Comments on: Labor of Love http://americashorsedaily.com/labor-of-love/ The Complete Source for All Things Horse Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:46:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Nancy http://americashorsedaily.com/labor-of-love/comment-page-1/#comment-3438 Nancy Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:19:03 +0000 http://americashorsedaily.com/?p=6186#comment-3438 Two comments: 1.) Having lost a couple of foals due to slow birth, I've invested in a calf puller to assist in birth if the birth process is more 15 minutes after the nose of the foal is presented. Important note: don't pull "too hard" and pull pretty much straight down toward the mare's legs. Often the foal will slip out easily. Ask your vet about the proper timing and procedure to assist a mare with a puller. 2.) Fescue pasture is difficult to avoid in the Midwest. Even with grain and good hay, it doesn't take much fescue to stop a mare's milk production. Before the mare foals ask your vet for supplemental aids to help bring on the mare's milk, and be prepared with a bottle of IgG to feed a foal shortly after birth to help with immune system development. Also, keep Foal-Lac powder on hand in case the mare's milk doesn't come in. An emergency substitute for Foal-Lac is one can (regular size) condensed milk to one quart of warm water. Feed every 3 hours. If the foal doesn't suckle well, a large syringe may be used, but be careful at first not to be too fast on the plunger and choke the baby. Normally, it doesn't take many feedings for baby to learn to drink from a bowl or small bucket. This is very elemental, apparently. I lost two foals before a vet mentioned about the condensed milk..... Good luck. Two comments:
1.) Having lost a couple of foals due to slow birth, I’ve invested in a calf puller to assist in birth if the birth process is more 15 minutes after the nose of the foal is presented. Important note: don’t pull “too hard” and pull pretty much straight down toward the mare’s legs. Often the foal will slip out easily.

Ask your vet about the proper timing and procedure to assist a mare with a puller.

2.) Fescue pasture is difficult to avoid in the Midwest. Even with grain and good hay, it doesn’t take much fescue to stop a mare’s milk production. Before the mare foals ask your vet for supplemental aids to help bring on the mare’s milk, and be prepared with a bottle of IgG to feed a foal shortly after birth to help with immune system development. Also, keep Foal-Lac powder on hand in case the mare’s milk doesn’t come in. An emergency substitute for Foal-Lac is one can (regular size) condensed milk to one quart of warm water. Feed every 3 hours. If the foal doesn’t suckle well, a large syringe may be used, but be careful at first not to be too fast on the plunger and choke the baby. Normally, it doesn’t take many feedings for baby to learn to drink from a bowl or small bucket.

This is very elemental, apparently. I lost two foals before a vet mentioned about the condensed milk….. Good luck.

]]> By: Gary Reichart http://americashorsedaily.com/labor-of-love/comment-page-1/#comment-3036 Gary Reichart Fri, 15 May 2009 12:33:34 +0000 http://americashorsedaily.com/?p=6186#comment-3036 I was told that the newborn foal should have a tetnus shot immediately. Is this true? I was told that the newborn foal should have a tetnus shot immediately. Is this true?

]]> By: june mercer http://americashorsedaily.com/labor-of-love/comment-page-1/#comment-3033 june mercer Fri, 15 May 2009 03:47:05 +0000 http://americashorsedaily.com/?p=6186#comment-3033 IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO KEEP MARE & FOAL DOWN AS LONG AS POSSIBE TO ALLOW AS MUCH BLOOD FLOW THRU CORD AS POSSIBLE & DON'T FORGET AN ENEMA FOR FOAL THIS AVOIDS STAINING FOR FIRST BM IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO KEEP MARE & FOAL DOWN AS LONG AS POSSIBE TO ALLOW AS MUCH BLOOD FLOW THRU CORD AS POSSIBLE & DON’T FORGET AN ENEMA FOR FOAL THIS AVOIDS STAINING FOR FIRST BM

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