|
WHERE SHOULD SHE FOAL?
The choice between foaling outside in the pasture or in the stall should be made after considering all factors involved. The most important factor being, will you be
present? If the answer is no or maybe, then it is imperative that you allow your mare to foal in the pasture where her normal selection process of the best place to foal will keep her safe.
If the mare is to foal in a stall, it should be of sufficient size to allow room to lie down and deliver the foal without fear of her hindquarters being too
close to the wall. The bedding may be shavings, straw, or shredded paper. The latter two are slightly preferable as they are longer and do not invade the newborn's eyes and oral cavity as shavings and
sawdust may.
WHEN WILL SHE FOAL?
There
are as many formulas for predicting the foaling date of mares as there are mare owners.
These arithmetic and zodiacal contrivances are all acceptable as long as they have the mare foaling somewhere between 335 and 365 days. A foal born in less than 320 days of gestation is in great risk of being weak and premature. Foals that exceed one year and one week of gestation have historically failed to exhibit the robust qualities of their full siblings born of normal gestation limits. The light breeds will tend to foal more closely to the 343-353 day range with a few foaling earlier and a few foaling later.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF IMPENDING PARTURITION?
Mammary development is one of the most important signs that we are nearing the end of gestation.
Unfortunately for the foal watch person, this mammary development may become evident up to a month prior to foaling. Relaxation of the muscular tissue in the hind quarters and the sacrosciatic ligament, as evidenced by the more prominent appearance of the tail head and relaxation and lengthening of the vulva, may be evident in the last couple of weeks prior to delivery. Waxing of the teats is a sign referred to in many booklets and described by word of mouth. Although a fairly reliable sign when waxing does occur, it is absent in some mares. When wax is present on the teats, it appears 2-4 days prior to foaling, but may be present for longer periods in some cases. Changes in milk composition and color are a fairly consistent indicator of impending parturition. Beginning two weeks prior to foaling, the milk will transform from clear to serum-like and then become smoky gray a day or so before foaling.
As foaling nears, the milk will change from opaque-white to sticky, thick and very white.
The mare may become anxious and restless and present signs that resemble colic. She may walk in circles, lie down and get up, nip at her flanks and
urinate frequently. The pasture mare will usually isolate herself from the others and seek secure spot for foaling.
LABOR AND DELIVERY
Stage 1: Contractions begin and the foal advances through the cervix. The sac (allantois or fetal membrane) should become visible at the mare's vulva. Stage 1 lasts until this sac ruptures. This may take 1-2 hours
Stage 2: The foal is expelled
through the birth canal head and front feet first and delivery of the foal is completed. This stage lasts from 10-45 minutes.
Stage 3: The expulsion of the placenta (afterbirth) occurs. This stage may coincide with delivery of the foal or take up to
3 hours which is the upper limit of time allowed for passage of placental tissue.
FOAL CHECK
The fetal membrane should be broken and free the foal's head. If not, you must manually remove the membrane from the foal's nostril area. This is one of the only circumstances that might require you to
approach the mare and foal immediately. We may feel that we are important and needed in the foaling process. However, nothing could be farther from the truth! Leave them alone!
When it becomes necessary to approach the mare and foal you must approach with caution.
Please do not assume that since you love your mare and she loves you that she will allow you near her foal. Do not attempt to carry out procedures on the mare or foal if she is overprotective as it may result in injury to the foal or yourself.
The umbilical cord will break when the mare stands and turns to examine her foal or when the foal begins to scramble
about. If the cord does not break on its own it may be grasped and pinched and twisted until broken 1-2 inches from its insertion into the foal's abdomen. Do not cut it sharply.
When the mare and foal have both recovered from the rigors of the birth process and have had time to bond and rest, you can now
treat the foal's umbilical stump with Nolvasan or Betadine solution. The mare's vulva should be checked for tearing. The foal should nurse within 3 hours of birth and pass the meconium (black, sticky
stool) within 8-12 hours.
Watch the mare and the foal for the next 2 days to ensure that postparturiant
colic is not severe and that normal nursing, defecating and urinating are occurring.
|
