This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Reproductive Diseases » Problems During Pregnancy » Placentitis »
  Discussion on Still Born Foal
Author Message
New Member:
Sharir

Posted on Friday, Mar 19, 2004 - 8:05 pm:

My mare recently foaled at 354 days (same as last year). In the evening I checked her and she was bagged up but her teats were not filled and she had no wax. She was softening around her tail head but was not far enough along to make me believe she was ready to foal. We watched her until midnight but nothing changed. At 6:30 am I went to the barn and there was a dead foal in the stall. I called the vet in as the mare had not cleaned the afterbirth. In viewing the placenta, the vet noted it looked unhealthy. One horn was a light brown color and the other had dark patches. The foal was well formed but small and thin. The placenta was very light in weight. My question - if this was a uterine infection - at what could cause this and what are the chances other mares will have the same problem. I was a little worried about the mare because she normally gets quite large before she foals and she had not gained much weight in the last three months although she was fed the same as always. I have another mare that seems to be much smaller in size than normal this year. Could I maybe be facing a similar problem?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Mar 20, 2004 - 8:02 am:

I am so sorry to hear that Shari. We have an article on placentitis that explains what we know about this and the fact your foal was past full term argues against the diagnosis. Autolytic changes occur very rapidly in the placenta making visual examination on anything but an absolutely fresh placenta error prone. The parts hanging out may turn brown while the retained areas remained fresh red. Have sections of the abnormal areas put in formaldehyde and histology done on them to confirm the diagnosis. I would also have a full necropsy done on the foal.

Was the mare on fescue?
DrO
Member:
Sharir

Posted on Sunday, Mar 21, 2004 - 9:35 am:

As far as I know, my hay does not contain any fescue grasses. I will call my hay suppliers though and check but I have never run into this before.
The brown portion of the placenta was actually the retained portion. If the foal, for whatever reason, had died before foaling, could that have resulted in the abnormal looking placenta?
Also, I noted a distinct lack of blood in the stall and when the mare was cleaned, inside of her uterus as well. Would this point to a problem with the blood supply to the foal? We have delivered lots of foals and it seemed very unusual.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Mar 22, 2004 - 6:39 am:

Yes, the death of the foal will cause the placenta to degenerate. It is hard to evaluate the lack of blood in the stall to a particular disease process since primary problems of the foal would devitalize the placenta also.
DrO
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC