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Discussion on 363 days and no udder development
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Member:
Anneburk
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 25, 2003 - 1:16 pm:
Well, finally I've made it to the right forum. My apologies for any misplaced postings I have made. Here is my situation.
It is now day 363 and my 20 year old mare is showing no signs of delivering her foal. Despite her age she is in excellent condition and has had two previous foals with no difficulty whatsoever.
Her first foal was two weeks overdue and the second right on schedule (whatever that means) according to her previous owner.
Here is my concern. At day 363 she has minimal bag development on one side and little to no development on the other. She has a large abdomen, a normal temperature, and a voracious appetite. The mare does not appear ill. During the past week she has been mildly uncomfortable, particularly at night. She has a lot of gas and although she is up and down a lot trying to relieve gas pressure, she does not appear stressed or in pain. In addition, although it is currently 10 degrees Farenheit with snow on the ground, she is shedding profusely. This may be because of lights, however, I discontinued white lights two weeks ago and am leaving on two red heat lamps at night for light for me and heat if the foal is delivered.
There is a good chance that she has eaten fescue pasture up until the winter freeze and hay with fescue throughout the gestation due to my ignorance on the subject.
My vet and I are very concerned about fescue toxicity. I have been feeding pure alfalfa for the past three weeks amd I have immunoserum on hand if she delivers with no lactation.
The vet says ultrasound would not be helpful at this point but is coming this afternoon to do a rectal examination to check for malpresentation and viability of the fetus.
The vet is reluctant to use drugs to start lactation because he fears the hormone stimulation might induce delivery of an immature foal. He would prefer to wait until the foal is born, supplementing it until lactation can be stimulated.
In addition, the mare came to me five years ago with a supposed history of hypothyriodism. At the time she was receiving the thyroid supplement but after two tests, normal thyroid levels were present and the supplement was discontinued about 4 years ago. Twice annual testing has resulted in normal thyroid levels ever since.
This is what I consider to be the mare's relevant history. I am a first time mom and I am getting near panic. This mare's previous two foals were both world champions, and I would do about anything to keep her from suffering and save both her and what will be her last foal. I realize that at this point everything could still be o-kay but I would like to be prepared or do anything I can to avoid problems. My questions are; Should I have my hay tested for the endophyte fungus? Is there anyway of knowing if we're dealing with fescue toxicosis? Is there any safe way to determine the current status of the fetus? When or should I consider moving the mare to an appropriate equine hospital? (I'm quite close to Purdue and within 4 hours of Reud and Riddle in Lexington.)
Please let me know any thoughts you have on this dilemma. Again, sorry for the postings in the wrong places.
Anne
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 25, 2003 - 11:11 pm:
What medication is he considering using and if it is domperidone, I know of no work to suggest it may induce a premature delivery. I presume we are off fescue now?
DrO
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Tuesday, Feb 25, 2003 - 10:41 am:
Anne, i had a maiden mare a while back, she went 363 days till she finally foaled out...she did have some swelling but not near as much as other mares i have foaled out.... my vet at the time told me to be patient, he was one that did not want to interfer with ''mother nature''... when she did foal all was fine and her milk came in all at the same time....
interesting enough the next foal of hers, was exactly 363 days too.. but with more tit development...
won't be long now...
Ann
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Member:
Anneburk
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Posted on Thursday, Feb 27, 2003 - 11:35 am:
It is day 365 and we have been off fescue for three weeks. The rectal examination revealed two moving legs in position but he could not reach the head indicating, I hope, that she's just not quite ready yet. Additionally, a check of the cervix showed absolutely no loosening or dialation yet. I'm feeling a lot better now and at the lunch check today her bag development seemed to be evening up and increasing.
Ann - Thanks for the encouraging words. I really needed them today.
Dr. Oglesby - Thank you for the reply. Close inspection of the hay has revealed definite fescue but not a lot.
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