The rest of this is under construction!!!

What do I need to Get Ready for this Birth?

1)     Dry, Draft free Birthplace

Ideal bedding is Shavings topped with Straw

                Clean the stall at least twice daily

2)     Thoroughly Groom or Bath the Mare

                Wash her perineum and udder with warm soapy water

3)Prepare a Birthday Box

Scissors

Clamp

Towels

Suction bulb

Thermometer

Naval Dip

Baby bottle

A Clean 4 cup Tupperware container

Non-Phosphate Enema

(optional) Stethoscope

Camera

Watch/Clock

Okay, She’s 320days along, Now how do I know???

1)     Restlessness, Inappetence, Behavior changes

2)     Waxing Up - production of early colostrum and relaxation of teat canals

3)     Shifting of weight in abdomen

Time to Prep your mare, wash her perineum and udder again, and wrap her tail.

Mares usually foal between 12am and 4am.  Do I have to stay up every night for potentially 45 days???

Predicting Birth by evaluating Milk Electrolytes

                FoalWatch by CheMetrics Inc. 1-800-356-3072 (or www.chemetric.com)

                                Test kit costs $25 and includes 20 tests

98% probability that the Mare will Foal with in 72 hours when milk Calcium reaches or exceeds 200ppm

                Water Hardness Test Strips can be used  - have a lower predictability

Foaling Monitors

                Foal Alert - A transmitter attaches to vulva, when separated alerts by pager/alarm

                                Foalert, Inc. 1-800-237-8861 or www.foalert.com

Breeder Alert - A monitor that attaches to mare’s Halter, alerts when mare lies down by a pager/alarm.

                                Allsman Enterprises 1-415-883-3218

Stages of Labor

Stage One

Mild Uterine Contractions, Foal is getting to delivery position

30minutes to 4 hours but is reversible

Restless, lying down and getting up, appears uncomfortable

Sweating

Laxity of perineum, Swelling of Vulva

Intervention is not indicated at this time.

Allow privacy (remember it’s reversible)

Stage Two  

Active Labor and Delivery

Delivery Should occur in 20 minutes (look at your watch)

-Water breaks  -  White balloon is the chorioallantois membrane, when it ruptures the amnionic fluid is expelled

-Mares usually lie down and will have strong abdominal contractions

-Forelegs are presented first with one foot in front of the other, may be covered with white amniotic membrane

-Nose should present at level of fetlock.

At this point you may intervene, slowly approaching mare, we don’t want her to get up.  Rupture the amnion membrane, grasp the fetlocks, and pull only on a contraction.

Once the shoulders have cleared the mare’s pelvis, Mares frequently take a short (3minutes) break before resuming delivery.

If 10 minutes of Active Labor does Not produce 2 feet and a nose - Call Your Veterinarian

At any time if strenuous contractions fail to advance the foal, attempt to get the mare up and walk her until the veterinarian arrives.

Umbilical Cord Rupture  -  Once delivery is complete, the mare will sit up, looking for her baby.  At this time the foal is still receiving blood from the mare, so don’t disturb them.  This time is variable 3-7 minutes.  When the mare stands she automatically ruptures the umbilical cord.  Nervous mares may stand early, rupturing the cord prematurely, use your clamps on the foal’s umbilical stump to prevent hemorrhage.  Dip the foals umbilical stump or naval in a 2% Nolvasan Solution every 6 hours for 24 hours.

Mothering  -  Allow the Mare to lick her foal and or the amniotic fluids, this stimulates important hormones (like oxytocin) that will assistant in Stage 3 of Labor and Milk Let Down

Stage 3 of Labor  

Expulsion of the AfterBirth or Placenta

Usually occurs in the First Hour after delivery.

If she has not passed her Placenta in 2 hours, call your Veterinarian

Retained Placenta (retained greater than 3 hours) can become a Medical Emergency

Some mares will lie down again, strong uterine contractions occur and mares become uncomfortable.

Save the Placenta for inspection by your Veterinarian

Common Complications with Delivery:

Dystocia (difficult birth) due to Malposition - The foal is not positioned correctly and will not fit through the Mare’s pelvic canal.

‘Red Bag’ or Premature Placental Separation - Cut the bag with scissors and put the foal as quickly as possible.

Uterine Artery Rupture - Internal bleeding, mare may be too weak to rise, very pale oral membranes.  Blood transfusion is required. 

Retained Placenta - The placenta releases toxins into the Mare’s blood, producing Endotoxic Shock.  She may sweat, have muscle tremors, have injected oral membranes, and develop a fever.  A common sequela of retained placenta is Laminitis or Founder.

Neonatal Vital Signs

Rectal Temperature 99-101.5^o F

Heart Rate 80-130 bpm

Respiratory Rate 60-80 bpm in first 30 minutes, 30-40bpm thereafter

Neonatal Respiratory Resuscitation

Initial Stimulus - straw up the nose

Thoracic Copage - slap chest with a cupped palm

Suction of fluid from Nares

Finally mouth to nares resuscitation  -  hold foals mouth and one nares closed, next gently blow into other nares, watching for expansion of the foal’s chest, count to 5 and repeat.

