The latest episode of Rood and Riddle Veterinary Pharmacy's StallSide podcast has been released and features a discussion with Dr. Maria Schnobrich of the hospital's theriogenology department.
In this episode Dr. Peter Morresey and Dr. Bart Barber along with Dr. Schnobrich tackle the issue of managing dystocia on the farm. Learn about the importance of timing, communication with your veterinarian and warning signs of complications. Also included: the link between murals, chickens, and equine reproduction.
Schnobrich said dystocias occur in about 10 percent of pregnancies, with slightly higher occurrences in some breeds. The birthing process is a rapid one for horses, which also means that foaling complications can develop quickly. Schnobrich offers an overview of a standard foaling, as well as a few tips to recognize and react to a dystocia or other atypical foaling.
Among her suggestions:
- Start a stopwatch when the mare's water breaks to help you know when the foal should be emerging from the birth canal. Foals should be fully emerged 20 to 30 minutes after the mare breaks water.
- Ideally, veterinarians agree it's best not to intervene and pull a foal if the foal looks to be in the proper position, has a normal amnion, and is emerging at a normal interval. A more relaxed environment tends to result in a better foaling.
- Schnobrich suggests that for owners who have never foaled a mare, the best pregnancy plan may be to board the mare at a facility with a staff experienced in foaling as her due date approaches.
- An ultrasound ahead of delivery can help anticipate whether a red bag delivery may be on the horizon, and may provide time to provide treatment to preempt the tearing of the membrane that results in the red bag.
- Dystocias are considered an emergency not just because of the foal's fragile oxygen supply, but also because the foal can do damage to the mare's internal organs if positioned wrongly.
- People can sometimes mistake colic for a foaling that's not progressing properly; a visit from the veterinarian can usually discern the difference. Older pregnant mares may sometimes bleed from the vulva which can also be mistaken for a foaling problem, but that can also be caused by a varicose vein. An immediate trip to the clinic isn't always the best course in those cases, since it's preferable to let a healthy pregnancy progress rather than do a c-section if it's not necessary.
You can find the video version of StallSide on the Rood & Riddle YouTube page and the audio version on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts. Enjoy the video version below.
The post Podcast: What Do You Need To Know About Dystocias appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
