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 » Birthing Problems » Retained Placenta »
  Discussion on Post-foaling complications due to retained placenta?
Author Message

Posted on Friday, May 11, 2001 - 5:08 pm:

I will attempt to get your advice on a problem mare in our care. In May of 1999(!) a 10 yr. old mare foaled two eeks early with an oxygen-deprived foal. She retained her placenta and the vet could not release it and recommended that the stressed foal and mare be taken to vet hospital. The foal was very distressed and no sucking reflex, umbilical stump bled profusely upon breaking off etc. We took the mare and foal to the veterinary hospital immediately and it took approx. 5 days to get the placenta out of the mare. The foal was not improving and the owner elected to euthanize the foal. We brought the mare to the owners farm where he proceeded to give the mare antibiotics as per the hospitals instructions. I happened to visit and noticed the mare was really off and took her temp. 104 deg. The vet fixed that and we had one attempt to breed her which resulted in a 16 day positive result on US but lost the embryo before 26 days. We tried next year unsuccessfully to breed the mare. Her biopsy came back category II, I believe. Well, to make a long story shorter, she had a slightly enlarged teat for the year of 2000 but the vet shrugged it off as inconsequential. Now we are into 2001 and the owner has elected not to breed her back as he has bought better stock. One side of her udder has swollen in size and is diagnosed as mastitis finally. We used 30 cc 2X/Day of penicillan and 10 cc bute and it remains large and somewhat painful. I notice her losing condition and see that her udder is getting huge on one side and blisters or ulcers have erupted on the udder!!! I was horrified and my vet suggested that it is chronic due to a "hormonal" problem and suggested euthanization or selling for meat as she will probably always have this. I made him flush her in early April with antibiotics as she had a slight discharge from her vulva. I am uspet as I gave the mare to the owner for free as she was my mare before this happened and I WILL NOT do it so I am treating her with Trimethoprim-Sulfa tabs. 10 2X/day (or occasionally 20 1X/day so I only have to catch her once) and 10 cc bute IM 2X/day with a Furacin/HyDrOcortisone/epsom salt/DMSO mixture on her udder. After three weeks it is not better it is much worse! The mare has difficulty getting around without bute. She is impossible to catch to inject and rub the mixture on anyway and tries with all her might to elude me and sometimes I am forced to give up if no one can help me that day. The vet thought that it would help the mare to get in foal but I'd hate to try if she doesn't get better, we would have to get a nurse mare if it began to involve the other side. The owner would agree to it if it would help. I was thinking that if this was a "hormonal" problem would shutting her down with Regumate work? She has milk coming out of her other udder if you squeeze it so I thought that 10 cc of Regumate might help. I am at a loss and my vet is seemingly out of suggestions so any from you would be extremely appreciated.

Posted on Saturday, May 12, 2001 - 1:10 am:

Wow, Katherine, that's too bad. I'm very queasey about bringing DMSO anywhere near an infection. Even when laced with antibiotics. See what Dr.O says, I could be wrong. The other thing that struck me was - I know that cows get mastitis all the time and there are many products in the farm stores. The DMSO could be making the delicate tissue in that area very sensitive - that may be why she is becoming more reluctant to be touched.

Posted on Saturday, May 12, 2001 - 8:32 am:

I don't think that hormonal imbalances would explain the heat, pain, unilateral swelling and ulceration on the udder. sounds like a mastitis to me. Best would be to discontinue your current treatment, clean the udder with mild antibacterial soaps rinse very well and after a 72 your rest culture any exudate and biopsy a fresh blister or ulcer.

After that I would return to systemic antibiotics, both the pen and TMPSMZ have limited efficacy against gram negatives, consider adding gentocin on top of one or the other, and good local wound care (see Equine Diseases: Skin Diseases: Wounds: First Aid, Care, and Proud Flesh). Elizabeth is right, DMSO can be irritating and with constant exposure horses and humans have developed contact allergies to Furacin (nitrofurazone).

Once these samples are returned you may have a better idea what you are dealing with. You should also quit giving the bute IM it is very irritatiing and can cause abscessation. Oral or IV is best.

If all else fails consider having the mammmary gland removed.
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