We have an older mare that has had some degree of separation and thickening in all three of her last pregnancies. The first pregnancy we had her for, her 7th I believe, we did not have her in regulate for the first part part if the pregnancy, mostly due to some bad vet advice from a previous vet, and to us being green and not knowing any better. Our mare had a cervical repair early in the season that she was bred for that foal, and was bred late in the season. We also had to pinch as she conceived triplets (also normal for her). As soon as we found the separation at about 5 months, we stuck her on 20ml regumate daily, and I believe SMZ’S, for a two week course. The old vet never suggested continue care. He also talked us into a c-section, as we were told that the greatest chance of survival for both mare and foal was to do one. She was at the clinic nearly a month In total, including the two weeks that her foal survived. He was born septic, and despite all efforts, his joints became badly effected. He had joint flushes, almost daily, and had a herniated umbilicus repaired as well as sx for an intersuception (sp?). We lost him after a valiant struggle to survive. He was an absolutely perfect foal, just 3 weeks pre mature, and unable to stay healthy. This was in 2007.
We waited to breed her back until 2009
Her second foal with us was 3 years later, in 2010. We proactively put her on 20ml regumate, daily. We again had to pinch triplets. We do monthly scans on this mare, as she has had a troubled breeding history prior to us. She was fine until about 6 months, when we found thickening and separation, both rather significant. She immediately went on Doxycycline suspension 5 days out of every month for the remainder of the pregnancy, as well as continuing with the regumate and monthly scans. I believe we did one or two days of banamine as well. She foaled two weeks past full term, in the field, middle of the day. Easy foaling, no red bag. her placebta was horrible looking however. The resulting foal was actually born 2 weeks late, and was TINY. She was perfectly normal otherwise. We ran plasma just to be safe, but she has had zero issues. She is now 2, and in race training. Other that being only 14.3, she is perfect in every other way.
We re bred in 2010 with foal at side, and the mare did not take.
In 2011 we bred back, first cover, twins, re absorbed after pinching.
Second cover, conceived triplets. Carried one filly, after pinching two others.
This pregnancy was to be her last from the get go, as she’s an older mare with obvious issues. She did fabulous, on regumate 20ml daily, and proactively giving the doxycycline suspension 5 days out of every month. We still did scans monthly. At about month 9 1/2 months, we noticed discharge and did another scan. Big time separation (especially considering we had just scanned two weeks prior) and mild thickening. We kept up her regumate, and doxy, and added aspirin daily as well as SMZ’S twice daily. Norma was born at 10 months, 3 weeks. Officially 2 weeks early. Muscles foaled standing up, a partial red bag. We had to work really hard to get poor tiny Norma out. She was slow after foaling and required assistance getting up for the first three days. We had to physically help her get up, then let her nurse. She would finally plop herself down when she got tired of standing. After three days she lost her suckle reflex, and had to be tube fed. This lasted a few days, as the meds she was on helped to bring down any brain swelling that might be causing her issues. She was a very sick foal for the first two weeks. But, we were able to avoid a trip to the clinic. We have a fabulous vet, who worked hard to save our little girl. Once we turned the corner, however, she thrived! She is now a very pushy (just like mom) weanling, who thinks very highly of herself. She likes her belly rubbed, and her bag scratched. And like her older sister, is a short, but stellar looking individual. Muscles is now retired officially. She’s a grand old lady who has given us three lovely foals. Her two surviving foals, both fillies, will have lifetime homes with us (as will their dam), and will hopefully be broodmares for us in the future.
All this to say…
There is hope. But, this has got to be treated aggressively, and quickly. Ask about Doxycycline suspension. It’s easy, and was our saving grace. SMZ’S aren’t always the most effective in certain situations. Also ask about aspirin. It is seriously stressful trying to keep a mare pregnant once you know here are issues, but it can be done successfully. Continue to monitor via ultrasound for changes, and think good thought. I would do a course of antibiotics 5-7 days out of every month here on out. Hope this helps!
Ps Sorry for any typos, I’m typing from an iPhone, while on a car trip. Not the most conducive to correct spelling (and often leads to very odd auto corrects)
