What Is Horse Placentitis?

Placentitis is inflammation of the placenta, the temporary organ that forms to support the foal while it is in the mare during pregnancy.

How do you treat placentitis in horses?

In one study conducted at the University of Florida, mares with placentitis that were treated with antibiotics and synthetic progestin to delay premature delivery had better outcomes (83% in one test group delivered viable foals) than mares that were treated only with antibiotics.

What is equine placentitis?

Placentitis is an inflammation of the placenta usually caused by an infectious agent. It has emerged as a leading cause of reproductive loss in the equine breeding industry, with considerable economic impact when a pregnancy ends in abortion or the birth of a small, ill-thrift foal.

How does placentitis affect a foal?

– Chronic placentitis leads to placental insufficiency, which may result in intrauterine fetal growth retardation and delivery of nonviable or weak foals. – Foals born alive from mares with placentitis may be septic and may demand intensive veterinary critical care.

What are the 3 stages of foaling?

Parturition is divided into 3 stages.

• Stage I is characterized by signs of abdominal discomfort and restlessness due to uterine contractions.
• Stage II starts with the rupture of the chorioallantois and ends when the fetus is expelled.
• Stage III involves expulsion of the fetal membranes.

What causes placentitis in horses?

A major cause of placentitis is due to bacterial or fungal infection that enters via the vagina and breaches the cervical barrier, a process known as ascending placentitis. Aspiration of air and faeces into the vagina can occur in mares with poor conformation or injury to the cervix or vulvar opening .

Can a foal survive at 305 days?

Normal gestation (pregnancy) in horses varies from about 320 days to 350 days. However, normal foals have been delivered from 305 to 365 days or more. Foals under 300 days of gestation are almost always non-viable. Those 305 to 320 days are considered premature and may need intensive hospital like care to survive.

How long does it take for a foal’s legs to straighten?

Most foal leg problems will straighten themselves out after a few days or during the course of the first few weeks of life. The American Association of Equine Practitioners states that the majority of mild to moderately severe foal leg problems will correct themselves before the foal becomes a yearling.

What does prostaglandin do to mares?

Prostaglandin is a hormone secreted by the uterine endometrium in mares. One of its primary functions is the breakdown of the corpus luteum by a process called luteolysis. This breakdown of the corpus luteum results in a precipitous drop in progesterone, bringing the mare back into estrus.

Do red bag foals survive?

There will be a poor outcome if no one notices the red bag delivery. The birth may be slower, and the foal cannot break through the thick placenta causing it to suffocate. “There is minimal to no chance for that foal to live. If someone is there, however, the placenta can be cut open.

How early is too early for a mare to bag up?

Mares will generally start to ‘bag up’ two weeks prior to foaling, but be warned that this is not fool proof as some mares, especially maidens, may bag up much closer to foaling. Mares may produce a wax like se cretion on their teats up to three days prior to foaling.

When do horses start bagging up?

Bagging up can occur anywhere from around 6 weeks prior to foaling to just days before foaling, but it is a good time to begin watching the mare. They will also form a wax-like substance on the ends of their teats, called “waxing up”, within a few days of when they will foal.

What causes red bag delivery in horses?

The most common causes of red bag are placental infections, fescue toxicity and stress. Chronic placental separation from the uterus may occur over a period of several days or weeks during late gestation as a consequence of placentitis.

Should you pull a foal out?

Unless it is considered an emergency, you do not need try to pull out the foal. An exception to this rule would be a “Red Bag Delivery”, because the foal can suffocate unless delivered promptly. This occurs when the placenta (which is red and has a velvet appearance), rather than the foal is seen first.

How long can a mare stay in Stage 1 labor?

one to four hours
Stage One The first stage of labor is generally the longest and may take from one to four hours. The mare may act restless, circling her stall or paddock. She may get up and down frequently, pass small amounts of manure or urine and act nervous.

Why do horses give birth at night?

Mares tend to foal late at night or early in the morning–the most tranquil time of day with the least intrusions. In the wild, mares typically give birth when it is dark to hide their vulnerable foals for the few hours it takes them to become physically able to rise and flee from predators.

What does placentitis look like?

The outward clinical signs that may be seen in a mare with placentitis are white, mucoid vulvar discharge and premature udder development (“early bagging up”).

What causes a Dysmature foal?

Dysmature foals have characteristics of prematurity (such as incomplete ossification of the cuboidal bones), though their gestation length is normal to prolonged. This condition is thought to be due to a poor intra-uterine growth environment, which retards their development.

How do you prevent OCD foals?

It is important to get exercise levels right. For normal foals, weanlings and yearlings, regular but not excessive exercise is essential to encourage normal musculoskeletal growth and development. There is evidence to suggest that exercise can also be protective against OCD.

What is the earliest a foal can be born and survive?

Foals are born after 11 months gestation (time in the mare’s womb). Thoroughbred breeders work on an average gestation length of 340 days to work out their ‘due dates’. Some mares foal earlier and some later. Foals are not usually viable if born before 290-300 days.

What is a dummy foal?

Foals that are affected with neonatal maladjustment syndrome (NMS), also known as “dummy foals”, appear healthy when they are born, but shortly thereafter exhibit neurological abnormalities. They are often detached, disoriented, unresponsive, confused, and have trouble nursing.