Neonatal Time Line

1-2 minutes  -  sitting sternal

2-20 minutes  -  suckle reflex

1 hour  -  Begin attempting to Stand

2 hours  -  Time to be standing

Less than 3 hours  -  Time to successfully nurse the Mare

6 hours for colts, 10 hours for fillies  -Time to Urination

by 12 hours  -  passage of meconium, first defecation

by 2 days vision is fully developed

Signs of Prematurity/Immaturity/Dysmaturity

Important to Identify, these foals are at Increased Risk for Developing Disease

Low birth weight  -  ribs prominent, pointy hips, low body fat

Short, silky hair coat

Domed head

Floppy Ears

Joint Laxity, extreme flexibility

Generalized Weakness

Delayed Timeline

Colostrum, What the heck is it and Why is it so important?

   Colostrum or Mare’s first milk is concentrated with Immunoglobulins or very large proteins called antibodies.  All mammals are born with an immature immune system, lacking the ability to recognize non-self and make their own antibodies.  Antibodies bind non-self substances, like bacteria, and aid the immune cells in clearing the contagion.  Horses are one of the number species that do Not receive antibodies across the placenta, and therefore must receive it all in the Colostrum.  A mare will produce Colostrum for up to 24 hours.

   These immunoglobulins can only be absorbed by the foal’s intestine in the first 18-24 hours of life.  During this time the foals gut is considered to be ‘Open’, capable of absorbing large particles or proteins.  Once the gut closes, Immunoglobulins can no longer cross the gut.  The absorption of immunoglobulins is referred to as Passive Immune Transfer.

   The quality of the Mare’s colostrum can be tested, and should be if she has had a sick foal in the past, or if she is an Older Mare (>10 yrs).  Colostrum is tested based on its specific gravity with a Colostrometer (Lane Manufacturing or Biogenics 541-268-4730).  Good quality colostrum is considered to have a specific gravity greater than 1.060.

   A foal should receive 1 liter (32 oz) of colostrum in the first 8 hours of life.

   Colostrum Banks  -  Only Good quality Colostrum is worth storing.  Colostrum is good frozen for up to 2 years.  After the foal has suckled for 2 hours, milk out 8-16 ounces, strain, and freeze in a tightly sealed plastic bottle.

Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT)

Every foal should have its Passive Immunity Assessed.  Your veterinarian will perform this test on a blood sample drawn 12-18 hours after birth.  The immunoglobulin assessed is referred to IgG (there are many types, IgA, IgE, IgM), and is the immunoglobulin in highest concentration in colostrum. 

                FPT is IgG <200mg/dl

                partial FPT is an IgG 200-400mg/dl

                adequate is an IgG >400mg/dl

                If all goes perfectly your foal will likely have an IgG >800mg/dl

Common Causes of FPT

                1)Poor Quality Colostrum

                2)Delayed Time to Suckling

                3)Gastrointestinal Problems causing Malabsorption

4)Overwhelming Infections

Consequences of Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT)  -  Neonatal Septicemia

In that first 18-24 hours when the gut is ‘Open’, immunoglobulins are not the only thing that can cross the intestinal wall, bacteria can also cross.  Bacteria gain entrance to the gut during udder seeking, and thus the importance of a clean mare and stall.  When bacteria are in the bloodstream it is call Septicemia.

Septicemia is the Leading Cause of Illness in Foals hospitalized in NICU

  Foals are at greatest risk for the First Week of Life

Signs of Septicemia 

Sleeping a lot  -  normal foals suckle 4 times per hour

Weakness, difficulty getting up; due to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar

Blood-shot Eyes

Wandering, not identifying with Mare

Fever  -  rectal temperature >102^o F

Call your veterinarian immediately, these disease progresses very rapidly

Other Neonatal Diseases are identified early when attention is paid to the Timeline

Dummy Foals or Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome

Angular Limb Deformities

White Muscle Disease

Patent Urachus or Ruptured Bladder

Omphalophlebitis - Naval Ill

Meconium Impactions leading to Colic

So, Everything Went PERFECTLY, you have a healthy Mare and Foal, Now What??

Have FUN!!!

Other Management Tips:

-Turn the Mare and Foal out on day 2 in a in Paddock with Safe Fencing.  They should not be turned out with Geldings or other Non-Broodmares.

-Feed your Mare as much forage as she wants, lactation is a great Energy Demand.  The foal will begin to forage at about a week, and you may begin creep feeding as soon as you note some independence.

-You can’t begin too early on halter training your foal.  They are cute and loveable, but a spoiled child will soon grow to be 1000lbs.  Make sure that they respect your space.  Whisker pulling is a good remedy to biting and will prevent head shying.