than domesticated horse foals, thus stimulatingmater- nal oxytocin release and faster placental elimination. Nevertheless, meconium elimination took longer in mule foals, which can be an interspecies characteristic resulting in a different gastrointestinal motility pat- tern. This study describes perinatal development parameters of healthy mule foals enabling prompt identification of abnormal neonatal behavior and peripartum events.
Acknowledgments
Declaration of Ethics The Authors have adhered to the Principles of Veteri- naryMedical Ethics of theAVMA.
Conflict of Interest The Authors have no conflicts of interest.