Preparing a Kit for the Birth of a Foal
What to Include in Your Foaling Kit and Why
If the plan is to be around when the mare gives birth rather than send her out to be foaled down, a knowledge of what is needed and why is imperative. About a month before the mare is due is a good time to have the kit ready in case she goes early. The kit should be made up of items that are of use to the owner, mare or the foal.
For the Broodmare
- Scissors or scalpel blade
- Tail bandage
- Obstetrical gloves
- Cotton wool
Especially in the Thoroughbred industry it’s commonplace for a mare to have the vulval lips stitched close, leaving a small gap for her to urinate. This is done if the mare is poorly conformed behind and prone to getting infected in her reproductive tract. Something to open her up is necessary and generally should be done with a local anaesthetic about a month before she’s due. A scalpel blade or some scissors handy just in case are a good idea, however.
Some owners like to bandage their mare’s tail and if around when she’s showing late signs of the first stage of labour this may be worth doing to avoid hairs getting in the way. This also stops the tail getting covered in blood and amniotic fluid. Doing so can be trying however if done each night in anticipation of the mare foaling and she doesn’t give birth for a week or more. The bandage should be taken off during the day to allow for better circulation.
Obstetrical gloves are brilliant for being able to have a feel inside the mare to ascertain the positioning of the foal. This can be done once her waters have broken, marking the second stage of labour. Two feet, one slightly in front of the other and a muzzle should be felt if the foal is in the correct position.
Some mares can be quite tight and hard in their bag (udder) and sore to touch. This can be especially true for maidens, making them less inclined to encourage their foal to nurse. Resulting signs of a tight bag may be lifting up the hind leg on the side of where the foal’s trying to nurse, kicking out, biting at the foal and squealing.
Cotton wool soaked in warm water can be used to clean down the mare's udder and massage gently. Doing so can help to relieve some of the pain and pressure. This also helps the mare to get used to being touched in this sensitive area and can alleviate problems with regards to the foal nursing.
For the Foal
- Enema
- Thermometer
- Iodine
Colts especially seem to have issues with retained meconium. Meconium is the foal’s first manure. It’s not uncommon for a foal to have issues with passing this manure which can lead to impaction, bad colic and even a ruptured bladder from constant straining. An enema can easily fix this problem but it’s a good idea to have two people to do so. One to restrain the foal and one to administer the enema helps to make sure it is given correctly.
If the foal seems off colour, dull or just not right a day or two after foaling it’s smart to keep an eye on its temperature. Note that the foal’s temperature should be slightly higher than an adult horse. The thermometer may also be handy if the mare goes off colour after foaling.
Diluted iodine or a similar disinfectant/cauterising agent should be used to spray or dip the umbilicus in after the cord has broken. Doing so helps to stop infection entering through what could be considered an open wound. A cauterising agent also helps to close over the hole.
For the Owner
- Pen and paper
- Emergency phone numbers
- Refractometer
Making a note of how long the delivery took once the mare’s waters broke and any difficulties can be of assistance to the vet. Also noting when the foal first stood, its colour and gender and when it first drinks and passes manure is worthwhile information. Anything else that seems out of the ordinary can be noted and checked over with your vet.
Emergency phone numbers such as the vet or someone nearby who can assist if needed are also worth having. If one needs to call the vet, make sure the number of whoever is on call is available as often foalings are in the early hours of the morning.
Foals gain immunity through what is known as passive transfer. This arises from them drinking the mare's colostrum shortly after birth. The immunity level of the foal is dependent on the quality of the mare's colostrum. The use of a refractometer allows the owner to milk out out a drop of colostrum onto the refractometer and assess the colostrum quality. A reading over 20 is considered reasonable while 25-32 is great.
There are many items that can be in your foaling kit and it can be beneficial to do some research before hand to determine what is important and what can easily be added to make the kit comprehensive. Doing so makes it easier to assist the mare and foal should the need arise when the time comes.
Being Prepared aids in a Resulting Healthy Foal
|
What do you think about this article?
Latest Articles