Foaling Concerns
    Remember the mares will have foals when they are ready, unless by induction, which I occasionally do in given situations. They may also have they foal when you are sleeping and miss a check time.
The foaling process can go as fast as 15 minutes or it can take 12 hours or more (This is not the norm). I like to be called if there is no progress in 60-90 minutes from the time you find her foaling or if a malposition is found. I should be contacted immediately!! I would rather be on the road and be called off because everything is okay than the owner wishing they had called me earlier.
    One of the new things that have been talked about lately is "Red Bag" also known as Placenta Previa. This is recognized by a dark red bag coming out of the vulva, usually with a pale cervical star. This is when the placenta detaches from the uterine wall too soon, and does not allow the white bag, or chorioallantios, to rupture and release the fluid. If this is noticed, you should immediately break the sack, which may be fairly tough, to allow the foaling process to continue. You want the foal to come out as soon as possible because it maybe hypoxic (low oxygen level). "Red Bag" is often caused by placentitis (inflammation of the placenta), which is associated with bacterial infection, and therefore causing the foal to be infected. If the foal is infected it will probably become septicemic, bacteria in the blood stream. I should be notified if there is a red bag presentation. The sooner we can start the foal and mare on antibiotics the better off we will be.

Retained Placenta
    Normally the placenta should be expelled in 2-3 hours after foaling. If not out in 3 hours, 2cc of oxytocin in the muscle should be given. If at 6 hours the placenta has not released, it is time to start lavaging the uterus and start IV medication. Often I liked to be called at the 3 hour point to discuss the situation, and then if not out in 6 hours I should be called to start the lavage and medication process.

Information provided by: Dr. Doug Anderson DVM

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