|
|
Discussion on Day 311 and no bag
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
Bystrom
|
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004 - 1:06 pm:
Hi:
Just waiting on my mare who is due on February 7th. Her 2 previous foals she's delivered on day 336, and bagged to where she was unable to walk it down 4 weeks before each delivery. This year....nothing. I did place a call into my vet to also ask these questions and see if he'd like to come out and examine her. "Classy" is her normal self......I'm seeing good movement of the foal when I observe her....her vitals are all within normal limits.....her appetite is great, as usual.
We live in NW Wisconsin. Feed a combination of alfalfa/grass mix hay, along with oats. To my knowledge, I've not known of anyone with any fescue type problems this far north, but is it out of the question? Are there any other ideas that come to mind other than fescue toxicity for a mare this far along in her pregnancy to not be developing a bag? Thanks for any input.
Lynn
|
Member:
Christos
|
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004 - 5:04 pm:
Dear Lynn,
I remember at least five mares that nobody could tell whether they were pregnant or not 2 weeks before delivery.
One of them delivered in her racetrack stall. Nobody in the track ever knew where that baby came from! She was raced five days before delivery.
All these girls gave normal birth to magnificent foals, not a hint of a problem.
|
Member:
Mrose
|
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004 - 5:30 pm:
It's quite common, really, for a mare to not bag up until immediately before foaling, or even until just after foaling ... then..bang-they have a full bag. Also, it's no uncommon for mares to be late, even one's who are normally "regular."
One of our old "standbys" regular as clock work normally, once went over a year before foaling, then had an enourmous, beautiful colt with no problems for either of them. My husband swore she was late purposfully so as to mess up a planned ski trip!
Take heart. There is no such thing as "normal" when it comes to a brood mare!
|
Member:
Christos
|
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004 - 5:39 pm:
Lynn, Sara,
If my memory does not trick me, pregnancy length depends more on the stallion than the mare.
|
Member:
Eoeo
|
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004 - 6:21 pm:
Diet and weather have more affect on gestation than the stallion. Once the mare is in foal, it is her baby, literally. Stallion might influence size of the colt somewhat but not how long gestation is. That is why it is call foal watch, you watch and you watch.  EO
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004 - 7:48 pm:
No it is not out of the question, if you are feeding fescue you need to stop now just to be sure.
DrO
|
Member:
Bystrom
|
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004 - 10:42 pm:
Thanks everyone, for you input. I appreciate it. When I spoke to my vet today, he felt too, that although Classy's been "predicatable" in the past, that this year, she's just letting me know she's the one in charge, and that mares cannot be predictable. He said he'd wait until day 320, and if still no bag, he could do an abdominal ultrasound, but so long as baby is active, and Classy is acting and eating normal, we'll just go into a waiting pattern.
As far as fescue...his feelings were that much of the hay up north here, is alfalfa and orchard grass. Who's to say that some tall fescue could have gotten into it, but he's said since he's "moved north", he hasn't run across a case of fescue toxicity.
Thank you again.
|
Member:
Mrose
|
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 14, 2004 - 12:05 am:
If I remember what I've read correctly, the fetus itself somehow controls when it is born. Tho' I personally think the mare makes the final decission. After being around brood mares a good part of my life there are a few things I've learned: you need the patience of Job, nerves of steel, and strong coffee; you can't out guess a broodmare; when you think you've got it down, you find you still have a lot to learn.
Good luck with your mare!
|
|
|
