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California Riding Magazine • March, 2009 Your Mare’s Foal is Coming ... by Dr. Kim Sergent |
Your mare is within weeks of foaling and time passed quicker than you imagined. The day is quickly approaching and you realize you are not ready. Take a deep breath, relax and get prepared! Stall Preparation If the plan is to have your mare foal in a pipe corral or pen instead of a barn stall you’ll need to make a few changes. Foals can easily slip through between the lower rail and the ground thus getting separated from their dam. Both foal and mare will suffer ... foals won’t get to drink right away which could be disastrous and mares will be going crazy which can lead to injuries. Therefore we need to foal-proof the pen. This is easily done by securing one-half inch plywood to the corral panels making sure the edge comes all the way to the ground. Securing can be done by drilling holes in the plywood and using zip ties around the vertical poles. You must include gate panels too. The added benefit is it also allows privacy if there are other horses nearby. The other way to make a pen safer is to use bales of straw (placed on their edge) around the inside perimeter of the pen. This works well for both pipe corrals and chain link (wouldn’t want baby to catch a foot through or under the chain link). A shelter is also imperative. It is no fun and unhealthy to have a foal out in the rain. We’d hate to have to have you clear out the garage to serve as a nursery (yes, it has been done)! Make sure it is tall enough for your mare and that there is enough room for mom and baby to lie down. A 14x14 shelter is adequate for most average size mares. Safety Check Make sure all bolts are to the outside of the pen and there are no stray wires, hooks, etc. Water placement: It is dangerous to have a large tub of water on the ground as the foal could drown in it. Hanging a bucket or an automatic waterer is much safer. Creature Comforts While a mint on the pillow is not necessary, there should be plenty of straw bedding in the pen. Make sure you clean this daily. Yes, it’s a bit of a pain but it’s less dusty than shavings. Dust can irritate the foal’s respiratory passages and predispose it to infections. While you’re at it make sure you have some creature comforts for yourself nearby ... lounge chair and sleeping bag, stocked cooler, pillow, a good book, a nice travel trailer or better yet, a monitoring system with video and sound! There are foaling alert systems available as well that alert you when the mare goes into labor (even if you are out to dinner!). Foaling Kit A plastic toolbox works wonders. It should include: Watch for the Clues Whew, now that the hard part is over ... you get to look for clues of impending foaling: 1) Beginning of udder filling 2-4 weeks pre-foaling. Some sneaky mares don’t fill until just before or even after foaling. 2) Distension of the teats 4-6 days pre-foaling. (except in those sneaky mares mentioned above). 3) Waxing of the teats (a sticky milky white droplet on the end of the teat) 1-4 days pre-foaling (does not always occur). 4) Softening of the muscles of the croup (look and feel around the tail head) and lengthening of the vulva. 5) The mare may get anxious/restless or even appear colicky. She may kick at her belly, bite her flanks, lie down and get up. This should not last more than an hour or two. This would be first stage labor and can occur for several days. Usually these signs diminish and your horse will go back to eating or she will progress to actual labor. If she does not, it may be a true colic instead and you should call your veterinarian. Get Ready! If it appears that all is proceeding, have your cell phone and watch handy. The end of the first stage is the water breaking. In second stage labor, contractions are strong and the foal should be expelled within 30 minutes, call your vet if it is taking longer. If there has been no progress (no portion of the foal is showing) within 10 minutes call your vet for help. Otherwise, sit back, be quiet and wait. Mares appreciate quiet and no bright lights. Avoid the urge to “help” unless instructed by a veterinarian. The end of second stage labor is the foal being expelled. Wow, that was fast! Now what? The mare and foal should lay quietly for several minutes. Don’t go in until the umbilicus breaks (usually after the foal struggles a bit or the mare gets up). Dry the foal with towels if it’s chilly. Put the nolvasan in the shot glass and proceed to dip the naval. Repeat the dip every 12 hours for the next few days and make sure the naval stub is drying up. It is ok to do a little imprinting (five minutes or so), touching the foal all over including ears and nose. Then leave the foal alone. Keep an eye on the mare for the passage of the placenta (the end of the third and final stage of labor). Foaling Timeline The timeline for a normal foal is: 1) Starts attempting to rise in 30 minutes. 2) Stands and nurses within two hours (call vet if longer). Watch for actual latching onto the teat and swallowing. Make sure your mare stands still for these attempts. Foals get discouraged quickly. If necessary, halter the mare and restrain against a fence. If you are not comfortable with and need more restraint (i.e. a twitch or lip chain) make sure you have someone with you that has more experience. 3) Passes meconium (dark sticky first stool) within 12 to 14 hours post birth. If you see straining or none has passed, call your vet. 4) Mare should pass the placenta by two to three hours, if not, call the vet. A retained placenta can be life threatening. Save the placenta in a bucket and cover with water and a lid (dogs think placenta is a yummy treat) for the vet to check later. 5) Allow the mare access to food and water. She should be bright and alert. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of having your foal nurse successfully in the outlined time. Foals must have that first milk (colostrum) starting at two hours and continuing through the first eight to 12 hours. This is the only way a foal gets immunity to fight disease early in life. They are also susceptible to dehydration. Schedule an Examination Call your veterinarian or leave a message within the first few hours to schedule a mare and foal exam. This exam is typically performed after the first 12 hours unless there are problems. The veterinarian will tell you anything they are concerned about. A blood sample is collected from the foal to run an IgG test. This measures the amount of antibodies (immunity) the foal has received from the colostrum. If the level of antibodies is below a certain point, the foal may have to be treated. If all this is overwhelming we can also help refer you to an experienced person who can take your mare prior to foaling and do all the work and worry for you! Most importantly enjoy watching your foal and take lots of pictures….they grow up fast! A.C.E.S. wishes you a healthy and happy foaling!
For more info call All County Equine Services (A.C.E.S.) at 619-659-3532 or visit www.acequine.com. |
