Birth and Parturition

Question 1

when should you move mare to foaling area

Answer 1

10 months gestation(4-6 weeks pre EFD)

Question 2

what should be present if foaling in a grass paddock

Answer 2

shelter
light

Question 3

what should be present if foaling in stall

Answer 3

stall 2x regular size
bedded with straw

Question 4

physical changes 30 d before foaling

Answer 4

vulva relaxes
muscles over croup relax
udder starts to fill out

Question 5

physical changes 2 weeks before foaling

Answer 5

utter large and fully filled out

Question 6

caslicks

Answer 6

sutures in vulva to prevent it from collecting bacteria and fecal/urinary waste prior to foaling

Question 7

T/F its ok to let a mare foal with caslicks in

Answer 7

FALSE. she could die

Question 8

physical changes in the last week before foaling

Answer 8

teats will wax(colostrum)
some mares may stream milk

Question 9

how does predict-a-foal monitor for foaling

Answer 9

detects mineral concentration in milk(increases as parturition does)

Question 10

how do hard water test strips predict foaling

Answer 10

tests Ca in milk, if 4/5 of squares are full foaling within 24 hours

Question 11

first stage of parturition

Answer 11

-similar to colic
-restlessness
-sweating
-looking at her flanks
-pawing

Question 12

length of 1st stage of parturition

Answer 12

no longer than 4 hours

Question 13

second stage of parturition

Answer 13

-starts with breaking of chorioallantois
-release of allantoic fluid
-mare will lie down
-amnion will appear
-check for normal foal presentation

Question 14

where does the chorioallantois break

Answer 14

at the cervix

Question 15

normal presentation of foal

Answer 15

front feet pointed down
one foot in front of the other
head between legs

Question 16

normal look of amnion

Answer 16

white sac

Question 17

abnormal amnion

Answer 17

red bag, indicates probable dummy foal

Question 18

what percent of births require no outside assistance

Answer 18

90%

Question 19

average length of 2nd stage of parturition

Answer 19

15 minutes(no more than 30 minutes)

Question 20

T/F maiden mares will have a longer 2nd stage of parturition

Answer 20

TRUE

Question 21

events of 2nd stage of parturition post parturition

Answer 21

hind legs may still be in vagina, but foal will be through pelvis
-foal should be breathing and placenta should be free of muzzle
-umbilical cord will break
mare will rest for 30 minutes

Question 22

T/F if the umbilical cord does not break on its own, you should cut it

Answer 22

FALSE. you can pull but dont cut

Question 23

how should you treat the stump(where umbilical cord was on the foal)

Answer 23

iodine(harsher. may cause mild skin sloughing) or chlorohexidine/betadine for several days

Question 24

third stage of parturition

Answer 24

expelling placenta
-mare will stand
-check for holes or missing fragments

Question 25

how long should stage 3 of parturition last

Answer 25

an hour(no more than 3)

Question 26

side effects of retained placenta

Answer 26

metritis or septicaemia

Question 27

Dystocia

Answer 27

stress or complication at parturition that prevents normal birth