Rosehip
Well-Known Member
Ive got all the usual stuff like gloves, iodine, gamgee etc, but what things do I need to have in my foaling box?? Making a list so that Im all prepared! x
Important things for my Foaling box
- Thread starter Rosehip
- Start date
S_N
Well-Known Member
Terramycin spray is better than iodine. What's the gamgee for? Do you have both types of glove - long examination gloves and short latex gloves?
String (gardening string is the best stuff, as it's tough and sticks to itself when you tie it up - baler twine is slippery) for tying up the placenta.
Scissors.
Clean head collar to put on mare prior to actual foaling.
Clean tail bandage or vet wrap to wrap the tail up out of the way.
An enema for the foal.
2 buckets - one for the placenta, one for warm water for washing the mares udders before the foal nurses.
Clean rags/towels for the washing of the udders and maybe for rubbing foal dry (depends on whether a heat lamp is available, how cold it is, how good the mare is at cleaning off her baby - you don't want to interfere too much, as this is part of the bonding process)
Torch - in case of power cut
Camera
Spare batteries for both camera and torch
Kettle + coffee, milk, sugar etc
Champagne
Have fresh bedding to hand, as you will need to clear out the worst of the wet from the foaling and put fresh in.
The following may not be needed - the only thing of these not in mine is the Oxygen.
Foaling ropes - in case the mare gets into difficulty, gets tired and she needs help. Wet slimy foal feet are difficult to get a good purchase on and ropes can really help.
Oxygen for foal.
Sterilised jug for expressing milk from the mare.
Sterilised glass bottle and teat for feeding foal.
String (gardening string is the best stuff, as it's tough and sticks to itself when you tie it up - baler twine is slippery) for tying up the placenta.
Scissors.
Clean head collar to put on mare prior to actual foaling.
Clean tail bandage or vet wrap to wrap the tail up out of the way.
An enema for the foal.
2 buckets - one for the placenta, one for warm water for washing the mares udders before the foal nurses.
Clean rags/towels for the washing of the udders and maybe for rubbing foal dry (depends on whether a heat lamp is available, how cold it is, how good the mare is at cleaning off her baby - you don't want to interfere too much, as this is part of the bonding process)
Torch - in case of power cut
Camera
Spare batteries for both camera and torch
Kettle + coffee, milk, sugar etc
Champagne
Have fresh bedding to hand, as you will need to clear out the worst of the wet from the foaling and put fresh in.
The following may not be needed - the only thing of these not in mine is the Oxygen.
Foaling ropes - in case the mare gets into difficulty, gets tired and she needs help. Wet slimy foal feet are difficult to get a good purchase on and ropes can really help.
Oxygen for foal.
Sterilised jug for expressing milk from the mare.
Sterilised glass bottle and teat for feeding foal.
Rosehip
Well-Known Member
Fab - think I may print this off!! My coloured mare tore (not badly) so I have gamgee or something like that just in case I need to mop up blood!
Pretty much everything you have put up there we have as were sheep farmers - Ill just have to remember to boil them from lambing time!
Is it absolutely nessesary to give an enema? I didnt with my last foal (many many years ago!!)
Even if the foal is fine and everything does to plan, should I still express some colostrum and freeze it just in case? How much do I take?
Thanks S_N!x
Pretty much everything you have put up there we have as were sheep farmers - Ill just have to remember to boil them from lambing time!
Is it absolutely nessesary to give an enema? I didnt with my last foal (many many years ago!!)
Even if the foal is fine and everything does to plan, should I still express some colostrum and freeze it just in case? How much do I take?
Thanks S_N!x
Laafet
Well-Known Member
Enemas are not vital but we use them anyway to make it easier for the foal, colts tend to have more problems than fillies - and generally seem slower to stand and nurse.
As for colostrum - are you going to test it. We test all of mares after they have foaled while we are waiting for foal to stand using the gravity test and anything over a 7 we strip off some more to freeze, label it with date, mare's name and colostrum reading. Anything less than that is not really worth keeping and if it is low - say 4 on our scale then we defrost some from our supply so the vet can come out and tube the foal. Can't remember exact amount we take - sorry
As for colostrum - are you going to test it. We test all of mares after they have foaled while we are waiting for foal to stand using the gravity test and anything over a 7 we strip off some more to freeze, label it with date, mare's name and colostrum reading. Anything less than that is not really worth keeping and if it is low - say 4 on our scale then we defrost some from our supply so the vet can come out and tube the foal. Can't remember exact amount we take - sorry
Tharg
Well-Known Member
What is the colostrum test about?