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  Discussion on Exposed intestines on newborn
Author Message
Member:
gr8care

Posted on Sunday, Apr 5, 2009 - 12:44 pm:

Okay... it's been a few days, so I think I have my emotions back under control and can manage to tackle the questions.

We had a beautiful filly arrive Thursday morning. Everything went completely normal. We try to not intrude too much on a mare and fresh foal--and this is one of the 'new' mares (mentioned in previous discussion about the black mare and daughter duo with the skin problem upon arrival). About an hour after birth, the filly's intestines became exposed through her navel. It was as if the navel just turned inside out. The more the filly moved, the more intestines came out!

Long story, short: We put the filly down. Even in the cleanest environment, the "clean" bedding was in the tiny rolls of what should have been internal. Knowing the complications of colic surgery--even in a sterile environment--we (okay, me) felt it was the best thing to do.

Now, more questions keep running through my head--was this a situation where there was a weakness in the lining of the abdominal cavity (hernia) that ruptured? The mare didn't step on the foal. I inspected the boundary of the navel and it was completely intact and normal, other than being larger--considerably larger--than normal. Is this a hereditary situation? Potentially possible to reoccur in future foals? Is this just a normal, but rare, complication?

It's always tough to lose one, but this is bothering me more than normal.

Anyone have experience with this? I tried looking through previous posts and articles, but didn't find anything. If I missed something, please send me that direction.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Sunday, Apr 5, 2009 - 4:18 pm:

I'm so sorry about your foal, Grace. It's so difficult to loose a foal when they are so cute and seem to have so much potential ahead of them.I've been lucky and never had an experience with this type of thing, but it sounds to me like you did the right thing. Thanks for posting your questions. I'll be interested to hear what Dr.O has to say.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Sunday, Apr 5, 2009 - 5:48 pm:

What a disappointing surprise, Grace, and I am very sorry to hear that you had this experience.

I have heard of such things in human babies and in such cases, of course, surgery is a necessity.

It will be interesting to see what Dr. O has to say in answer to your questions.
Member:
jjrichar

Posted on Sunday, Apr 5, 2009 - 9:16 pm:

Awww how awful. I am so sorry, Grace. It is horrible to have that happen and then to have to make that difficult decision, but I really believe you made the right one. *big hugs* My sympathies.

I will ask my mom if she has ever had this happen. I know she has a few pretty bad and usually fatal, deformities in foals over the years, but I can't recall her having anything like this. I do recall a couple of pretty bad umbilical hernias that hung pretty far down that had to be corrected w surgery. I would imagine this would be a similar thing, only in a very severe way with the skin in the navel area never closing. I am curious what Dr. O will say too. You have brought up some very good questions.
Member:
erika

Posted on Sunday, Apr 5, 2009 - 9:46 pm:

Grace, I am so sorry for your loss. As your user name says (gr8care), I'm sure you gave her the best care you could. How sad.
Member:
ekaufman

Posted on Sunday, Apr 5, 2009 - 11:50 pm:

Very sorry to hear about your filly Grace. I don't know anything about the condition, but would surely have made the same difficult choice under the circumstances.
Member:
gr8care

Posted on Monday, Apr 6, 2009 - 12:20 am:

Thanks to everyone for the support. I'm a real sucker for all those whiskers, long legs, and tiny little hooves wearing fresh "satin slippers."

When I noticed what was going on, and made the difficult decision, I stayed with the filly to keep her quiet and from getting up (for obvious reasons!). She had a lot of grit and determination which made the decision so painful, but she relaxed--and gave the vet a big, "hey, how are you" whinny. THAT was hard to swallow.

Thanks again for all the kind words.
Member:
canter

Posted on Monday, Apr 6, 2009 - 7:18 am:

I'm very sorry, Grace, at the loss of your little one. Tough decision to make, but no doubt the right, most humane one.

I hope DrO can provide some insight for you.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Apr 6, 2009 - 8:49 am:

My condolences Grace,
I remain a little uncertain as to what happened and if you feel up to answering a few questions maybe we can clear this up and try to answer your questions. Was there a umbilical hernial sack that the intestines were pushed out into or was there a complete rupture at the umbilicus that allowed the intestines to be pushed out? What did you mean by the boundary was normal? Either case certainly indicates a imperfectly formed abdominal wall and I would not consider this a heritable genetic defect from only one incidence and no history of it.
DrO
Member:
jjrichar

Posted on Monday, Apr 6, 2009 - 9:40 am:

Awww at the big whinny. Absolutely heartbreaking. Once again my sympathies.

"I'm a real sucker for all those whiskers, long legs, and tiny little hooves wearing fresh "satin slippers." -That right there is the reason my mom has WAY too many horses... we all love the foals and when she raises them, they usually have a home for life. LOL
Member:
hollyw

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 7, 2009 - 8:34 am:

Grace, I know how tough it is to wait almost a year for a new foal and then have it end in tragedy. I had a mare that delivered twins, once . . . stillborn. At the time, I didn't understand WHY?, but when I look back, I can see that there was a reason. I hope you and the mare will find comfort in one another.
Member:
jjrichar

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 7, 2009 - 11:15 am:

Grace, I forgot to ask... how is your mare coping? Is she fretting or is she taking it ok?

Something you might consider, if you are willing and able, is to ask around for a farm that has an orphan and maybe offer your mare (depending on her temperament) as a nurse mare. Just an idea that might help ease the pain for both of you. My mom has had several mares that 'adopted' orphans. It always seems to bring a little good out of a terrible tragedy.

Thoughts with you.
Member:
gr8care

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 7, 2009 - 1:23 pm:

Hi all,

Thanks again for the condolences.

DrO, I'm not sure I can answer your question entirely. Everything appeared normal at first. There was a normal umbilical cord that was normally severed and hanging. Then, the next thing was a bulge that developed into a "link of sausages" (the bulge may or may not have been hernia; may or may not have been actual intestines protruding from the already enlarged open navel??) The more the foal tried to stand and move, more intestines became external. Yet, there was still a normal looking umbilical cord in addition to the intestines.

When I referred to the opening being normal, I just meant that there was no evidence of a laceration that caused the enlarged opening. Don't laugh, but my best analogy is that it just looked like a person's open, puckered lip. Don't laugh, I just can't think of a better description.

How about...our vet castrated one of her colt's with a couple of ours several years ago. About 30 minutes after getting back on his feet and standing, his intestines started to DrOp out. This filly's situation reminded me very much of that. In fact, that colt was immediately laid down and "repaired" but later died from complications. That experience was the main reason I put this filly down when I saw the exposed intestines.

I can answer any questions, now. I just want to make certain that we understand the circumstances, if any, that caused this.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 8, 2009 - 8:22 am:

Grace it sounds like there was a hole or tear in the edge of the umbilicus. So the next questions is whether this was a congenital defect, traumatic defect, or some combination of both. Your description suggests more of a congenital defect to me. Note that a congenital defect is not the same thing as a inherited genetic defect. DrO
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