the mare's
first milk, is extremely rich in antibodies. It provides the foal with
passive immunity to help prevent disease until its own immune system kicks in.
A foal must receive colostrum within the first 8-12 hours of
life in order to absorb the antibodies. If a foal is too weak to nurse, it
may be necessary to milk the mare and give the colostrum to the foal via a
stomach tube.
If a mare appears to be leaking an excessive amount of milk
prior to birth, consult your veterinarian. This pre-foaling milk is not
typically colostrum-rich. However, depending on your veterinarian's
recommendation, the mare may be milked and the colostrum frozen to give the foal
shortly after birth. For orphan foals, or mares without adequate supply of
colostrum, it is important to locate a back-up supply. Without it, the
foal is at an increased risk of infections. Your veterinarian can test the
colostrum to determine whether it is rich in antibodies. Also, the foal's
serum can be tested at 18-24 hours of age to evaluate IgG antibody levels.
If IgG is inadequate, treatment for Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT) should be
instituted by your veterinarian.
OTHER FOALING CAVEATS
- If a mare appears to require
assistance during foaling, call your veterinarian.
- If you suspect a problem during the
foaling process (such as a foal which is not in the normal birth position),
call your veterinarian immediately. If caught early enough in labor,
your veterinarian may be able to reposition the foal for a normal delivery.
Remember, a prompt delivery is crucial to the health of the newborn foal.
- Unless it is a dire emergency, do
not try to pull a foal. An exception to this rule might include a
backwards presentation, because the foal can suffocate unless delivered
promptly. Under no circumstances should you ever pull with
anything more than your own muscle power, and pull only during a
contraction (when the mare is straining). Improper pulling risks
damage to the mare's reproductive tract, injury to the foal, and premature
separation of the umbilical cord, which will deprive the foal of oxygen.
- Many foals begin life with weak
legs. Don't be overly concerned if the baby is down in the pasterns
and fetlocks for the first day or two of life. They will generally
straighten up. However, if you see extreme deviations of limbs or note
other physical problems, or the condition persists, consult your
veterinarian.
- It is always a good idea to have
your veterinarian do a post-partum examination of both the mare and foal, as
well as the placenta.
A FINAL NOTE
Nature has provided an
efficient system for the mare to deliver and care for her young. Be a
prepared and informed owner so you can enjoy the miracle of birth, keep your
anxiety in check, and help the new mother and foal get off to a great start.
This information is provided by
the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
***The veterinarians at the
Groton City Animal Hospital strongly recommend an examination of both the mare
and foal 18-24 hours after birth. Also please save the placenta for
examination to be sure the entire placenta has been passed by the mare.***
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