- At least two prepared commercial enemas. These are for use
on the foal if it has difficulty passing stool after birth.
While you should consult your vet prior to administering an
enema to the foal, having them in the kit is convenient if
the vet approves their use.
- Clean, sharp scissors. These have many uses, such as
piercing the thick placental sac around the foal, cutting
the umbilical cord, or snipping suture material used to tie
the cord.
- Clamps or hemostats to control bleeding if the umbilical
cord breaks prematurely.
- A large, thick garbage bag for the placenta. The
veterinarian may wish to examine the placenta to make sure
it is complete and no fragments remain in the mare’s uterus
to cause problems later on.
- A clean bucket for washing your hands, arms, the foal and
mare, and soap for your hands and arms.
- A sterile lubricant, such as a sealed container of
Vaseline or KY Jelly.
- Suture thread or sterilized fishing line to tie off broken
blood vessels or the umbilical cord.
- Roll cotton. This is used along with a bucket of warm
water and iodine solution to cleanse the mare’s vulva prior
to foaling, and to wash her udders. Be sure to rinse
thoroughly, because soap can irritate the delicate tissues
of the vulva. The taste of iodine or soap can also
discourage the foal from nursing.
- A watch or small clock, also with fresh batteries, to keep
track of foaling time.
This foaling kit should be complete well before your mare is
due to foal, and should be kept handy in the mare’s stable.
A large plastic box with a tightly-fitting lid is an ideal
container for the foaling kit. The box can be left in the
stable and its contents will remain clean and dry until it
is needed.
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