A105 Equine Parturition
Name ______Date ______
Vaccination of the pregnant mare
A vaccination program should include vaccinations against:
______in the 3rd, 5th, 7th, & 9th months of pregnancy.
Four-six weeks prior to foaling they should receive the following:
1.
2.
3.
Foal Antibody Absorption
The ______does not allow transfer of maternal antibodies to the fetus.
However, the antibodies can be passively transferred to the newborn foal through the
mother’s ______.
The foal’s intestine will absorb the antibodies only during the first ______hours after birth.
The greatest absorption occurs during the first few hours.
Signs of Parturition
______enlargement & abdominal milk vein enlargement.
Change in milk ______
______(2 weeks to hours before foaling)
Relaxation of the tail head, croup, and ______area.
Labor and Parturition
A mare’s labor is intense and ______. Usually it is over within
an ______. The owner does not have time to develop a “wait and see” attitude.
All of the foal’s oxygen supply is obtained through the ______. A prolonged delivery can quickly endanger the foal.
Stage 1 of labor
______begins to ______pushing the foal into position.
The ______.
Mares exhibit the following:
1.4.
2.5.
3.6.
Stage 1 of Labor
Move the mare to the foaling area.
Wash the mare’s perineal area with an iodine solution.
Wrap the tail.
Quietly observe from a distance. The mare will not give birth unless she feels
completely ______.
Stage 2 of Labor
Stage 1 ends when the fetal membranes break releasing the ______(Water breaks).
Stage 2 begins with intense ______that push the foal through the birth canal.
Stage 2 usually lasts about ______minutes. Little can be done to slow labor or make corrections if problems arise at this point.
The mare usually ______during stage 2. It is best for the foal if she is lying down to prevent premature rupture of the umbilical cord.
Stage 2 of Labor
Both ______should appear within ______
minutes of her water breaking, followed by the ______.
Once the ______(the widest portion of the foal’s body) are born the rest of the foal usually follows shortly.
If the mare has been pushing for ______minutes and no sign of the foal has been seen, intervention is needed quickly if the foal is to survive.
Dystocia
Older mares may often become exhausted in the middle of labor and unable to push the foal out.
Any deviation from the proper fetal position (Front legs first, head down between the
knees posture) can cause ______.
Improper fetal positions would include:
A ______turned ______
A ______foal (backwards)
______foal
The presence of ______.
The placenta ______from the uterine wall within an hour of stage 2, whether the foal is born or not.
If the placenta detaches and the foal has not been born, the foal’s ______supply will be cut off and the foal is likely to die. Time is critical.
The Foal
The newborn foal may have a ______tongue and bluish white nasal mucous.
Clear the fetal ______.
If the foal has not started breathing on its own, put your ______or a
piece of ______up its nose.
The umbilical cord should be allowed to break on its own. It should never be cut.
The Foal
Once the umbilical cord breaks, it should immediately be treated with ______.
If the umbilical cord bleeds heavily, tie it off with a piece of sterilized
______.
Make sure the foal has nursed within the first ______after birth.
An enema should be administered to help the foal pass the ______.
Stage 3 Postpartum
Stage three is complete when the placenta and fetal membranes are expelled.
This usually happens ______minutes after birth.
If they have not been passed in ______, the membranes are considered retained and a vet should be called.
Pulling the placenta may leave ______in the uterus, which can cause infection, laminitis or death.
A mare with this condition may appear normal for the first ______and then, when symptoms develop, it may be too late.
Occasionally, if the mare has had a very difficult birth, a serious condition can occur immediately postpartum where the middle ______.
This usually happens in mares older than ______and is usually fatal.
A nursing mare’s energy requirements ______.
______is relatively common during the first week
postpartum. ______and ______should be fed to the mare.