My mare is in difficult labor, foal stuck. Can I safely pull it?

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is an emergency and you need to have a veterinarian present to help you. If you have tried pulling with no luck, then the vet may need to do a fetotomy. I don't recommend you do much else on your own as you may rupture the uterus and/or cause serious damage to the doe. You must understand that not all things can be fixed at home yourself. A fetotomy entails the vet dismembering the kid inside the uterus (a delicate procedure as to not damage the uterus) because it can be removed easier in pieces. I know this sounds gruesome but sometimes it is the only way to correct the problem. The vet of course will evaluate the situation thoroughly before doing this procedure to see if anything else can be done before resorting to this. Also, the doe may have uterine inertia now because she has been in labor too long. This is where the uterus just stops contracting and it is usually due to fatigue and decreased electrolytes and calcium. The vet can give fluids to correct this and can also administer a drug to help increase the uterine contractions again. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello. While I have seen stallions be very gentle with newborns, if I had a choice, I would allow the mare to foal in the other pasture. Try to be there when she goes into labor & you should be able to shoo away nosey neighbors. Once the foal is on her feet, Mom will be protective enough to deal with the other mare & colt. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. If the placenta is still attached, the birth process can normally take 10-15 minutes per kitten. If there is enough of the kitten sticking on, you can take a cloth or paper towel & assist the birth by using a firm but gentle pull. Hopefully, her deliveries will continue well. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! I am so sorry that you are going through this! You are correct, Belle needs immediate Veterinary care. A lot of bully and smoosh faced breeds require C-sections. There should be an Emergency room open. I worked emergency for 9 years and was required to drive in despite hurricanes, blizzards and ice storms. I would find someone with 4 wheel drive or go slowly. I tired to do a quick google search based on your zip code, I hope one is close. Also most vet hospitals provide info on the answering machine regrading on where to go for emergencies. http://www.petflight.com/zip_codes/45660/vet_clinics I really hope all is well with Belle!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think that Sparks needs to be taken to a Vet immediately! It's hard to tell you what is happening to her with out knowing more. If she has been in stage 2 labor for hours with out the birth of a puppy she could be in distress or pain. If she is unconscious and thrashing it could be due to low blood sugar or low calcium. I would try to talk to her and get her up. You can try to wipe karosyrup on her gums. If she is unconscious it is imperative to get her to a Vet right away. I wish you the best!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Lucy seems comfortable, is caring well for the kittens, & you do not see her pushing or having active contractions, then you can let her rest. You may be feeling a contracted uterine horn, or it may be another kitten, but if she is content then you can probably wait until the morning to have her checked out. Since it is already late, you would have to take her in to the emergency clinic anyway, but I would not recommend it, yet. If she becomes restless, vocal, & you see her pushjng for more than 30 minutes without producing a kitten, then take her in. Hopefully, this will not be necessary. Take care.

Thank you for contacting Pet Coach with your question about Molly. It sounds like there may be a kitten stuck in the birth canal, and I would consider this a medical emergency. She needs to see a vet now to get this kitten removed and to have help giving birth to her other kittens. Leaving her like this will cause the death of this kitten and any other kittens left to be born. Please take Molly and her first kitten into a vet immediately. You can take her to an ER vet or find a vet on call in your area to see her if your regular vet is closed. The information to find a vet on call is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.