Broodmare Foaling

Question 1

Mare gestation period? Average gestation?

Answer 1

325-365 days
average = 345

Question 2

Easy way to calculate expected foaling date

Answer 2

Subtract 3 weeks from date of ovulation

Question 3

Indicators of impending foaling

Answer 3

Bagging up
Waxing
Vulva relaxed/elongated
Muscle on side of tail soften
Mare poops

Question 4

What is bagging up

Answer 4

Increase in mammary development, fluid starts to accumulate in the udder
Can be 6 weeks before foaling

Question 5

Accumulation of milk at the tip of the teats in day or two prior to foaling

Answer 5

waxing (closely monitor)

Question 6

When before foaling will the vulva relax/elongate

Answer 6

Begin 2 weeks prior
Obvious directly before onset of labor

Question 7

When does softening of muscles along either side of the tail occur

Answer 7

2-3 days before

Question 8

When before foaling will the large intestine be evacuated

Answer 8

Hours prior

Question 9

How long before foaling should the mare be introduced to the foaling environment? Why?

Answer 9

At least 30 days
Exposed to any potential infectious organisms, produce antibodies she can pass on to foal

Question 10

Size of foaling stall

Answer 10

12 x 24 ft

Question 11

How should foaling stall be prepared

Answer 11

Clean, disinfected walls
Flooring = nonslip
Straw for bedding

Question 12

Why should foaling be attended

Answer 12

Minimize risk of complications
Fatal complications can often be avoided

Question 13

Disadvantage of foaling outside

Answer 13

Monitoring is difficult, increased risk of complications
She runs away

Question 14

What time do the majority of mares foal

Answer 14

Between 10pm and 4am

Question 15

Length of first stage of labour? Signs of it?

Answer 15

1-4 hours
Behaviour changes:
Act restless, colicky
Sweat, bite at her sides
Stand stretched out/odd

Question 16

Physiological changes in the mare during the first stage

Answer 16

Uterus begins contraction (get foal into position)
Oxytocin hormone is released
Cervix begins opening

Question 17

What happens at the end of the first stage

Answer 17

Outer membrane of placenta (chorioallantois) ruptures to release allantoic fluid (breaking water)

Question 18

Second stage of labour is…

Answer 18

delivery of foal

Question 19

Different kinds of placenta. Which belongs to the horse?

Answer 19

Diffuse (horse)
Discoid (human)
Cotyledonary
Zonary

Question 20

Chorioallantois AKA? Amnioallantois AKA?

Answer 20

Allantochorion
Allantoamnion

Question 21

What is the hippomane

Answer 21

Out-pouch of the allantois

Question 22

What happens once the allantoic fluid is released

Answer 22

Strong uterine contractions = amnion appears at the vulva
Forelimbs present within 5 minutes of water break
Foal delivered in under 20 mins

Question 23

What tissue should appear first? Colour? What tissue should not appear first? Colour? Why?

Answer 23

Amnion is pale/grey/white and should appear first
Chorioallantois is red and should still be attached to provide O2 during birth

Question 24

What is the amnion

Answer 24

Opaque membrane that covers foals forelimbs

Question 25

What does the third stage of labor consist of

Answer 25

Passage of placenta (chorioallantois)

Question 26

What continues after delivery of the foal

Answer 26

Uterine contractions

Question 27

How long until the placenta is passed

Answer 27

3 hours

Question 28

What is premature placental separation

Answer 28

Placenta separates from the wall of the uterus before allantoic fluid is released = loss of O2 for foal Red bag

Question 29

When do red bags occur

Answer 29

Usually during labor, but can also happen during gestation to cause abortion

Question 30

How do we diagnose a red bag

Answer 30

Appearance of a velvety, red mass at the vulva

Question 31

How do we treat a red bag

Answer 31

Tear through placenta, facilitate delivery of the foal before it suffocates

Question 32

Is red bag serious

Answer 32

Fatal to foal if undetected or not corrected

Question 33

Dystocia is

Answer 33

Mare unable to deliver foal unassisted due to factors such as abnormal positioning or abnormally large fetus

Question 34

How is dystocia diagnsoed

Answer 34

Delivery of foal does not progress regularly following water breaking Palpation to detect abnormal position

Question 35

how to tell which legs are front/back

Answer 35

Front legs bend the same way Back legs bend opposite ways

Question 36

Treatment for dystocia

Answer 36

Vet will attempt to reposition foal Mare may be sedated, head positioned downhill to encourage foal to move forward to allow for repositioning Cesarean may be necessary if unsuccessful

Question 37

Is dystocia serious

Answer 37

Life threatening to mare and foal Cesarean rarely results in live birth

Question 38

Why do foals die when cesarean is needed

Answer 38

Cannot be done in general practice, need to go to appropriate clinic. Mares give birth quickly, chorionallantois will likely detach before can make it

Question 39

Complications of dystocia

Answer 39

Risk of uterine infection, trauma to the uterus and birth canal Death of foal

Question 40

Failure to pass placental membranes within three hours of birth is called

Answer 40

Retained placenta

Question 41

How can we check to see if placenta is retained

Answer 41

Use garden hose to fill the placenta with water, check for missing pieces May be obvious if placenta is still hanging from vulva

Question 42

Treatment of retained placenta

Answer 42

Administer oxytocin to mare = contractions Lavage of the uterus with large volumes of fluid Antibiotics/anti-inflammatories

Question 43

How serious is retained placenta? Complications?

Answer 43

Easily managed, if unrecognized or untreated = serious consequences Endotoxemia with laminitis Uterine infections

Question 44

Trauma and disruption to the perineum during foaling is

Answer 44

Perineal laceration

Question 45

Classifications of perineal lacerations

Answer 45

First degree (only skin/outer layer of tissue) Second degree (involves middle layer of tissue) Third degree (can extend through all layers, penetrate the rectum)

Question 46

How is perineal laceration diagnosed

Answer 46

Identified during physical examination

Question 47

Treatment for perineal lacerations

Answer 47

First/second = none Some second / third will need surgery Delay surgery (weeks to months) to allow inflammation to die down/tissues heal Antibiotics/anti-inflammatories

Question 48

How serious is perineal laceration? Complications?

Answer 48

Most can heal/be repaired so mare can be bred again Rarely, damage/contamination of uterus affected future fertility Uterine damage

Question 49

red bag aka

Answer 49

Premature placental separation

Question 50

Placenta made of

Answer 50

Allantochorion + endometrium