My friend's mare is about to foal. This friend plans on giving that foal an enema. I have never heard of doing this before and I am wondering if it is necessary. What do you think? Thank you.

-- Susan in Northern LP Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), February 14, 2002

Answers

It is a good idea. Sometimes the manure inside the foal is dry and hard and can be difficult to pass, which, of course, could lead to complications. I had to do this when our filly was born, and there was nothin' to it. She didn't care, it wasn't gross, and it took about 15 seconds.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), February 14, 2002.

WHAT????? You do not give a foal an enema unless it is having a hard time passing a BM. Geeze I wonder how all the wild horses managed without our human intervention. What a silly thing. How many foals has your friend been around?

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), February 14, 2002.

Thanks for the quick answers! I'll advise my friend that she needs to temper what she reads with common sense and not to give that enema unless the foal has problems passing that first meconium. Since I have only assisted with one birthing, I didn't want to put my two cents in till I knew others would back me up on this one. I had never ever heard of doing this. I am sure this is her first foaling as she asked if I thought it was near time. That mare is big as a greyhound bus and her teats were extended and had colostrum on them. She's restless too. Even I knew it was time to watch. I told her I'd be sleeping in the barn if I were her. She was fascinated with this idea. She bought this mare at an auction a few months ago, and low and behold she gets two for the price of one. Hope it's a happy ending. I may end up there tonite to take a turn resting on the straw bales wrapped in my wool blankie. Wish us luck.

-- Susan in Northern LP Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), February 14, 2002.

I know a horseman who always give his foal an enema,he does not chance it to nature. Sometimes a foal may be too weak to grunt and pass that meconium and if he does not it means he has no peristalsis and that could lead to death. A warm fleets enema is all is usually needed,who can get cheap at any drug store.It would not hurt and would probably help. Terry

-- Terry Lipe (elipe@fidnet.com), February 14, 2002.

just about every big breeding farm routinely gives their foals a fleet enema after birth. As stated, it won't hurt, and could possibly help.

Tracy

-- Tracy (zebella@mindspring.com), February 14, 2002.

As Tracy said, it is common management. Now if your horses are wild, live on thousands of acres......................I would doubt that any of our stock could be considered "natural" :) Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.

My critters are kept on acreage. When the foals find their legs and start running around, it does more than strengthen their legs ~ it helps them expel all the crud.

If a mare is forced to give birth in small quarters, nature can't do what's normal and those folks give a Fleets enema to the foal.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.

We bought one to have on hand but didnt need it. The Vet. recomends Fleet. He should have a BM within the first 2 hrs. after birth. It is important to have iodine for the ambilical cord also. I am thinking 5%. Iodine can burn the flesh if it is too strong. The baby should nurse and have a BM within the first 2 hrs. Also mom should pass her after-birth within the first 2 hrs. We had to have a Vet. out to deliver our filly. She had to be pulled with calf pullers. It was awful. The mare was in labor for 4 hrs. She rolled and the baby was turned. We almost lost our mare. and the Vet. thought the baby was already dead when he came.It was a mess, but the mare is fine, and the filly is beautiful. Two hours after the Vet. left the mare still had not passed her afterbirth so the Vet. had to come and remove it. Then she had an infection that took us months to clear up. This happened 2 years ago. We tried to breed the mare twice since then but I dont think she will ever be able to have another baby. the filly will be 2 years old in April. She is a beautiful Paint. As sick as the mare was, she took good care of her baby. We had to give the mare a shot and bute every day, but she did a fine job tending to her baby.

-- the pooles (mpoole@link2000.net), February 15, 2002.

Tracy: I am one of those people who strives for minimal intervention, preferring to let nature take it's course in most things. But for a well-loved horse and a much-anticipated foal, I feel that certain precautions (like enemas for newborns) are a good idea. It can't hurt, and could in fact prevent life-threatening problems. True, wild horses don't have anyone out there giving their foals an enema, but then they have a much higher foal mortality rate, too.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), February 15, 2002.