Miniature Horse Dystocia

Dystocia is deadly

Literally "difficult delivery", dystocia is a serious issue for anyone considering breeding a miniature horse.

According to Vets, Miniature Horse dystocia can kill a miniature horse mare and foal within minutes and many vets consider it reckless not to have your miniature horse foal in an equine medical facility with trained veterinary assistance and surgical facilities.

In an excellent article in Miniaturezine, Joanne and Larry Ross note that dystocia may quickly kill both the miniature horse mare and baby foal:

"If a dystocia occurs, the miracle of birth can turn into a heart wrenching event, having grim consequences for the foal and mare. " "The reality is, if a foal has not been born within 20 minutes of the onset of labor, the prospects for a live delivery rapidly diminish."

Sadly, it is not uncommon to hear about a miniature horse foal dying during delivery in the USA, especially among those who miniature horses who foal in the field without hospital facilities. Statistically, up to one-third of USA miniature horse foals may die during miniature horse reproduction.

Types of Dystocia in Miniature Horses

In a informal survey of Internet resources we see some common types of dystocia:

Breech presentation - This is an abnormal fetal placement where the rump is presented first. This may require emergency vet care to reposition the fetus. Some miniature horse breeders may use a hoist to lift the mare, using gravity to keep the foal in the womb until it is in the proper birthing position.
Nape presentation - This is a case where the poll (the top of the head) is presented before the front feet. In these cases, you vet can quickly reach inside and manipulate the foal into a proper birthing position.

Dwarfism factors - As noted above, congenital defects associated with dwarf horse genes (contracted tendons) have higher incidents of dystocia. Dr. Ron Friedman notes that:

"Type A mares (under 34 inches tall) also have more dystocia and foals with congenital problems (abnormalities developed during the pregnancy) like dwarfism and jaw malalignment."

Too-large fetus - As noted above by Dr. Friedman:

"Miniature horses have genes for large foals and occasionally dystocia occurs because a foal is too large for its mare."

Red Bag Delivery - A "red bag" delivery is where the placenta detaches too early, cutting-off oxygenated blood to the foal.

In an article published in Miniature Horse World Magazine (2002), Pat Elder notes that you have only a few minutes to save the life of a miniature horse foal during a red bag delivery:

"Red bag deliveries, or premature placental separations, are frightening, even after you've seen several. The foal is in immediate threat of suffocation. Unless someone is standing by, ready and knowledgeable enough to assist, its young life will end in the next few minutes."

Causes of Miniature Horses Dystocia

Vets have a debate about whether the cause of dystocia is due solely to their small size or to the history of dwarf horse genetics in the USA miniature horse breeding programs.

There is evidence that miniature horse dystocia is related to their dwarf genetics, especially in the miniature horse breeding programs within the United States. Dystocia is especially problematic in the dwarf dog breeds, especially the Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Welsh Corgi and Pekinese dog breeds.

Many experts agree that the miniature horse mare is at a much higher risk to death during foaling than a large-breed horse. According to Dr. Ron Friedman, there may be a genetic factor at work:

"Dystocia or difficult delivery, as might be expected, is much more common in mini’s than horses. Miniature horses have genes for large foals and occasionally dystocia occurs because a foal is too large for its mare."

In a publication titled Equine Pregnancy for the Louisiana State University Veterinary school, we see their list of frequent causes of equine dystocia:

Abnormal fetal posture is the most common cause of dystocia because of the long extremities and neck of the foal.
Normally, the foal is an active participant in parturition.
A weak or dead foal fails to participate in the process.
Congenital deformities such as wry neck, contracted tendons or ankylosis result in dystocia.
Dog sitting posture, foot-nape presentation (often causing a recto-vaginal laceration if not corrected) and nape presentation are fairly common problems.
Abnormal presentation, e.g. posterior or ventral-transverse also may be encountered.
Twins frequently result in dystocia.
Maternal causes, such as a tight vaginal-vestibular sphincter, a small vulva or Caslick's that was not opened may also be involved.

Treatment for miniature horse dystocia

According to vets, treatment for miniature horse dystocia involves either a c-section or the manual repositioning of the fetus during labor.

Vets say that dystocia can be detected before the onset of labor, and a c-section has a greater than 90% survival rate for the miniature horse mare and miniature horse foal.

Sadly, some reckless miniature horse breeders are unwilling to pay the $1,000 costs of a hospital c-section and may consequently experience a mortality rate from dystocia.

In an article published by TheHorse.com titled Smaller Horses, Bigger Reproductive Problems, the author quote Dr Paccamonti:

"The veterinarian must take extra care when trying to correct dystocia by repositioning the fetus in a miniature horse," warns Paccamonti. "Due to their size, there is less room for manipulation, which can result in trauma or tears to the reproductive tract."

According to treatment for miniature horse dystocia, immediate Veterinary and medical care are required to treat dystocia:

"Veterinarians can take advantage of medications to help themselves with the resolving a dystocia. Most highly experienced reproductive veterinarians will take two similar procedures to resolve a dystocia. First they will administer drugs that will sedate the mare and stop the uterine contractions. We have seen this done by the administration of gas in the surgical theatre. In the field or barn environment, we have seen the veterinarians use a combination of Rompun and Ketamine.
Once the contractions have been halted by the veterinarian, the typical procedure is to use some form of "the mare in the air". In most cases, a bale of hay is used and a piece of plywood is laid upon it to form a ramp. The mare is turned on her back with her hips in the uphill position. The mare is then generously lubricated internally and the repositioning of the foal is made."

In a publication for TheHorse.com titled Elective Cesarean Sections: Who Needs Them?, the author notes that horses with a history of delivery problems (e.g. miniature horses with a history of Dystocia) are routinely scheduled for non-emergency C-sections:

"When signs indicate the mare is about one to two days from delivery, she is sent to the veterinary hospital where the C-section will be performed. "The surgery needs to be done in a hospital environment," says White, "and for an optimal outcome these procedures should be done by specialists." Two veterinary teams are necessary--one to perform the actual surgery and the other to attend the foal while the surgeon completes the uterine and abdominal closure on the mare."

Because you must act within minutes to save the life of the foal, vets say that a hospital delivery will greatly improve the chances of the miniature horse foal's survival.

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