Foaling
With spring arriving and the first foals on the ground, we thought it time for a little reminder of things to consider if your mare is foaling at home.
Having a foaling kit ready to go will save you some time and stress when the foal is arriving.
What to have in your foaling kit:
Headtorch
Tail wrap
Clean buckets and towels
Thermometer
Navel clamp
Mild disinfectant (diluted iodine or chlorhexine) for umbilical stomp
Scissors
(Sterile) gloves
Phone number of your vet
When your mare is approaching her due date, it is time to start watching the signs of imminent birth. Some things to look for are:
Udder bagging up
Loosening of the ligaments and muscles of the croup and vulva
Waxing of the teats
Drop in temperature 24 hrs before foaling
However, not all mares will show all of these signs, and some will surprise you!
Once your mare is close to foaling, she will need to be in a clean and dry paddock. You will need to arrange for foal watch or invest in a foaling alarm. The birth of a foal is an explosive process, and usually goes very quickly. Therefore, it is important to be there, so there is time to respond when anything goes wrong.
Stages of birth
Stage one
The mare is having contractions and may appear restless or even a little colicky. At the end of this stage, the allantoic membrane breaks or ‘the waters break’. This stage can last anywhere between 5 minutes and 3 hours.
Stage two
Delivery stage: This stage is usually very fast and will last 30 minutes at most. Within minutes of the water breaking, the white sac should appear at the vulva. The foal should be presenting with its front feet first, hooves pointing down, and its nose lying on its knees. The mare will be lying down and pushing.
Stage three
Expulsion of placenta: This stage usually last 1-3 hours. The mare will continue to have mild contractions until the placenta has passed.
Once the placenta comes off, check that it’s complete and no pieces have been torn off that could be left in the uterus. It should be Y-shaped, with only a hole where the foal came out. Save it in a bucket with lid or a plastic bag to show your vet when they come to check the foal.
Once the foal is born
Be sure to give the mare and foal enough time to rest and bond without interference. The foal should start making attempts to stand within 30 minutes. It should be standing and nursing within 2 hours after birth. The umbilical stomp can be dipped or sprayed in a mild disinfectant. If it keeps bleeding, an umbilical clamp can be put on the end of it.
The first stool or ‘meconium’ should be passed within 12 hours of birth. If the foal has trouble passing the meconium, the vet can give them an enema. If the mare has not been vaccinated or boosted for tetanus, the foal will need a tetanus shot within 24 hours after birth. This is also a good opportunity to have your vet check the foal and mare, and to check if the placenta is complete.
If you think things are not going the way they should, or you have any questions prior to or after the birth of the foal, make sure to give us a ring!