Tough foaling and a new twist I had never seen

[valshingle]

Way to go, Cindy! I will get some tubing to keep in my 'arsenal' as well.

 

[Southern_Heart]

WoW! Great idea and Big Congratulations

Pics please of the foal

Joyce

 

[Riverdance]

First,

Congratulations on a healthy live filly.

Second,

Before all of you run out and buy fish tank hose, here is a word of warning...... It is my understanding with over 40 years of raising animals, that the puppy, foal, human baby, etc. does not start trying to breath till the placenta is no longer attached. The baby gets its oxygen from the placenta and when that is either detached from the uterine wall, or the cord severed by birth, or pinched in the birthing canal, the baby does not try to breath. The chest wall has to be free to expand in order to draw in a breath.

The 1/2" fish tank hose, though flexible, is still capable of tearing a lung or going into the stomach rather than the lungs. (plus it is very large for a newborn foal) You can also introduce bacteria this way, into the lungs. Plus, when pushing the foal back inside the dam, how would one keep the tubes in the foals nose without causing damage? The air that may have been heard passing, is probably air that escaped out.

Vets, especially young ones, still have trouble being able to tell if they have the tube in the lungs or stomach when trying to tube a Mini for colic. They have to feel the neck as the tube goes down, then test to make sure it is in the stomach. How is an inexperienced person supposed to be able to do this? Someone who is new or relatively new in foaling may cause some damage.

I am very glad that the filly made it out alive, but, my guess would be that the placenta was still attached to the uterine wall, and that is why the filly lived.

I am only posting this so that others do not run out and try it themselves and perhaps cause other problems. Your foal are precious to you, please be careful.

I am not trying to put anyone down here with their ideas, but I'm just concerned that others will run out and try this, and it may do more damage than good.

 

[hairicane]

Congrats and great job!!!

 

[hobbyhorse23]

I can't imagine that you'd need to insert that tube all the way down into the lungs, wouldn't it just be functioning more as a snorkel while the baby's nose was back inside the birth canal?

Whether it worked or not, I'm in awe of Cindy's quick thinking in trying it! Very cool.

Leia

 

[midnight star stables]

Glad your filly is safe and sound! Congrats

 

[bjcs]

First I would like to say congratulations on your new filly!

Another reason to add tubing to your horse arsenal is in the case of a snake bite. Living in Texas we have always kept tubing on hand because a bite to the horse's face from a copper head would cause fast swelling constricting the breathing. The tubing just may save the horse's life while waiting for help to arrive. Thank God we never had to use it.

 

[JWC sr.]

First of all I agree with River, to put the tube in any further than just to provide a snorkle effect would not be wise. As she mentioned, I have seen a lot of Vets. have problems getting a tube into the lungs as versus the esophagus during colic problems etc. So I would really be careful. This would for me be a last resort type deal that is only something to add to your arsenal of tricks in a hard foaling.

With that said though, I could hear the baby breathing, gurgling etc. thru the tube. And personally do believe we would have lost her if the insertion had not been done. She may well have made it, but I sure felt better hearing her breathe and knew we had time to work with her.

FYI the mare had been in labor for about 2 hours and was a first time Mom. Thank goodness she is an ex show mare and was gentle and used to us. She wanted all the help she could get with this new thing happening to her.

Again, be careful even thinking about doing this and the best advice is to get the mare to a vet as soon as possible if you are having problems. OH!