Normal Foaling Events & Behavior Flashcards
What are the 3 normal stages of equine parturition? How does prolonged duration of any stages affect the foals?
- 1-2 days - mare becomes uncomfortable and contractions begin to position the foal —> looks like colic!
- 30 mins - foal emerges from the birth canal, resulting in fluid evacuation due to pulling off the placenta
- placental delivery within a few hours of the foal birth
infection or laminitis due to retained placenta
What kind of offspring are foals?
precocious - able to stand and suckle within the first hours of life
How long after birth do foals usually take to stand and seek the mare?
within an hour
- should be able to catch udder within a few tries (within 2 hours)
When should the foal latch onto the udder and consume its first meal?
within the first few hours
- suckle burst = attached to one nipple and continuously suckles for 20-30 secs
- foal shouldn’t walk around the mare to suckle on other nipple
How often should a foal suckle once it has had its first meal?
1-2 times/hr
- foals should seem content after feeding and rest
- if the foal has not gotten enough milk, it will swish its tail and bat at udders
What volume of milk should a foal consume of a daily basis?
20% of body weight
What are the 4 basics to normal suckling behavior in foals?
- normal suckle burst lasts around 30 mins
- foal moves from teat to teat
- udder is empty when foal is done
- foal seems satisfied
How can you be sure that a foal is suckling well?
- palpate the foal’s throat to be sure it is swallowing
- auscultate the trachea while the foal is suckling - if fluid is heard = aspiration
- observe nares - milk coming out = aspiration
How should a mare’s udder be when their foal is suckling correctly?
soft, empty, normal temperature (not too hot), mare tolerant of palpation
What is happening with this mare’s udder?
- swollen with milk = not emptied
- foal not suckling effectively
How soon after birth should the foal pass feces? What is it’s first feces called?
6-8 hours
meconium —> black and sticky self-shedding of GI mucosa, not a lot of bacteria
When should a foal complete passing of meconium?
2-3 defecations within 12-24 hours
How soon after birth should a foal pass urine? How frequently should they urinate? What is normal specific gravity?
- FILLIES - 2-3 hr
- COLTS - longer, 6-8 hr
1-2 hours following suckling
isosthenuric (1.008-1.015) or hyposthenuric —> increased concentration = not suckling enough
How often do neonatal foals sleep?
15 hours in brief period, where they lay on the ground sternally
- foal should jump up and seek out mare if approached
- foal should not be overly sleepy or groggy
What are the 4 structures of the umbilicus in foals?
- urachus - top of bladder that remains open in utero and can be a source of contamination if left patent
- umbilical vein - remnant that passes blood from ther liver to the placenta and to the mare
- 2 umbilical arteries carry oxygenated blood from mare to the foal
Why is a patent urachus considered dangerous for foals?
easy spot for contamination from the environment, allowing for focal/systemic infection
Patent urachus:
urine puddling
What is the most common cause of umbilical abscesses?
material retained in urachus
What are umbilical hernias like?
- typically can be reduced or resolve by themselves
- chronic = strangulation can occur
How do normal mares behave?
- encouraging and mothering
- maiden mares tend to have the most issues -best to not interfere to induce bonding
- should help foal reach udder, nuzzles, licks
foals do not have high caloric reserves - need quick interventions when mares reject
What are proper general approaches to the beginning of a foal exam?
- less is best
- observe from a distance for mentation and RR
- equal distribution of BW = easier to flipping
- back foal into a corner or against mare with legs in front of stifle to prevent flipping backwards when out on pasture
- can restrain with hand around the tail close to the base
How is foal hydration and perfusion most commonly examined?
mucous membranes should be wet and pink —> gums, vulva of fillies with pigmentation of gums or injury
- skin turgor not as accurate due to extra skin available on foals
Why is the palate commonly examined in foals?
check for completeness, especially rostrally
What is likely occurring in these endoscopies of a foal?
- enlarged pharyngeal lymphoid tissue - older foal with some kind of reaction (dust)
- incomplete soft palate - increases risk of aspiration and pneumonia development
What respiratory sounds are expected in foals upon auscultation of the lungs?
bronchovesicular sounds over thorax should be quieter than in the trachea
How is body weight most commonly measured in foals?
weight tapes - most accurate if the foal is at least 75 pounds
- not the most accurate, but can examine trends
What are the normal values of temperature, HR and RR in foals? What is important to note about newborns?
- 99-101 F
- 80-120
- 26-40
normal to have in increased HR due to a cortisol surge
Good physical exam of foals:
What is the mare’s placenta liike?
6 layers = specific transfer of molecules from mares to foals —> antibodies are larger and not transferred in utero
How fo foals normally attain antibodies needed for their immune system?
must ingest colostrum containing antibodies within the first 24 hours of life, when the GIT cells are open and able to capture larger particles like antibodies without needing digestion
PASSIVE DIFFUSION
How can a foal be checked for adequate passive transfer?
stall side SNAP test when the foal is at least 18 hrs old
- adequate = antibody concentration >800 mg/mL
