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  Discussion on TRANQUILIZING PREGNANT MARE RESULTS IN DEATH
Author Message
New Member:
cheetah

Posted on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 - 12:29 pm:

I had a 20 yr. old 8 months pregnant mare who died after being tranquilized to float her teeth. This was my first experience floating my horses teeth. I didn't know until after he did my stud and I asked him if it would traumatize her or the foal. He said "It shouldn't. It might put the baby to sleep". If I had know before the appointment drugs her going to be used I would have waited on her. He injected it in her vein she backed up and he did it again. She fussed a little but we got it down and went to the next horse. I was watching her was was wandering with her head down. Looked like colicking. She had just ate all her food and drank was perfectly fine right before this. Then I noticed a watery discharge coming from her vagina. She lied down. He checked her heart rate. It was normal. He gave her Banamine and Dipyoul(?)can't read his writing very well. He did a rectal The fetus was deep in the abdomen. He then gave her Tarb(?) And Ace. Tried to hook up an IV but she died. He does NOT know why! This all happened in a matter of about 15 minutes. I am devastated.
Member:
annes

Posted on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 - 2:09 pm:

Stephanie, I am so sorry for the sudden loss of your mare. It is such a tragic loss. I hope you can find some answers as to how/why this happened. Please know that many here on this board will be grieving with you as we know the pain of losing a dear equine friend. Take care and I am thinking of you.
Member:
dres

Posted on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 - 3:12 pm:

WOW, how awful.. how sad.. what a loss.. so sorry for all of this..

On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
New Member:
pattyb

Posted on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 - 3:54 pm:

I am new here but I would like to extend a cyber hug to you Stephanie....I went thru something similar with a cat about 2 years ago. The vet sent me home with him, he died from anaphalactic shock on the way back to the vet 30 minutes later. I'm so sorry..................

((((((((((Stephanie))))))))))
Member:
leslie1

Posted on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 - 4:17 pm:

<hugs>
Leslie
Member:
jowidner

Posted on Thursday, Nov 20, 2008 - 6:22 pm:

Stephanie, I'm so sorry to read of your sudden and tragic loss. Hopefully Dr. O may be able to shed some light on what might have gone wrong. In the meantime, another cyber hug is on its way to you.

Jo Ann
Member:
imogen

Posted on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 - 4:00 am:

Hi Stephanie

This won't be much comfort to you but... I use a specialist horse veterinary practice here in Ireland and we never float my broodmare's teeth when she is in foal for this reason - they tell me there is no suitable sedative which is safe for pregnant mares.

Additionally all horse owners should be made aware by their vets of the small but present risk of any horse dying from a reaction to a sedative although most drugs these days are a lot safer than those used in the past.

I am about to wean my mare's foal this week and as she is not in foal this year she'll now get her teeth done.

My sympathy for your loss. Perhaps Dr O can tell us a bit more about sedatives and in-foal mares, but that is my understanding.

Best wishes

Imogen
Member:
canter

Posted on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 - 7:24 am:

Very sorry for your loss, Stephanie.

Fran
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 - 7:43 am:

Welcome Stephanie and I am so sorry to meet you over such a sad occurrence. From your post there are several possibilities as to what happened and I cannot differentiate them from the information provided. Knowing exactly what drugs were used and the exact dosage given, and the route they were given, might make this clearer however. Has your veterinarian offered an explanation?

Concerning sedatives and pregnancy it is the same as with every treatment paradigm: does the risk out-way the benefit? And it must be remembered that safe is always a relative term as we are never completely safe. I do feel there are sedative regimens that have a low incidence of complications during pregnancy but I agree completely with the notion that sedating for a routine floating during pregnancy is a unnecessary risk.
DrO
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 - 1:33 pm:

How heartbreaking, Stephanie.

I am so sorry about your loss.
Member:
erika

Posted on Friday, Nov 21, 2008 - 10:15 pm:

Well, how sad for your double loss of the mare and foal. I hope you find answers, and I hope that time brings you peace.
Erika
Member:
lilo

Posted on Saturday, Nov 22, 2008 - 8:15 pm:

Dear Stephanie, my deepest condolences. I have a friend who lost her 23 year old gelding due to a reaction to the tranquilizer that was used when working on his teeth. The tranquilizer was Dormosedan, which is normally considered very safe.

She had a necropsy done on the horse, but it did not really tell her anything.

I am very sorry about you loss,
Lilo
New Member:
cheetah

Posted on Sunday, Nov 23, 2008 - 1:05 pm:

Thank you all so much for your messages. I hope that this helps someone else. Dr.O, My Vet has no explanation. Several friends have called him and asked for a professional answer. He just doesn't know what happened. He says he would do the same thing over again. I really don't believe that. I would never do it again. Had I known prior to the appointment that she would be tranquilized I would have had time to decide not to let him do that. I was concerned and did ask after he floated my studs teeth. I kick myself everyday for not being informed. I trusted his advice. I would like to know if the Vets insurance covers a mishap like this. Now that I have mourned I am getting to the upset stage. I know this is normal and I know he did not do this on purpose. Because these are Thoroughbred Race horses and a business of breeding and training alot of money was spent. Not that means they are worth more then any other horses. But do they have any responsibility for this?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Nov 24, 2008 - 8:43 am:

It depends on the treatment and procedures used Stephanie. If they were routine and the horse had a idiosyncratic reaction the veterinarian would have no liability. If on the other hand the treatment was inappropriate then it is possible there is a liability issue.
DrO
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