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The Well Stocked Foaling Kit

Be prepared for the birth of your new mini foal

Fingernail clipper. Clip and file your 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 your vet on speed dial!

Pages of tips from books/websites that may help you in time of emergency. Click here for dystocias. Click here for Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome or 'dummy foal'

Camera

Towels - make sure they are clean (no dryer sheets used, no fabric softener), super absorbent

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 - wash my hands and arms if I need to enter momma.

Arm length rubber gloves

KY Jelly or Vaseline - buy multiples at the dollar store. It will be contaminated afterwards so be prepared to throw it out. NOTE: If you use J-Lube, keep in mind that is toxic to your mare if she has a c-section or any other surgical procedures, so be sure to inform your veterinarian, so they are careful to not spill any into the body cavity. This product is safe for use in the uterus.

Lamb puller or a 2-3/8" diameter x 3 foot long ropes for hoof pulling.

Craft stick cut to make a sharp edge (click here to read Red bag information)

Flashlight/Headlight with extra batteries.

Ivermectrin wormer for the mare after birth. (prevent threadworms in the foal and scours)

Fleet baby enema or use 1/2 adult dose.

Mylicon drops for gas colic.

A baby bottle.

Thermometer

Foal blankets. (Wash with no dryer sheets and no fabric softener. 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)

Suction bulb

Dental floss - to tie cord if needed.

Baling twine (better yet would be some new, clean shoelaces) to grab slippery foal if need be.

Banamine Do not give until after she delivers the placenta. (1cc per 100 lbs) Administration prior to placenta passing may hinder expulsion of placenta).

Oxytocin (1.5cc per 100lbs)

Vetwrap to tie up placenta and prevent the mare from stepping on it. Also used for wrapping mares tail.

Sheet to spread out the placenta for examination.

Rubbing alcohol and knife to cut umbilical cord if  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.(or one drop of blood to one drop colostrum). If the mixture separates, do not let the foal drink. Call the vet. The foal could die after drinking the colostrum due to a condition called neonatal isoerythrolysis or NI. If the mixture does not separate, all is well. NI is a condition in which antibodies are produced by the mare against the foal’s red blood cells causing red blood cell destruction and anemia in the foal. This is very similar to Rh factor in human pregnancy...You can read more about this and learn what to do here.

Wash cloth/jug of very warm water - 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. Click here for instructions with photos.

Pancake Syrup may be needed for an energy boost for baby.

Freezer-safe ziploc bags to "bank" some colostrum for the future if needed. -- note: never microwave colostrum to thaw or warm.

Measuring tape (ruler) to measure the cannon bones and height of the new baby.

From Maryann Cerullo at Miniature Ventures: We also keep a CLEAN old bed sheet available to tuck under the mare's butt for the foal to land on. It soaks up a lot of the fluids and makes clean-up easier. Once the foal is born and the umbilical cord broken, we move the foal off the sheet onto the hay bedding and I pull out the soiled sheet.

From Joanne Abramson at Pacific Pintos: I have used this on mares for their foals three times this year alone. Clearly a lifesaver and you cannot wait for it to arrive in the mail. Buy it now so you have it when you need it. http://udderlyez.com/mare_milkers.php

Put some of the above in a bucket for sitting your tired behind on when watching and waiting for the foal to nurse! lol
Put some snacks and a juice box in a ziplock bag for yourself, it may be a long night.

Last but not least, have a friend to call for help if needed.

Note: NEVER leave the mares halter on. And do not leave a halter on a foal.

read about foaling kits and more on IAM RanchMiniature Ventures .

 

 

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Miniature horse and Shetland pony foaling help - equine foaling kit