For a horse owner, nothing is as exciting and challenging as the birth of a new foal. Being prepared and knowing what to expect helps the owner to remain calm and collected, which in turn helps both the mare and the new foal.
Challenges of foaling
For a horse owner, nothing is as exciting and challenging as the birth of a new foal, and being prepared while knowing what to expect helps the owner and also helps both the mare and the new foal.
© 2013 by April Raine
According to Richard A Mansmann, VMD, PhD, writing for AAEP, many foalings are unattended and most foalings work out well for both mare and foal. However in the up to 20% of foalings that don’t work out well, it can be emotionally and financially devastating to the owner and potentially fatal for the foal and/or the mare.
Most mares foal at night and foaling often happens just as the owner takes a break to go get a cup of coffee. However, if the mare is beginning to get into trouble and is observed within the first hour of trouble, positive steps can be taken.
The foaling process is probably the most important true emergency in equine veterinary medicine and surgery. It is at this time that an experienced individual can move a limb or a head, or make a determination that can be life-saving for the foal and/or the mare. If delayed two to three hours, this delay can have a fatal effect.
After the foal is delivered, it is best to leave the mare and foal alone for 30 to 60 minutes toallow for bonding and emptying of blood from the placenta.
The foal should be on its feet in one hour and nursing in two hours. If this time frame is extended by an hour, the situation becomes an emergency and veterinary care needs to be considered immediately.
In this immediate post-foaling time, some mares, due to cramping as the uterus contracts, will act mildly colicky and break out into a sweat again. This can be normal. However, if these colicky signs persist over one hour or intensify, veterinary assistance should be sought to rule out any abnormal ruptures of internal blood vessel or uterus during the foaling process.
Post-foaling concerns
The first step after delivery is to make sure the foal is breathing. If the foal does not begin breathing on its own, tickle its nostril with a piece of straw or grass or blow into the foal's mouth to stimulate the respiratory reflex.
Once the foal is breathing, it's best to leave the foaling area and observe the mare and foal from a distance. Some foals require vigorous rubbing or even lifting them and dropping them from about one foot off the ground to shock the foal slightly and initiate the breathing response.
Within 12 to 24 hours, (ideally, the next morning or afternoon,) the foal should have a veterinary examination and have blood drawn to determine that the foal has received the proper amount of antibodies into its bloodstream from suckling on colostrums.
If the foal has an inadequate amount of antibody, it needs to have a transfusion of plasma as soon as possible. This foal is at high risk for the potential of a blood infection that can be immediately life threatening. These infections can also result in joint infections and alter the athletic and even long-term life of the foal.
If at any time the foal acts depressed, seems to be laying down more, the mare’s udder enlarges or squirts milk on its own, this foal is a strong candidate for a blood infection and needs to be hospitalized where it can have a blood culture and blood chemistry evaluation immediately. It needs to be placed on proper fluid, nutrition, and antibiotic treatment as soon as possible.
The faster the foal gets to a facility with these capabilities and gets the necessary attention, the less the chance of dire results and less expense to the owner. Foals that have been down for 6 to 12 hours probably have a minimal chance of survival or, if they do survive, it will be at a costly medical effort.
Although caring for a foal can be hard work, the joys of watching the physical growth along with the development of the "personality" of the growing foal can be very rewarding for the owner or caretaker.