The arrival of a new year with spring
soon following means foaling season is here, a wonderful time of the year – as
long as all goes as it should. Every so
often, however, Mother Nature throws us a curve and it is important that we know
how to determine what is right and what is wrong.
Broodmares have an average
gestation length of 343 days, but that range can vary give or take several days
to occasionally even a week or longer. A
good rule of thumb is to begin watching them carefully 30 days prior to their
expected delivery date. As the time
nears mares begin developing “wax” on their teats as the mammary gland begins
producing colostrum, the antibody rich milk that provides necessary immunity
for the foal. Mares that have early mammary
gland development (at day 320 or sooner) should be examined by a veterinarian,
as this could be indicative of placentitis, or infection of the placenta, that
could result in premature delivery or abortion of the foal. Mares should receive aggressive treatment as
soon as possible if there is a chance of deterring premature foaling or
abortion. Also, a mare that has reached
a safe foaling date but has dripped a lot of milk before foaling may have
inadequate colostrum for the foal, which means the foal will need additional
veterinary attention.
When the mare has reached a safe
foaling date, has begun to wax and you are carefully watching her every move, what
is next? There are three stages of labor
to go through. Stage one is the
beginning of labor. Mares become
restless, paw, pace, and urinate a lot more than normal. They’ll kick at their stomach, look at their
sides, break out into a sweat and get up and down. During this stage, the foal is moving into
position in the birth canal. This stage
could last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or two. It is important to note that all these signs
are also signs of colic, so if they continue for more than two hours, contact
your veterinarian to be certain all is well. Also, occasionally, mares may exhibit
all these signs then suddenly lay down and take a nap (while you are anxiously
waiting outside the stall for her to get on with it) before starting all over
again. In rare instances, this stage is
so short and unnoticeable, that before you have had time to blink the mare has
already moved onto stage two of labor. The end of stage one is reached as the
mare’s breaks water when the fetal membranes rupture and fluid rushes out of
the mare.
Stage two is the actual delivery of
the foal. This is a quick stage that
should last no more than 15 to 20 minutes if all goes well. In normal foal presentations, both front feet
should be presented slightly offset with the soles facing downward, and the
foal’s nose should be resting on top of the front legs. If the presentation is any different, as in
only one foot, no nose seen, soles facing upward, or the mare pushing hard with
nothing presenting at all, a possible dystocia is occurring and a veterinarian
should be called to assist, particularly if the 20-minute mark of labor has
passed. Also, should the front legs and head have come out but the mare is
pushing hard with no further progress, the foal may be “shoulder-locked” or
“hip-locked”, meaning the shoulder blades or hip bones have gotten stuck on the
mare’s pelvis and she is unable to dislodge the foal further with her
contractions. Oftentimes, a gentle but
steady slightly downward pull of the front legs while the mare is pushing could
assist her, but again, time is critical at this stage and a veterinarian should
be contacted for assistance.
The labor process reaches stage
three when the foal is safely delivered and on the ground. If the foal is
breathing and moving and the mare does not show any signs of distress, they
should be left alone for several minutes.
At this time, if the umbilical cord wasn’t broken during birth it may
break as the mare or foal start moving around but may require you to break
it. DO NOT CUT the cord as that may
cause severe bleeding from the umbilicus. There is a narrow part of the cord
about 1 inch from the foal’s umbilicus.
Grasp the cord on either side of that region and gently twist and pull
apart to break. The umbilical stump
should be dipped in a betadine or chlorhexidine solution at that time and twice
daily for another few days. To complete stage three, the mare should pass the
placenta (afterbirth) within one to three hours of birth. After the placenta is passed it should be carefully
examined, preferably by a veterinarian, to ensure that it has passed intact and
complete and is normal in color and thickness.
We need to be certain no part of the placenta remains in the uterus,
which could cause severe illness in the mare, and an abnormally-appearing
placenta may indicate infection which will affect the foal’s health. If the placenta hasn’t passed after three
hours, a veterinarian should be called for help as a retained placenta can
cause severe infection and laminitis, possibly being fatal, if left untreated.
Now that
the three stages of labor are complete we can turn our attention to the
foal. Within five to ten minutes of
delivery, normal foals will be sitting up on their sternums and most foals are
able to stand and nurse on their own within an hour or two. Monitor to be sure the foal is urinating
easily and that the meconium – the first feces consisting of small hard balls –
is passed. Foals and mares both should be examined by a veterinarian to check
for any abnormalities after foaling. An
IgG test is also recommended on the foal to ensure proper transfer of antibodies
from the mare’s colostrum to ensure healthy development of the foal’s immune
system.
Foaling
season has always been my favorite time of the year, but it is a season that
can be difficult and stressful on a person.
If you are in the foaling business or are just expecting the one foal
out of your favorite mare, I cannot encourage you enough to develop a good
relationship with a veterinarian that you can depend on and trust. There are never any unnecessary or even dumb
questions to ask your veterinarian about a foal or mare’s health as time is critical in decision-making when issues do arise.