Traditionally, one of the stronger parts of each AAEP convention program is the time devoted to reproduction. The convention held in Orlando was no exception. It began with an in-depth session titled “Perinatology–End of Pregnancy Through
Many factors need to be considered–a foal’s energy requirements, his ability to digest and metabolize nutrients, the changing quality of the mare’s milk, and the ability to monitor the sick foal.
During the past six years (Jan. 2, 2002 – Jan. 31, 2008), 1,429 cases of equine placentitis have been diagnosed at the University of Kentucky Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center (LDDC). Of these, 1,189 cases had an infectious agent identified.
Premature delivery is a devastating problem in horses since the majority of foals that are delivered before the last week of gestation die. The negative financial and emotional impact of premature delivery on horse breeders is, therefore,
The first days of a foal’s life can be risky; there are a number of things that can go wrong. Some problems can be dealt with easily (such as constipation), while others are life-threatening (such as a ruptured bladder).
In this article, Bonni
Premature deliveries don’t occur frequently, but when they do, difficult decisions must often be made.
Foals can be born prematurely for a variety of reasons. The most common reasons for a premature delivery are infection of the placenta (placentitis) or long-standing placental insufficiency.
A long umbilical cord increases the risks for abortions and stillbirths in horses. Complications include strangulation of the foal and excessive cord twisting, writes Karin Bosh in a recent edition of Equine Disease Quarterly, a newsletter
Normal gestation in a mare lasts anywhere from 320 to 360 days. The average is about 341 days. A foal born at less than 320 days will display immature characteristics such as silky hair coat, overly pliable ears, weak or lax flexor tendons, and
Foaling alarms are designed to notify owners, farm managers, or foaling attendants that a mare is in labor.
This article will describe procedures that should be done before foaling, the events that take place just prior to foaling, what events take place during a normal foaling–along with the normal post-foaling events–and will describe some of
It’s nearing the best time of the year again–foaling season. Although most foals are born in the spring of the year, between February and June, sometimes we see foals in late December or early January. Often these tiny newborns delivered to our
Eleven months is a considerable length of time to anticipate the birth of a foal. A great deal of hope, excitement, dreams, and financial investment can accompany the arrival of a newborn. Because of the long wait, most owners want to monitor th
Fetal monitoring in horses is similar to the methods used for humans — ultrasound, EKG machines, and blood tests on unborns all are part of monitoring the health of the fetus. Advances in these areas for equines have allowed for
What are the best things to do to prevent pneumonia and other problems from happening in the first place?
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