So the one mare we actually did manage to get pregnant last year is due with her Quaterback foal here soon . She is at day 323 today and today has developed a bloody whitish discharge. We called the vet immediately and got her on antibiotics and have the vet coming to check to see if the foal is still alive.
I have never experienced this before …anything else I need to know?? Any advice? Thoughts??
Thanks in advance!
Kyla
Has she bagged up fully? I had one mare with placentitis but the most noticeable sign was a huge udder. Jingling hard for you Kyla! Hope it all goes well and is maybe nothing more than a ruptured small vein or something of the sort…
Actually she has had a pretty big bag…normal for this stage of her pregnancy. I noticed last night that it got noticabley fuller but still not super full or dripping anything. My mom checked her vulva the day before yesterday and there was nothing. I looked her over a few times yesterday but not close up behind so I could have missed the start of it!? I don’t know. Gosh…
I am reading alot here that says anti inflammatories and progesterone are usually given to prolong gestation. I am quite sure I can still see the baby move (but maybe that is wishful thinking). My vet is in surgery…would there be harm in giving her some fluxinin or bute? I just hate this waiting!?
Don’t give bute; it is not good for foals at this stage of gestation. As long as she is comfortable, I would personally hold off on anti-inflammatories until you hear back from your vet.
Well I got ahold of my repro vet and she thinks that if the foal is still alive it may be best to induce labour and get the foal out…if it is developed enough. Meanwhile give her Banamine. My regular vet has spoken with her in terms of what to look for and will be here within an hour to do an ultrasound ect. It may just be a vaginal infection though I am doubtful…things are never that easy with horses. If it is placentitis I think we will risk hauling her and will take her to my repro vet (about 30 minit drive) to monitor and treat her either way.
So right now I am just crossing my fingers. I am horrified at the idea of inducing labour but my repro vet is very good and experienced and would know best. Has anyone else had experience with this???
Kyla
I wouldn’t induce Kyla, you could have another whole set of problems. She could very well be a month away from foaling yet and the foal seriously undeveloped. I am not sure how they would tell it was developed enough except for size which may not mean anything. I hope it is something minor as well keep us posted. Best of luck for hopefully a very successful outcome. If the foal is anything like last years it will be amazing!
Cindy, thank you for the good thoughts. I know you have been unfortunate enough to have had experience with this. I just wonder what the chances of the foal being normal are with not inducing and treatment? I guess it depends how much damage has been done tot he placenta already? I am very scared about inducing and wonder if it might put the mare at more risk for dystocia?
If we do wait it out apparently the risks for red bag delivery are higher (understandably so) so I am scared to foal her out here…
uhgggg!
I would really think twice and then think again about inducing. It just does not seem warranted at this point.
I have had mares with funky discharge. I had a mare last month that started passing purple goo at around 311 days. It was decided it was bloody mucous. She passed buckets of the stuff for the next week or so. It would come out in long ropes about 5-6 ft long. Seriously gross.
She foaled at around 321. A ton of goo came out with the foal but the foal was healthy (and huge).
I had a mare 2 years ago that had a lot of bleeding starting at day 318. She ended up foaling about a week later, red bag with a mummified twin presenting first. That viable foal was rescusitated but passed away at UC Davis without every having stood or nursed at a day and a half old.
None of the vets (both local and at UC Davis) ever suggested inducing since it brings so many other problems to the table.
Best of luck with your mare. Lots of jingles.
I agree with those who say do not induce. That’s a step I’d take only if it was clear the mare was about to die.
I’ve never dealt with placentitis, but it seems many here have and the success stories come from patience and careful monitoring, not rash decisions.
Best luck, Kyla.
Agree! Don’t induce, unless there is a very strong reason too.
Is it an ongoing discharge or could it be the mucus plug?
Good luck!!!
I am very scared about inducing and wonder if it might put the mare at more risk for dystocia? Definitely a much higher chance of dystocia inducing a mare.
