Dead foals

[HaazeMinis]

I am so sorry about your friends losses and I hope this foaling season goes better since the investment of the camera. It is WELL WORTH THE COST! The camera saved one of my two very first foals last year and I will tell you what happened to us.

Our very first Mini foal would have surely died if we hadnt been there to remove the sack and rub him vigorously with a towel as he was LIMP, BLUE and NOT BREATHING :new_shocked: when he was delivered as the placenta came out with him after his back legs emerged from the mare.

The placenta detached to early, but we had enough time and hubby is very skilled with birthing (calves) He knew enough about the process to know that after the colts head was delivered and we removed the sac he knew something was not right so he got him out quickly.. :bgrin. we had to work to revive him as his eyes were already glazed over! :new_shocked:

If we had not had a camera and been monitering the mare closely we would have had a dead foal that is for sure and to top it off the mare was a maiden and she showed NO SIGNS except for a pretty full bag, but we were watching her and she also foaled at 324 days. (Hand bred the mare so knew pretty much when her due date was.)

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There is what happened to us and I hope things go better for your friend and next year I plan on getting Breeder Alert as well even though alot of my mare sleep flat out... :new_shocked: :bgrin I think its better to be safe than sorry later and loose a precious baby.

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This year we are on Mare stare again with another maiden and she is due on Februrary 13th and she is very small so we are watching her like a hawk for well over 3 weeks now, although she has no real big bag to speak of we are watching anyway because these little guys can be very sneaky from what I have gathered through this Forum and other Mini Breeders friends.

Jeri

 

[Little Wee Horse Farm]

It could have been anything, including not getting free of the sac. There are tons of reasons to find a dead foal. The most obvious might be an in-tact sac, but it can be many other things. For example, lack of oxygen in the birth canal combined with the process taking too long while the umbilical cord is compressed.

A vet told me once that even with a necropsy, that 80% of the reasons causing death are not discovered (that's on all ages of horses, not just newborn foals.) I've also been told that if the sac is undisturbed, the foal was born dead.

A foal can be viable until the foaling process begins, then it's a scarey trip into the world. For both mom & foal.

Being there at the foaling couldn't be more important tho. Doing this since 1992, we've only missed a very few foalings. We have cameras & monitors. The owner of the mare MUST be very prepared & aware of all that's going on with her.

I'd suggest your friend do all she can to attend. Worrying about it won't help. Taking action will.

If cameras are not an option, then she's got to sleep out there. I did this in the days before that ever-present barn cameras. It's no fun, but it's necessary. When I lay in my nice warm bed these days, watching the mares on monitors, I get sleepy & impatient -- but it sure beats sleeping in the barn! But I would again if I had to.

By the way, a good way to dry off cold newborns is a blower hair dryer. Nice & comfy for the baby & let's them get used to handling right away! Works great.

I'm sorry for your friend's losses. Breeding isn't for everyone. It's for the stout-hearted even tho many people try it, many people also decide it's not for them. No shame there!

 

[Cathy_H]

I am also sorry for your friends loss. The only way to rule out doubt is to be there during the birth. You only have minutes to work with. Hope she has good luck with her other mares.

 

[HGFarm]

When I was brand new to minis, I lost my first foal that could not get out of the sack. I spent the money for a camera and breeder alert. I have had several that were born alive and the sac was so thick that they would never have gotten out. I have also had a couple that were not in the right position, and if not for the 'modern equipment' could have lost my mares too. As it was, only lost one foal.

In my opinion, the Minis have more foaling issues than the 'big guys' and I would NEVER leave mine just to foal alone. Yes, I have missed a couple that came early and what not over the years, and thank heavens those were ok, but I consider myself lucky.

I dont want to sound cruel, but sounds like these folks need to pay more attention or have someone foal their mares out for them if they cannot be there. Many simple issues can be solved just by someone being there.

 

[pepperhill]

I really appreciate all the info you guys have provided. I am going to print it all out for her. She is a single gal that loves her animals dearly, but she does have to work during the day from 8 to 3pm. Both of the lost foals were born during that time. She has been present for all the other ones. All of her mares have always foaled about 5 AM so she was able to stay up and check on them. These last two surprised her by going during the day. (I have always had mares that foaled any time they dang well pleased--night and day, and I talked to her about assuming that they all go at 5 AM) I was surprised at the prices you quoted for necropsy. I know there is no way she could have afforded that so I called her and she said her vet sent them off to the University and they charged her $125 for each. Perhaps they didn't do a full work up on them since the price was so low?!? She said her camera system is working great and she loves it. She has it somehow linked to her work laptop so she can watch it occasionally during work. Personally, I'm not sure it will help in all situations as she works half an hour from her home. I know she loves her horses, but perhaps breeding them is not the best idea in her circumstances. She has made calls to find out how to get her hay and pasture tested for fescue.

Can anyone tell me more about the milk test strips (where to get them, or a brand name) and more about how the alert systems work? Neither one of us have used these systems.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR THOUGHTS, Linda

 

[HGFarm]

Hey my daughter got some milk strips off ebay for pretty cheap.... that might be one place to check. I have never used them. I go by the color inside the vulva and the deeper red means call into work sick! LOL