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  Discussion on Hip lock
Author Message
New Member:
Dustyemt

Posted on Sunday, Mar 26, 2006 - 2:51 am:

I have been reading your site, and am very impressed, we have been doing this along time and I have learned so much more being here. I do have a question though. I haven't found anything on hip locked mares, where the baby won't come out. We just had a an experience with a mare that is now ok, but the colt was very big and it seems his hips were locked, we have had a mare drag a foal along the fence trying to get it out prior to this and it was a really bad mess, we were not at home when it happened. However with this one we did catch her, when we went out, it had been a long time and there was no progression, she seemed to be in a lot of distress and seemingly giving up. The foals head was turned sideways, and I straightened it to ease it coming out, but that wasn't the only problem, once we got to the mid chest there was no more progression. The mare was standing when we found her this way, and laid down after I moved the head, then becan to roll, I was trying to keep the foals head from being mangled so doing a little miss me dance.. I tied the mare up once she was on her feet, which may or may not have been a good idea, she laid down anyhow. Still no progression, I thought the colt was dead but it took a breath, but only one... I sorta panicked at that point because I felt so sorry for her and him both, pulling and trying to manipulated him by turning with the contractions, but she seemed to stop really having contractions, or maybe in the blur I thought she did... I blew in the colts nose a few times.. just because I felt helpless and knew it wasnt breathing anymore...finally after alot of work, turning and manipulating he came out....I blew in his nose one last time, just for the heck of it at this point... he started breathing... we were exstatic.. both momma and baby are ok.. it took along time to get the colt on his feet he seemed numb from the hips back, I thought he was crippled for sure. But now he is up and going like thunder. Does this happen very often, and was it necessary for a little artificial respiration on a colt like this... this was a first and I was grasping at straws... just checking to see how often this happens, and if there is an easier way to do this... plus what do you do with a mare who stands up... is that ok,,,? I have never had that problem before.There was alot of blood in or around the sac? The cord was detached, so I thought it may have come from there or trauma cause from all the pulling. Is there anything different you can do at this point... oh the vet was on his way, but it takes usually around 20 minutes to reach us, on a good day.. so time wasnt on our side.
Thanks
Dusty
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Mar 26, 2006 - 8:46 am:

Welcome Dusty,
Births almost always look difficult to the outside observers and it is always hard to know what would have happened without assistance. There is not enough information really to know if you had a problem that needed assistance but it is hard to argue with the successful outcome. Simply blowing in the nose would not provide artificial respiration but it would stimulate the foal to move around.

When the hips get stuck usually the wings of the ilium of the foal (top of the foals pelvis) have impacted on the inner rim of the pelvic canal and the stifles on the lower rim. When this happens it helps to pull the foal by his front legs out and ventral (down) with respect to the foals orientation. For instance, if the foal is coming out upside down this would mean pulling the foal in a dorsal (toward the top) direction with respect to the mare. It works best to pull with the mares contractions and relax when she stops pushing. The foal reorients during the relaxation. I would not attempt to tie up a foaling mare and the getting up and down and slight rolling is part of the reorientation process. Severe rolling should be looked upon as a sign something might be wrong.
DrO
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