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  Discussion on Will this placenta need help being passed?
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Member:
morg1

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011 - 11:42 pm:

My friends mare had a filly tonight, and everything went smoothly until the mare got up. The placenta tore all the way up to the point that there is nothing hanging out. Can she still release it on her own, or does this need to be removed by a vet? I have never seen this happen before and don't know if it will come out without the traction of the weight of the sack and umbilical cord. I don't know if this is important or not, but she foaled at 352 days.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 - 1:25 am:

I'm not a vet, but have foaled out quite a few mares. I'd keep a very close eye on the mare and be alert for any signs of trouble. Did you spread the placenta out so you can really tell if it is missing a piece? Chances are that if a piece remains inside of her, she will expell it. But, there's also a chance she won't. If there is any unusual discharge, if she develops a fever, anything unusual, I'd get her checked. You can find out more info here if you search under Reproduction on the side bar.
Member:
morg1

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 - 1:47 am:

It's her whole placenta that is still inside. The only thing that is out is the white sack the foal was in and some of the umbilical cord. I have called 5 vets. One doesn't do emergency calls, one doesn't really do horses anymore (took them forever to come out and tell me that, in fact they never did, I just end up telling them thanks for like the 3rd time and ended up ending the call. I felt rude, but hey it doesn't take a 10 minute phone call to tell someone no and I had other vets to try to call), one was doing an emergency c-section, and 2 never returned my call. I guess it is a busy night for emergencies. It has now been 4 hours since she foaled, and I am still waiting on a vet. It has been about 3 hours since I started trying to call them. I really hope for my friend's sake that everything turns out alright. She bought the mare for a riding horse last year and regrettably she was already bred, but she is such a beautiful mare that getting a foal from her is a blessing, but having her sound to ride is the utmost concern. Her filly looks to be a dunalino with a pretty blaze and at least 2 white socks. I'm looking forward to daylight to see her more clearly.
Member:
morg1

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 - 3:27 am:

Ok, the vet finally got here about 1:30am, and he gave her some oxytocin. Then he looked at the placenta, and thought it was all there, boy did I feel stupid until we looked again at the mare and she was expelling placenta. Ok, so I don't feel so dumb anymore. She released quite a lot. I knew what I had on the ground wasn't nearly enough. So...it seems that all is well for now, except that poor mama has to go through all that cramping again.
Member:
canter

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 - 6:56 am:

Glad to hear the mare is going to be OK, Karen. We'd love to see pix of the filly.
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 - 7:31 am:

I am glad too every thing is o.k. now. How frustrating to need help and not able to get any! I know the feeling, we have ONE large animal vet locally, and it's a game of tag to get ahold of her. Thank God for HA, DrO, and the members on here. Someone somewhere has been in your shoes before and can offer help usually.

Enjoy your new filly!
Member:
mrose

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 - 8:46 am:

Good thing you were around. The Oxy should do the job. Keep and eye on the mare to be sure of course. I hope all is well now. Your poor friend!
Member:
morg1

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 - 10:13 am:

Ok, the mare is doing well, and looks to be feeling much better (poor girl), but I noticed this morning that her foal has an umbilical hernia. I can fit 2 fingers in the hole. What is the recommended course of action? Do we wait, and if so, how long? Or, do we need to have surgery, and if so, how soon?

I will try to post pictures later today.
Member:
morg1

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 - 11:38 am:

Here are a few pictures.

Filly2

Filly3

Filly1
Member:
mrose

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 - 12:31 pm:

Go to "Diseases of the Horse" click on "Foal Diseases" and you'll see info on foal hernias at the top of the page.

I assume the foal got proper post natel care like shots, cord treated, etc. and it has pooped and peed?

Really nice looking foal; looks like great legs!
Member:
morg1

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 - 1:13 pm:

Thanks. I read that, but I guess I was just looking for some more reassurance. I will check it often and just make sure that everything is okay with it.

The filly is doing just great. I always hold my breath until a foal poops. I had one with Atresia Recti several years ago and that is something I look for with anxiety since. Of course, I will probably never see that happen again, but you never know. I haven't actually seen her pee, but I'm sure she has. She has a huge appetite, and her umbilical stump is dry so I don't think there is a problem there....but I will keep my eye on it. Of course, there have been many hours in which I haven't been with the mare and foal, including when I was calling vets because I had to look up #s to vets that I have never used before.

I pointed out how nice her legs were to her owner when she arrived. We are very pleased with this newborn.

Thanks again,
Karen
Member:
mrose

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 - 3:52 pm:

HI Karen, We always dunked the stump in iodine/betadine as a preventative since they lay down on the floor that, even with clean bedding, has lots of germs and new foals are so delicate in the first few days of life. I hope he's o.k. If he got plenty of colostrum that will help. We always gave a children's fleet enema and "foal shots" too. Call me over cautiuos! Again, good thing your friend has you around.
Member:
morg1

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 - 8:32 pm:

Yep, I treated the navel as soon as the cord broke and about 4 times since then. I did not give any shots. I've asked my regular vet about them before and she doesn't see the need, so....you know everybody has their opinion even vets. I'm not saying that they aren't a good idea, but not something I tend to think about since getting my vet's opinion. I do get the "what if" questions in my head though.

I've also witnessed the filly peeing twice now, so no problem there.

Oh, and back to the placenta. When I was disposing of it today I did take note that the section of placenta that she retained was larger than what came off with the foal, so I wasn't crazy in thinking that she retained the whole placenta, because it was definitely most of it. I just knew that what I was seeing wasn't enough.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 20, 2011 - 8:54 pm:

Some vets don't agree with antibiotic shots for the foal. Mine does, so we did them. We also gave tetnus. Sounds like you're doing all the right things. Gosh, where were you when we were breeding and coaling? I could have used the he! LOL
Member:
morg1

Posted on Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 - 1:04 pm:

I would have loved to help. I wanted nothing more than to make a career out of horses before I went to college, but I let my mom talk me out of that path and became a teacher instead. I love working with kids too, and it is a great career for horse owners because of the summers off.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Thursday, Apr 21, 2011 - 2:12 pm:

Well, we certainly need good teachers! And, the job security and probably pay are better.
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