Foaling Kit
Painted Sun Miniature Horses is sharing with you what we do to maintain the health of our horses. This is not intended to direct you on how to care for your horse. The intent of this is only to share what we do. We advise you to consult your veterinarian before making any changes in your horse's health care. The information found on our website is not to supersede the advise of your veterinarian. Painted Sun Miniature Horses cannot be held liable for the care of your horse(s).
We are making up our foaling kit for Spring 2008. We are not experts! If anyone has any more ideas for me to be better prepared, please send them my way. Here is what is going in it:
Fingernail clipper. Clip and file my fingernails before the excitement starts.
Small notepad and pen/pencil to record birthing statistics.
Vet's number - Call and notify him that things are progressing. Keep a back up number handy.
Telephone with vet on speed dial!
Pages of tips from books/websites that may help you in time of emergency or any malpresentations.
Camera with charged up batteries. We mini breeders want to be there when our mares foal. The placenta is not as stretched out as a big horse,and this unstretched out placenta can cause dystocia.
Towels - make sure
they are clean (no dryer sheets used), super absorbent warm towels!
Betadine or
Iodine (2% or greater) for the baby's naval stump. I either dip the cord or
spray it. The spray Iodine comes in handy for treating the hooves, too.
Premixed Betadine for me to wash my hands and arms if I need to enter momma.
Arm length rubber gloves, just in case there's a problem and you have to go in! OB gloves, sterile gloves.
KY Jelly or Vaseline - buy multiples at the dollar store. It will be contaminated afterwards so be prepared to throw it out.
Craft stick cut to make a sharp edge (see http://rosaroca.net/redbag.htm)
Flashlight with new batteries. We have many headlights on hand (we night drive with them on) and they are wonderful for working/seeing and keeping your hands free.
Ivermectrin wormer
for the mare after birth. (prevent threadworms in the foal and scours)
Fleet baby enema. Baby should pass the meconium (blackish first poop).
Constipated
foals flag their tails and strain to defecate.
Thermometer to check temps.
Foal blanket. (if you live in a colder climate) (Wash with no dryer sheets. Mares have attacked their own foals if the smell of another is on the blanket) (It helps to rub the blanket on the mare before you put it on her foal)
Heat lamp (if you live in a colder climate)
Suction bulb to help clear the airways.
Dental floss - to tie cord if needed.
Baling twine (better
yet would be some new, clean shoelaces) to grab slippery foal if need
be.
Have Banamine on hand for mom if she cramps for very long. Do not give
until after she delivers the placenta.
Vetwrap to tie up placenta and prevent the mare from stepping on it.
Large, light colored sheet to spread out the placenta for examination.
Rubbing alcohol and knife to cut umbilical cord if I can't tear it.
Hemostats.
Bucket/trash bag to dispose of the placenta. Before disposing, make sure it is all there. You can fill it with water to check for missing pieces. Check the cord and note color, size, etc.
Bran for mom after birthing is complete.
Tums - to help counteract a rare case of eclampsia, pre-eclampsia or tetany
Plastic Cup - to mix together about 1/2 teaspoon of the colostrum with a few drops of umbilical cord blood. If the mixture separates, do not let the foal drink. Call the vet. The foal could die from drinking the colostrum with a condition called neonatal isoerythrolysis (aka jaundice) If the mixture does not separate, all is well.
Wash cloth and jug of very warm water to rinse the birthing fluids off of the udder before baby drinks. This can also help stimulate milk let down.
Ascertain that your new baby is getting the colostrum!
Syringe that has the top cut off, the plunger is backwards to make a breast pump for momma's teats.
Freezer-safe ziploc bags to "bank" some colostrum for the future if needed.
Measuring tape (ruler) to measure the cannon bones and height of the new baby.
I like to have some extra people in my foaling kit to help me in the middle of the night,too!
Painted Sun Miniature Horses is sharing with you what we do to maintain the health of our horses. We advise you to consult your veterinarian before making any changes in your horse's diet or health regimen. The information found on our website is not to supercede the advise of your veterinarian.
