As a rule, you should avoid tying off the umbilical cord after birth. However, if very heavy bleeding occurs, it’s time to act, advises Dr Mac.
After a foal is born, blood continues to pump into its body through the umbilical cord. Interrupting this process can result in a highly anaemic foal. When the mare gets up after foaling, the umbilicus usually stretches and breaks off 2cm to 3cm from the foal’s abdomen. The stretching seals the umbilical vessels and prevents bleeding from the stump.
It is important not to tie off or cut the umbilical cord, as this can cause haemorrhaging and even infection. A little blood will seep out for the first few minutes; this is normal.
However, if the umbilicus has not snapped by the time the foal is standing up, and the blood is still streaming out, this is an emergency, and the horse owner should phone a veterinarian immediately. Some sources suggest that if a vet is delayed, the umbilicus should be clamped with sterile forceps, but it’s unlikely that the average horse owner would own such an instrument.
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