540 Veterinary Obstetrics 



great many pregnant animals resent the constant _presence of 

 persons during labor and become very nervous when too much 

 attention is paid to them. Owners of mares have frequently noted, 

 especially in those pregnant for the first time, that labor seems to 

 set in when the watcher is away and not during his presence. 

 The animal sometimes seems to await a favorable moment to 

 begin labor, so that, when an intended constant watch is set, 

 labor is liable to not begin until some slight intermission in the 

 supervision occurs, when it at once takes place. When the 

 watch is resumed, it is found that birth has taken place during 

 the interval. The watch upon an animal should therefore be 

 barely sufficient to guard against any serious accident. 



In the care or watching of an animal during parturition, the 

 breeder or his employees should be instructed as far as may be 

 necessary, by the veterinarian, in reference to what constitutes 

 the normal progress of parturition and when it is necessary to 

 interfere in a case. Should the veterinarian be called to attend a 

 case of what is suspected as irregular or abnormal parturition, he 

 should determine by a careful examination the exact state of 

 affairs and interfere only in those cases where there is some devia- 

 tion from the normal which, in his judgment, it is best to correct, 

 or which would not be ultimately and safely overcome by the 

 mother alone. 



He should determine if the labor pains are normal and whether 

 the general condition of the mother is good. He should deter- 

 mine whether the genital passages of the mother are in normal 

 condition and are dilating in a natural manner. The position of 

 the fetus should be learned and the veterinarian should know if 

 it will probably be expelled without assistance. 



The veterinarian should determine if birth may properly take 

 place at once or if in the natural course of events it should be de- 

 layed for a period of time. For this purpose it is essential to 

 differentiate between false, or preparatory, labor pains and real 

 expulsive efforts designed to bring about the immediate expul- 

 sion of the fetus. As we have suggested in preceding chapters, 

 there may be premonitory pains indicated by some degree of un- 

 easiness or slight colic symptoms, especially in the mare, some 

 days prior to parturition. These should not be mistaken for par- 

 turition itself and the expulsion of the fetus hastened by artifi- 

 cial means, but the veterinarian should advise patient watching 



