ABNORMAL EVENT |
CAUSES |
ACTIONS TO TAKE |
|
Premature udder development and lactation |
Wrong breeding dates, placentitis, twinning |
Check due date. Call vet. Rectal palpation, ultrasound
exam, vaginal exam, check relaxin levels |
|
Vaginal discharge |
Placentitis, impending abortion |
Call vet. Rectal
palpation, vaginal exam, ultrasound, cultures |
|
No udder development, agalactia |
Wrong due date, fescue toxicosis, endocrine abnormality
(abnormal estrogen:progestagen ratio, hypothyroid), poor nutrition |
Check pasture and forage, evaluate hormone levels, check
nutrition. Late pregnant mare should be on 14% protein and ½ to ¾ lb grain / 100 lbs BWt / day and good quality hay, preferably
alfalfa |
|
Sudden, excessive abdominal enlargement |
Abdominal hernia / prepubic tendon rupture, twinning,
excessive volume of fetal fluids (Hydrops) |
Call vet. Rectal palpation, ultrasound exam. Some mares
may just look very large due to change in fetal position |
|
Premature delivery (<325 days) |
Infection, twinning, unknown causes |
Call vet. Early foal examination. Monitor temperature
and effort of breathing closely. Ensure adequate antibody absorption |
|
Prolonged gestation length (>360days) |
Fescue toxicosis, pituitary tumor in older mares, hypothyroid,
wrong due date |
Check breeding dates. Call vet. Rectal palpation, ultrasound
exam, measure hormone levels |
|
Prolonged Stage II labor |
Dystocia, low blood calcium levels |
Call vet. Vaginal exam to evaluate fetal position and
assist delivery. Walk mare until vet arrives to reduce straining and rolling |
|
Premature placental separation (Red bag delivery): velvety
red membrane appears at vulva instead of white, translucent amnion. |
Premature detachment of placenta from uterus resulting
in fetal asphyxia; cause often unknown, but has been associated with placentitis |
Call vet. Rupture
red membrane using blunt ended scissors. Extract foal encased in amnion. Rupture
amnion. Deliver as quickly as possible. Perform APGAR score and administer oxygen. CPR if not breathing |
|
Meconium staining of placenta, fetal fluids, foal |
Fetus passes meconium in utero in response to asphyxia
or other birth stress |
Call vet. Clean away meconium from nose and mouth. Perform
APGAR score. Provide oxygen, monitor rate and effort of breathing |
|
Colic in dam after foaling |
Colon torsion, impaction, trauma to uterus or bowel during
foaling resulting in peritonitis, uterine artery rupture |
Call vet. If mare is violent give Banamine and move foal
to save place. Mare requires complete exam including rectal palpation and possible peritoneal tap. |
|
Retained placenta (>3 hours) |
Cause unknown |
Call vet. Tie
up placenta by knotting it on itself or using baling twine to keep mare from stepping on placenta. Treat with Banamine, oxytocin, antibiotics |
|
Heavy placenta (>10% foal’s wt), areas of placenta
discolored |
Suspect infection |
Call vet for early examination of foal. Check foal’s
white blood cell count and start on antibiotics |
Umbilical cord hemorrhage |
Premature or traumatic cord rupture |
Clamp umbilicus or ligate with umbilical tape soaked in
disinfectant. Dip umbilicus. Remove clamp or ligature when bleeding has stopped.
|
|
Foal does not follow developmental time line: slow to
suckle, stand and / or nurse |
Weakness due to infection, asphyxia, or immaturity |
Call vet for early foal exam. Be sure foal receives adequate colostrum or IgG substitute within the first 2 – 6 hours of life |
|
Colic in the foal |
Meconium impaction most likely |
Give warm, soapy, water enema. If no meconium passes and / or foal remains colicky call vet. Prevent self-trauma while foal is colicky |
|
Yellow mucous membranes in foal |
Jaundice due to herpes virus infection or hemolysis due
to incompatible blood types between mare and foal |
Call vet. If foal is yellow and anemic then cause is hemolysis. If foal is not anemic and is showing labored breathing, suspect herpes virus infection |
|
Foal’s serum IgG is less than 400 – 800 mg/dl
= Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT) |
FPT due to poor quality colostrum, failure to nurse enough
colostrum soon enough, or inability to absorb antibodies |
If foal is < 12 – 18 hours old give more colostrum
or oral IgG substitute; If foal is > 18 – 24 ours old, give plasma transfusion |
|
Mare rejection of foal |
Maiden mares often afraid. Some mares are outwardly aggressive
towards foals. More common in Arabians. |
Sedate mare. Keep stall traffic to a minimum. Show mare foal’s rear end rather than face. Can use hobbles. Measure progesterone levels |
