Instead of seeing a thin, transparent, greyish-white membrane and a release of fluids, the foaling attendant will see a red, velvet appearing placenta, the "red bag." This is an indication that the delivery is not proceeding as normal, and action is needed.
In this situation, the red bag appears as a red “velvety” bag hanging from the vulva. When the foaling attendant confirms the presence of the red bag instead of the white bag, he/she should carefully open this bag with surgical scissors—inside will be the white bag enclosing the fetus.
This situation is often called a “red bag” delivery, because what you see first is the red, velvety-looking placenta instead of the whitish-clear amnion sac encasing the foal. The placenta is covering the foal's head and has not ruptured to allow the foal to come through.
In a 'red bag' delivery the placenta has partially or completely separated from the mares endometrium (lining of the uterus) prior to the foal being delivered. This means that the foal is getting no oxygen from the time of separation (or reduced oxygen in the case of partial separation) to the time it is delivered.
If the placenta separates prematurely at the area adjacent to the cervix, the membranes may not rupture but will be delivered intact around the foal, a 'red-bag' delivery. This premature placental separation, if unattended, will result in a stillbirth due to suffocation of the foal.
red bag in British English
noun. (in Britain) a fabric bag for a barrister's robes, presented by a King's or Queen's Counsel to a junior in appreciation of good work on a case.
“Early diagnosis of placentitis and prompt and appropriate treatment are paramount for survival of the foal, and ultrasound is the most common tool currently used to diagnose placentitis,” added Marco A. Coutinho da Silva, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl.
Since premature placenta separation pro vides no early signals, McCue encourages horse handlers to keep mares in a foaling stall for easy observation and a quick response if needed. "If a mare is out in the pasture and has a red bag delivery there's no chance the foal will survive," he said.
Gestation can be as long as 375 days and the record gestation length is over 400 days. Of course, in the last weeks of pregnancy, a mare should show signs of advancing pregnancy. Her udder should be filling and her abdomen should be pendulous as she nears her due date.
Donkey foaling usually takes around 40 minutes, from the first signs to the point where the foal is free from the mare.
When a mare is approaching her foaling date it is best to disturb her as little as possible, especially during the night. Most mares will foal between the hours of 10pm and 2am, but parturition (aka birthing) can occur at any time of day.
The visual signs of a mare's readiness to foal are: Udder distension begins 2-6 weeks prior to foaling. Relaxation of the muscles of the croup 7-19 days prior to foaling; relaxation around the tail head, buttocks, and lips of the vulva. Teat nipples fill 4-6 days prior to foaling.
In the first stage of foaling, mares become restless. They will not eat and they may pace or walk in circles, look back toward their flank, and switch their tails. Some mares lie down and stand up repeatedly. Some will not drink water.
In the case of a red bag delivery, carefully but rapidly cut the thick red bag with a pair of scissors. To cut the bag, simply make a small snip in the bag with the scissors before making an aggressive cut or tearing the placenta with your hands. In this way, you are certain not to cut the foal inadvertently.
Mares usually then lie down and begin contractions that expel the foal within about 15 minutes. Most mares pass the placenta within an hour after foaling; the placenta is considered retained if it has not passed within 3 hours.
Reach inside the mare and, if possible, find the foal's head. Free it of any membranes and mucus to allow it to breathe freely while still in the mare. Providing that both forelimbs are now visible, grasp the foal's limbs and apply gentle downward traction (toward the mare's hocks).
How many days is a horse pregnant? A female horse's gestation period is approximately 326 days to 354 days. Gestation can be as long as 375 days and the record longest gestation period for a horse is over 400 days – just over 13 months!
Stage One. This is where parturition (another word for the birthing process) begins. It usually lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours, although it can be shorter in mares that are familiar with the routine. During this stage, mares become restless and almost appear colicky.
Many mares circle or look like they are preparing to lie down. “As more contractions occur, they usually start sweating— particularly on the neck, shoulders, and flanks,” Tibary says. For this reason it's important to monitor the mare's water intake and manure production.
Premature placental separation results in the foal being born still inside the placenta, commonly referred to as a 'red bag delivery'. When the placenta separates prematurely the foal is not strong enough to break the placenta. As the foal is born, the first thing to be seen is the placenta – a 'red bag'.
Start handling a foal once everything settles down.
Acclimating a foal to human touch is important and can make your life much easier when the foal is bigger. Make sure early touch is a positive experience—don't force it! The environment should be quiet, calm, and near the mare.
Healthy normal foals will begin to breathe immediately following birth and will rest on their sternum for several minutes before attempting to stand. They will stand within 30 minutes of delivery and usually nurse within two hours.
Bacterial infections, especially those related to Streptococcus spp. were the most frequently observed. In stillborn foals, diagnosis was established in 62.5% of cases, and 50% of these were related to non-infectious causes, such as dystocia and birth traumas.
Mares with a healthy pregnancy typically do not start to develop their udder until 2-4 weeks pre-foaling and with a problem pregnancy, bagging up will be seen earlier, around 6-12 weeks before the mare's due date.
The cervical mucus plug (CMP) is believed to play an integral role in the maintenance of pregnancy in the mare, primarily by inhibiting microbial entry. Unfortunately, very little is known about its composition or origin.