FoalWatch

Tests for Daytime Foaling Management
 
 
 
 
 

References
Ley, W.B., Hoffman, J.L., et al, "Daytime Foaling Management of the Mare: 1: Pre-Foaling Mammary Secretions Testing", Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 88-94, 1989.
Ley, W.B., Hoffman, J.L., et al, "Daytime Foaling Management of the Mare: 2: Induction of Parturition", Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 95-99, 1989.
Ley, W.B., "Pre-foaling Management of the Mare and Induction of Parturition", IN Current Therapy in Equine Medicine, Vol.3, pp.664-668, 1992.
Ley, W.B., Bowen, J.M., et al, "The Sensitivity, Specificity and Predictive Value of Measuring Calcium Carbonate in Mares' Pre-Partum Mammary Secretions", Theriogenology 40 (1), pp. 189-198, 1993.
Ley, W.B., "The Use of a Pre-Foaling Milk Calcium Test Kit in the Foaling Management of Mares", Equine Practice 16 (6), pp. 15-22, 1994.
Ley, W.B., "Management of the Foaling Mare: Prefoaling Considerations", Veterinary Medicine 89 (6), pp. 559-569, 1994.
Ley, W.B., "Management of the Foaling Mare: Prefoaling Readiness for Birth and Inducing Foaling", Veterinary Medicine 89 (6), pp. 570-577, 1994.
Martin, K.L., Hoffman, R.M., et al, "Calcium Decreases and Parathyroid Hormone Increases in Serum of Periparturient Mares", Journal of Animal Science 74, pp. 834-839, 1996.
West, T.S., DSC, Ph.D. Complexometry with EDTA and Related Reagents, 3rd ed. Poole, England: BDH Chemicals Ltd., p. 46, 164 (1969).
 

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CHEMetrics' easy-to-use FOALWATCH test kit predicts foal birth within 24 hours. The veterinarian-recommended FOALWATCH Titrets¨ ampoules provide dependable results in about 3 minutes.

Eliminates Nightly Foal Sitting
Because FOALWATCH is based on proven chemistry, you can rest easier at night. The test measures the concentration of calcium in the mare's colostrum, which rises sharply before birth. Simply begin testing once or twice a day about 2 weeks before the mare's expected foaling date. When the calcium concentration consistently exceeds 200 parts per million (ppm), the birth is imminent.

Safe and Easy to Use
FOALWATCH contains no hazardous or toxic chemicals, is non-invasive, and requires no medical training to run. When the test is completed, the ampoule can be discarded with household waste.

Veterinarian Recommended
Veterinarians at leading equine medical centers have evaluated FOALWATCH as a foaling aid and call it "convenient, reliable and safe for the mare, foal, producer, and veterinarian alike."

Contains Everything You Need to Test
FOALWATCH comes complete with 20 Titrets test ampoules, a test tube for collecting mare's milk, a bottle of distilled water, syringe, sample cup, and complete instructions.

Testing Schedule.
Sampling and testing should begin 10-14 days before the mare's expected foaling date (335-340 days from her last breeding date). If the breeding date is unknown, begin when udders become enlarged. Run FOALWATCH once a day until the calcium level consistently exceeds 100 ppm.

Begin testing twice daily (morning and late afternoon or evening) when the calcium concentration first exceeds 125 ppm. When the calcium level first reaches 200 ppm, about 50% of mares will foal within 24 hours. (Birth within 24 hours is very rare when calcium levels are below 200 ppm.)

Birth usually is very near when the mare's calcium concentration reaches 300-500 ppm.

Interferences/Complications.
Mares exposed to fescue grass pastures contaminated by Acremonium coephenophialum, a fungus, during the last 60-90 days of gestation may fail to undergo normal udder development and fail to secrete colostrum. Pre-foaling mammary secretion sampling does slightly increase the risk of infection to the mammary tissue, especially if the udder is not cleaned and dried prior to obtaining the sample.

The suplement domperidone can increase the calcium level of the mare's milk causing inflated test results.

Easy Test Procedure.
STEP 1. Dispense with the syringe 1.5 ml of the mare's mammary secretion into the 25 ml sample cup. Add 9 ml of distilled water. Then add 1 drop of indicator solution.

STEP 2. Snap the tip of the Titret ampoule at the score mark. Then immerse the Titret tip in the sample.

STEP 3. Draw a small amount of sample into the ampoule. Its contents will turn bright orange. Gently rock the ampoule back and forth.

STEP 4. Repeat Step 3 until a color change from orange to blue occurs. Then invert the ampoule and read the results in ppm directly from the scale on the ampoule.

Notes. Sampling does not impair the supply of milk (or the antibodies it contains) available to the foal at birth.

This test kit is intended as a foaling aid only, and should not substitute for standard veterinary care.

FOALWATCH has an 8-month shelf-life.

For TECHNICAL and ORDERING INFORMATION Call 1-800-356-3072; Fax 1-540-788-4856

Buy this product on line at www.foalingwatch.com

CHEMetrics and Titrets are registered trademarks of CHEMetrics, Inc.
FOALWATCH and Titret are trademarks of CHEMetrics, Inc.

Prices and technical specifications are subject to change without notice.

Hand-Held Titration Cells

Contents: Test kits contain 30 ampoules, 30 valve assemblies, sample cup, accessory solutions (when necessary), and instructions. Refill packs of 30 ampoules (with valve assemblies), and replacements for other components, are available.

Each Titret cell is an ampoule 13 mm in diameter designed for titrimetric analysis. The ampoule contains vacuum sealed liquid titrant and has an attached flexible valve assembly.

The Titrets Method.

Titrets simplify titration tests just as CHEMets and Vacu-vials simplify colorimetric tests.  Each Titret contains a carefully measured quantity of titrant sealed under vacuum.  The sealed tip is fitted with a miniature valve that is used to control the flow of sample into the ampoule as the analyst performs what is known as a "reverse titration."  Sample is introduced into the ampoule in small increments (with mixing) while the analyst watches for the color change which signals the end-point of the titration.  When that change occurs, the ampoule is placed in an upright position and the test result is read opposite the location of the liquid level, using a scale printed on the side of the tube.  The entire process requires only a minute or two and avoids all the equipment hassle and clean-up associated with ordinary titrations.
 

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