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Christine Holmes Bukowski
Member
Username: Canyon28
Post Number: 30
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 1:27 pm: |   |
Hi, I am writing to gain some insight on why my maiden AQHA mare lost her foal this morning. It was about 6 months along, weighed about 10 pounds. She was current on all shots, including rhino.
the fetus appeared to have been developing its intestines outside of its body, all of the afterbirth was right with the foal, it was still inside it, so I dont believe that its guts could have been pulled out by it being dragged or dangling out of the mare. The intestines were still inside the placenta, and were clean. the foal had not been stepped on. It was all in a nice neat little pile.
This mare had a still born foal last spring. It was full term ,but was suffocated being born or never breathed, even though I was right there and tried to resesitate it, it looked completely normal. This mare is only 4 years old, will be 5 in january. both foals were by different stallions.
Any insight? thank you, chris
www.canyonrimranch.net |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 9616
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, Dec 13, 2003 - 8:24 am: | |
The fetus was suffering from a severe developmental abnormality, died in the womb, and the mare aborted it. This type abnormality is usually not a genetic defect in the mare or stallion, just very bad luck. There are exceptions however.
There does not seem to be a relation between the two problems but after 2 nonsuccessful pregnancies I would guess that statistically the chance of getting a healthy foal from this mare are lower than a mare that had 2 healthy foals.
DrO |
Christine Holmes Bukowski
Member
Username: Canyon28
Post Number: 32
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, Dec 13, 2003 - 8:53 am: | |
Dr O, I hate to bring this up, but I started looking at my mares records and I had given this mare Her west nile shots in the window period between when she foaled and when she was bred, which was on foal heat. In fact, I checked the dates and the second shot was given when she would have been only a couple of weeks along. I know there has been a lot of controversy over these shots causing birth defects and abortions in pg mares. I dont want to add fuel to the fire, but that is the only thing out of the normal which could have happened to this mare.
Colorado was hard hit by the west nile virus last year, with many people and horses dying from it. I had not vacinated any of my horses until 2003. I am confident that the shot is what caused the problem and my vet thinks that it was just a coincedence that this same mare lost her foal. I have 5 or 6 foals every year, and this is only the second abortion in 7 years. My vet felt that most people never even find the fetus, especially if the mare is on pasture, and so there isnt much research that has been done. they just realize in the spring that the mare is open. I froze the fetus, just in case there is another abortion with one of the other 5 remaining pg mares. Then I will have autopsys done on both of them. I think this is only the second mare thatI vacinated while pg, the other mare absorbed at about 6 weeks, which we determined by US. I was able to vacinate the other mares because they were open or after foaling and didnt breed them back until after the second shot was given.
My vet feels that I should try again with this mare, if another attempt fails, she is very gentle and broke to ride and can become a riding horse again.thanks for your insight. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 9624
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Sunday, Dec 14, 2003 - 8:51 am: | |
Christine,
There is a tremendous body of knowledge that suggests WNV vaccine is relatively safe for pregnant mares, I am afraid folks were having problems like yours before the vaccine was created.
DrO |
