 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
Miniature Horse Foaling Problems
Vets say that miniature horse foaling problem (i.e. dystocia, red bag deliveries) can kill the foal within minutes without proper medical attention. Many vets consider it reckless not to have your miniature horse foal in an equine medical facility where proper medical personnel and surgical facilities are immediately available to save the life of the mare and foal.
Sadly, it is not uncommon to hear about a foal dying
during delivery, but Vets suggest that having your miniature horse mare
foal in a horse hospital will greatly improve their chances
of survival. There are many miniature horse foaling problems, all
treatable by vets.
Miniature horse dystocia
There is a growing body of evidence that the high rates of miniature horse dystocia is more related to dwarf genes than their small size. Dystocia is especially problematic in the dwarf dog breeds, especially the Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Welsh Corgi and Pekinese dog breeds.
If miniature horse dystocia is detected a safe Caesarian section can be used in cases where the foal is too large to deliver naturally, a breech presentation (butt first), or a nape presentation (poll first).
Preventing miniature horse foaling death
Many vets agree that the death rate of miniature horse foaling can be greatly reduced (from over 36% to less than 10%) by providing the miniature horse with an opportunity to have life-saving medical attention in an equine hospital. Here are estimates of the common costs associated with a medically-assisted miniature horse birth.
- Predictive test
- Four blood tests and
milk tests are
required over a two week period to accurately predict the foal date.
Cost $240.
- Dystocia testing
- Within the last 48 hours before birth, CT scans can accurate detect
dystocia, in-time to schedule a c-section. Test costs $200-$300.
- Vet attended birth
- Hospitalization costs range from $40 to $80 per day in a horse hospital
with surgical facilities.
- C-section - A miniature horse c-section requires two teams of vets, but has a very high rate of success. Cost is $1,000 to $3,000.
Vet's say that proper medical intervention can reduce mare and foal mortality to less than 10%. Hospital techniques can detect of the foal has properly shifted to the "diving" presentation of front-feet first during the last 48 hours before foaling.
Responsible miniature horse breeders will pay for these medically-recommended precautions to increase the safety to both the miniature horse mare and miniature horse foal.
Marcia King, in an excellent article on horse C-sections for TheHorse.com, notes that horses with a history of delivery problems (e.g. miniature horses with a history of Dystocia) are often scheduled for non-emergency C-sections. Here King describes the foaling procedure:
"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."
Vets say that you must act within minutes to save the life of the foal, and a hospital delivery will greatly improve the chances of the miniature horse foal's survival.
|
Mini Pony Sales
Horse Charity
Fun Web Sites
|
