What to Do When a Mare Retains the Placenta After Foaling? Detailed Explanation of Dystocia Prevention Methods

Donkey farming has been a fairly popular breeding project in recent years, and some farmers reduce their cost input by bringing in mares to produce foals. During the delivery process of mares, the phenomenon of retained placenta very easily occurs, so what should be done? How can dystocia be prevented?

1. What to do when a mare retains the placenta after foaling?

1. Western medicine treatment

First, diethylstilbestrol 20-40mg by intramuscular injection, to promote opening of the uterus and enhance blood circulation to expel the foreign matter. Second, oxytocin 10-20ml by intramuscular injection; the potency is highest when injected within 12h after foaling, and the effect is less ideal when injected more than 12h later. Third, ergometrine 2-4mg by intramuscular injection to cause uterine contraction and enhance the force expelling the foreign matter. Fourth, collect 2000ml of fresh amniotic fluid and administer it orally. Fifth, intrauterine medication; in order to prevent putrefaction of the placenta and slow the intensity of putrefactive dissolution and absorption, antibiotics can be infused into the uterus. Dissolve 2g of oxytetracycline in 300ml of normal saline and infuse it all at once, once every other day; in order to promote separation of the maternal placenta and the fetal placenta, 1000-1500ml of 5%-10% hypertonic saline can also be infused into the uterus.

2. Surgical treatment

For mares [sic: source says cows] that retain the placenta for more than 3d after giving birth, manual detachment of the placenta can be used. Surgical detachment of the placenta is mainly suitable for large livestock, and its principles are: detach when it detaches easily, and do not forcibly detach when it does not, so as to avoid causing major infection; during detachment, damage to the uterine mucosa is strictly forbidden; for animals suffering from acute endometritis and with a relatively high body temperature, surgical treatment must not be performed, so as to avoid unnecessary harm; after detachment is completed, antibiotics should be injected into the uterus promptly.

2. How can dystocia be prevented?

1. Early diagnosis of whether dystocia is present

After the allantoic membrane ruptures and the allantoic fluid is discharged, this period is exactly when the presenting part of the fetus enters the pelvic cavity. At this time, feel the fetus; if the presenting part is normal, birth can occur naturally; if the fetus is found to be abnormal, correct it immediately. At this time, because the fetal body has not yet wedged into the pelvic cavity, the degree of dystocia is not great, the fetal fluids have not all flowed out, and correction is relatively easy, so the occurrence of dystocia can be avoided.

2. Supply pregnant mares with a complete-price feed

The nutrients a mare takes in during pregnancy, besides maintaining her own metabolic needs, must also supply the development of the fetus. Therefore, pregnant mares should be supplied with a complete-price feed to ensure fetal development and maternal health and to reduce the occurrence of dystocia during delivery.

3. Appropriate work

Appropriate exercise not only improves the mare's utilization of nutrients, but also increases the tone of the whole body and the uterine muscles. During delivery it helps fetal repositioning to reduce the occurrence of dystocia, and can also prevent diseases such as retained placenta and incomplete uterine involution.

4. Do not breed too early

If breeding begins as soon as the mare enters puberty or matures, then because the mare is not yet fully developed, pelvic stenosis and the like easily occur during delivery. Therefore, mares that have not reached body maturity should be prevented from being bred too early.