We lost a foal to placentitis this year - our mare was only 308 days so the foal did come early and was not viable. If the mare is already on antibiotics - the vet needs to check if the foal is still alive. If it is you are probably okay since your mare is already at 323 days. Sometimes they give regumate to keep the mare from delivering early. But they need to make sure the foal is alive first.
Please, please, please don’t induce! If the mare does have placentitis, then the longer the foal remains in-utero, the better the chance of a successful outcome. You want the foal to have as much time as possible to mature, so each and every day counts. If the mare doesn’t have placentitis, then you are inducing for no reason and could very well have a premature/dead foal. You can have an ultrasound done to assess the placenta, etc. You can have blood work done to assess the viability of the pregnancy and to know if you are dealing with fetal stress or not (checking progestagens and estrogens). Even if you are dealing with placentitis, there are plenty of cases (with treatment) where the foal goes to term and is born healthy, or with minimal (manageable) issues. If you are worried about foaling her out at home ( I don’t blame you) then send her to a facility that can deal with high-risk mares, just in case there is a problem. Inducing is something you can’t take back and usually ends very, very poorly.
[B] Listen to everyone. DO NOT INDUCE!!!
You have had good advice and I can not believe your vet would just say that. Just listen to those that know. I know. And so do many many others.[/B]
Another voice saying “DON’T INDUCE!!”
I honestly can’t imagine why this would be your vet’s first thought.
I think antibiotics are the way to go – the only way I would think about inducing would be #1) if all the criteria were met (milk is let down, cervix open…and one more which I’ve already forgotten – at least 310 days gestation, isn’t it? Someone help…) and #2 if ultrasound reveals the ambiotic fluid is funky.
Again, I would really question a vet’s experience in repro if “induce” is the first thing that comes to mind without even an ultrasound or a trial of antibiotics.
Is this your regular repro vet? Do you have another repro vet you could question or is there a vet teaching hospital nearby you could call and grill?
I had a mare that started leaking “milk” in month 10 – WAAAYY before her due date or even before Day 300. We started antibiotics and around Day 330 she delivered a healthy filly. The non-pregnant horn was VERY funky looking (like cooked ground beef or something) and you could see where the infection had started. Actually, I was lucky it was in the non-pregnant horn – other wise the mare probably WOULD have lost the pregnancy.
But until you have a reason to panic – don’t.
I would say you have to trust your vet on this one -if your vet is really good. If it is the lady I am thinking of (PM me), I would trust her opinion. But it does surprise me that she would suggest inducing over the phone without seeing the horse in person.
Wishing really good outcome for your mare and foal.
Kyla, I can’t offer any advice, but I AM jingling madly for your unborn foal and mare!!! :sadsmile:
Thank you all for the advice…
I should clarify that the vet that suggested inducing was not saying we should do it asap but that IF apon futher examination we found bad placentitis that it may be the best option and that if I cannot get my regular vet over fast enough I should take the mare to her to ultrasound ect to see if we should induce or just try to maintain it. I AM suprised she suggested it regardless especially after reading more about inducing but she is a repro specialist and is very good …??
BUT!..the GOOD NEWS is that I waited for my regular vet this evening and she ultrasounded and the placenta looked totally normal (12 mm ish) baby is alive and very fiesty! She said everything feels and looks very good. Her bladder is being pushed to the side hard because the foal is so big. So my vet thinks it is just some mucus plug that has come out combined with maybe a small ruptured blood vessicle in the urethra from straining to pee. The " dripping discharge" was very likely just pee that looks very milky at this stage in the pregnancy . What an idiot I am!
I guess I just over reacted and immediately thought " OMG PLACENTITIS!" probably because I am so worried about this kind of stuff all the time.
Anyways…thank you all for your help. I am feeling MUCH better needless to say. And on top of this good news both of my mares that I bred to Wolkentanz were checked tonight by the vet and both checked in foal!!
wow! what great news!!!
Awesome Kyla, I am so happy all looks well!! Hopefully everything is uneventful and happy foaling!
Which vet did you use for breeding your mares to Wolkentanz? I have one mare currently at Deb’s and another that is headed there on Sunday. Hoping we have good luck there.
Fabulous news! Thanks for the update.
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