Foaling and the First Few Days

Dr. Joan Norton VMD DACVIM

Janssen Veterinary Clinic

Client Education Night

December 2011

Photographs courtesy of Dr. Jon Palmer VMD DACVIM

What to Expect When You’re Expecting…

• Normal pregnancy– ~340 days (11 months)

– Every mare is unique• Each mare tends to foal around

the same number of days each year

Leading up to the Event

• Prior to birth– Mammary development

• “Waxed” teats (12-24 hours to go)

– Relaxed vulva– Shifts in the electrolyte make-up of the milk– Become restless, change in sleep patterns– Decrease in feed intake

Wax

Relaxed Vulva

Predicting When

• There is NO reliable way to predict exactly when she will foal!

• Everyday she is one day closer

High Risk PregnancyThreats to Fetal Well-being

• Placentitis/placental dysfunction• Lack of placental blood flow• Lack of O2 delivery• Nutritional threats• Presence of a twin• Hydrops (excess fluids)• Prepubic tendon rupture

Is She At Risk?

• Early udder development• Precocious lactation• Vulvar discharge• Abnormal abdominal contour • Previous trouble foaling• Known pelvic fracture

– Severe orthopedic disease

Stages of Labor

• Stage I (1-4hr or more)

– Restless with abdominal pain (may look like colic)

• May roll to help position foal

– Sweat behind elbows and flanks

• Stage II– EXPLOSIVE! Less than 30 minutes!– Rupture of the placenta– Delivery of the foal

• Stage III (1-3 hr)

– Passage of the placenta

Stage I

Stages of Labor

• Stage I (1-4hr or more)

– Restless with abdominal pain (may look like colic)

• May roll to help position foal

– Sweat behind elbows and flanks

• Stage II– EXPLOSIVE! Less than 30 minutes!– Rupture of the placenta– Delivery of the foal

• Stage III (1-3 hr)

– Passage of the placenta

Stage II

Stages of Labor

• Stage I (1-4hr or more)

– Restless with abdominal pain (may look like colic)

• May roll to help position foal

– Sweat behind elbows and flanks

• Stage II– EXPLOSIVE! Less than 30 minutes!– Rupture of the placenta– Delivery of the foal

• Stage III (1-3 hr)

– Passage of the placenta

Dystocia

• Abnormal position

• Maternal problem– Uterine inertia

• Premature placental separation “Red Bag”

Correcting a DystociaAssisted Vaginal Delivery

Correcting a DystociaControlled Vaginal Delivery

Correcting a DystociaC- Section

PLAN AHEAD!

• Decide before foaling– Do you have a 24hr emergency veterinarian?– Is referral to a hospital possible?

• Transportation?• Directions?

– Would you be willing to allow C-section?• Who is more valuable? Mare or foal?

– How aggressively are you willing to treat the foal?

Be Ready!

• Foal watch– Foal-Alert device– Closed circuit cameras– Comfy place to sit in the barn

• Have the trailer hooked up!– Have directions!

First Few Minutes

• Foal should be vigorous and able to sit– Good muscles tone and activity– Sometimes vocalizing

• Mare will clean the foal– Important for transition to “outside life”– Very important for bonding

Things you should do

• Ensure the umbilicus has torn properly– Clamp off if necessary– Dip with dilute iodine or chlorhexidine

• 4x in the 1st day, 2x the 2nd day, then not again

• Give enema– Help with passage of meconium– Fleet

First Few Hours

• Foal should stand on its own (1 hour)– Will take many attempts– Dependent on stall flooring

• Foal should search for the udder and suckle (2 hours)

• Mare should pass complete placenta (3 hours)

Placenta

Placenta

Foal’s First Veterinary Exam

• Within the first 24-48hr of life– Heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature– Listen to heart and lungs– Check umbilicus– Examine legs and joints– Observe nursing– Check serum IgG

• Tells if enough colostrum was consumed

If the Placenta Does Not Pass

• Retained fetal membranes– Must be treated quickly– Can cause severe sepsis in the mare– Lavage uterus to remove pieces– Treatment

• Antibiotics • Anti-inflammatories

Failure of Passive Transfer• Foals born immunocompromised

– Need colostrum to fight infection• Mare’s first milk- thick and golden/yellow• Must receive in the first few hours of life

• Causes– Mare

• Poor quality colostrum

– Foal• Not enough ingested• Too late (Gut “closes” in 12-18hrs)

Failure of Passive Transfer

• Testing– Colostrum

• Brix refractometer• Specific gravity

– Foal• Test at first exam• IgG >800mg/dl

• Treatment– Banked colostrum (if given in time)

– Hyper-immune plasma

Meconium Impaction• Meconium

– Fetal manure– Normally

passed in first few days

• Can cause colic• Treatment

– Soapy waterenemas

“Dummy Foal”

• Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy– Neonatal maladjustment syndrome– Inappropriate mentation– Other organs involved

• Renal compromise• GI problems

• Abnormal behavior– Poor search and suckle– Aimless wandering (away from the mare)

Sepsis

• Bacterial infection– Placentitis– Failure of passive transfer

• Treatments– Antibiotics– Nutrition– Supportive care

Final Thoughts

• Be Prepared!– Watch for any early signs of trouble– Know the signs of labor– Have a plan if problems occur– Have the foal examined

• We are here to help– Telephone consultations– On Farm exams– Emergency NICU service