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SPRING 2017 ISSUE
EQUINE MATTERS
6
F OA L I NG A D V I C E
Being well prepared will hopefully make it an
unforgettable experience for all the right reasons,
so here we provide some top tips you can
employ to help things go as smoothly as possible;
Are you ready?
When things are becoming
imminent
During the last month of pregnancy the udder
usually enlarges. Three weeks prior to foaling the
pelvic muscles start to relax and in the last 24-48
hours the mare’s vulva may swell and relax too.
‘Waxing up’
(figure 1)
where wax-like beads
appear at the end of each teat can occur anytime
between 12 hours and 2 weeks prior to foaling.
In some cases, usually in mares that have not
foaled before, this may fail to occur at all.
The Big Push – three stages of
foaling:
Stage one: Positioning of the foal
●
uterus starts to contract
●
mare becomes restless, sweaty and may have
signs of mild colic
●
foaling should occur in the next few hours
Stage two: Delivery of the foal
●
waters break and abdominal contractions seen
●
the foal should be in a forward diving position
and can be seen in its sac at the vulval lips.
●
the foal should be delivered in 15-20 minutes.
If labour progression is slow or delivery lasts
longer you should call your vet to assess the
mare IMMEDIATELY.
Stage three: Expulsion of the
placenta
●
occurs within a few hours of foaling, (if this
has not happened within 4 hours, call your
vet as soon as possible)
Foaling kit list (figure 2):
●
Mobile phone with your vet’s emergency
numbers
●
Pen and paper to note timings or instructions
●
Fully charged torch
●
Clean towels
●
Clean buckets and warm water
●
Tail bandage
●
Scissors
●
Thermometer
●
Disposable rubber gloves
●
String to tie off umbilical cord if necessary
●
Antiseptic solution (chlorhexidine
recommended), with cup for dipping the
umbilical stump
●
Large plastic bag to store placenta for
veterinary inspection
Good luck.
Veterinary Surgeon
Jenna Elliott
XLVets Equine practice
Rosevean Vet Practice
Figure 1. Waxing up
In the weeks leading up to foaling, ensure
the following have been done:
Advice for the first time
foaling mare
Jenna Elliott BVetMed MrCVS,
Rosevean Veterinary Practice
The birth of your first foal is undoubtedly an exciting experience for
any horse owner. However as your mare’s belly is getting larger, this
excitement can also be mixed with anxiety about what to expect and
fear that something could go wrong.
☑
Vaccinations
– routine vaccinations for
influenza and tetanus should be up to date
and boosted 4-6 weeks prior to foaling.
☑
Worming
- routine worming regimes should
be maintained throughout pregnancy. A final
dose should be given 2-4 weeks prior to
foaling. Not all products are suitable for
pregnant mares so please check with your
vet if you are unsure.
☑
Caslick removal
- if your mare has had her
vulva stitched it is essential that they are
removed by your vet 3 weeks prior to foaling.
☑
Nutrition
- mares should be fed high quality
roughage along with stud mix and additional
stud balancer if required. Mares should be in
good condition but not overly fat so some
will require more additional nutrition in the
form of stud mix than others.
☑
Foaling area
- ensure your mare is
comfortable and relaxed in the area she
is to foal in; whether that be a deeply
bedded, large foaling box or a paddock
that is free of obstacles with secure fencing.
☑
Foaling alarms/cameras
- if using either of
these, ensure they are installed and working
well in advance.
Figure 2. A foaling kit
Courtesy of Rachael Bromage Photography