*Overdue - Fescue... *Pygmy has arrived, NEW pics on 29, scroll dn*

[snickers]

She's playing with you.

Knows it will keep you up and checking on her.

Before you know it, a beautiful foal will be standing there looking at you when you go to peep out.

[muttduck]

Fireworks, (and screaming, drunk neighbors blaring radios and horns) were only enough to set her into a panic.

She paced from dusk until midnight, with me watching over her, and calming her down... only to have another driveby set her off again.

Once the pacing stopped, she took a stand on the far end of the dry lot, and slept standing the rest of the night.

[jtfer1968]

Poor thing.

[cameo05]

Wow this mare is having a rough time and I know you are too. Hopefully a safe delivery soon for all involved. I am glad she came through the fireworks in good shape.

[livinthedream]

Aw, poor mama, one good thing about where we live is we have no neighbors, and no where near big city...so it was very quiet here for us, Now the race is on...whos gonna go first..

[GreenMeadow Farm, OH]

First let me say that I'm an optimist I will hope for you that this is just a matter of not knowing the breeding date. I wanted to share my story with you, and I hope it don't send you into a panic. This was a worst case scenario and I've never heard nor seen another story like this so KNOW that it is probably just one of those rare events.

I had a very bad experience with a fescue foal. I got the call at 3 am in the morning that one of our mares had went into labor. I rushed to the barn as I lived 15 minutes away from my employer. When I arrived I found a horse in severe distress. As with most fescue poisonings, the foal was big and I mean BIG. It was in the proper birthing position so that much was a relief. The hooves expelled just as they should've, but along the way the foal's shoulders became lodged. This mare was in agony. We tried to allow nature to work out its own kinks but it was obvious we had to intervene.

The mare was in such a panic that she stood up and started dragging the foal's expelled portion along the stall wall to help deliver it. Believe me it was the most frightening thing i ever went through. we just could not get her to stop, it was like she didn't even know we were there, so we waited for her to stop on her own. At one point i can remember putting myself between her and the wall to protect the foals legs from being broken...yeah it may of been stupid and it hurt, but i just couldnt bare the thought of her going thru this only to lose the foal later.

She eventually wore herself out and laid back down, but I knew she was going into shock by this point and was no longer labor "gazing" (thats what i call it when the horse goes into that trance state during delivery). When she did i had my co worker sit on her neck to keep her down. I was able to manipulate the shoulders and with a gentle tug the foal slid out. At this point i was thanking god the mare didn't want to move because this was the critical moment when the foal would recieve it's last amount of blood from momma through the umbilical. The foal was near dead from the stress of the birth. It didn't move and when it took in a breath it was like a forced whisper weezing sound. I started toweling like hell, sucked the amnio fluid out of its nose and used a piece of straw up its nose to stimulate breathing (works well btw). I slapped on its chest to loosen any fluid that might be in there and put a hand held hair dryer on him. Soon he was breathing fine and tried to sit up. This was encouraging and for the first time i looked at him. I was astounded... his legs were almost the same length as his mother's! We watched for about 45 minutes form the side...he tried and tried to get up but those legs were just too long for him to use. We supported him but he kept trying to suck on us instead of his mother. Even when we successfully placed her teat in his mouth he would turn to suck at the inside of her leg, etc. (FYI FOR GOOD HOPES: Most fescue poisoning mares do not produce much milk...our mare had little to no milk and her teats never engorged normally. YOUR mare has milk and is engorging so that is GREAT news!) We bottlefed colostrum, and for the first 24 hrs we were hopeful. He still couldnt get up on his own but once he was up he did walk. 48 hours went by and he was looking bright-eyed but he never did attempt to go to his mother. She talked to him and nudged him, such a good momma, but he never responded to her like a foal should've (by this point we knew he was most likely a dummy foal). I came into the barn for his 2 hour feeding sometime the next morning and he was gone. Literally he had passed away in a two hr window.

I know that nature takes its course and for good reason. I accept that reality. But there is always a part of me that feels guilty for working so hard to save the lil guys life only to have him pass away a few days later. Kinda one of those "i just prolonged his suffering" kinda feelins.

Anyways, yes fescue poisoning can be very dangerous. I consider us lucky that momma is healthy and we didnt lose her too. The amiotic sac (after inspection) did infact have the dreaded "red star" and it was also torn. We figure the dummy foal came from lack of oxygen while in the birth canal and the immense stress before delivery. I don't wish this kinda thing on no one and I truly hope you're momma and foal coem thru with flying colors.

Since lack of milk production is a HUGE symptom of fescue poisoning, I have good feelings about your foal. Most horse ppl will agree that mares tend to have babies when they know your back is turned lol....Relax and take a break and you will most likely get a surprise!

Best wishes and God Bless you for your unending patience.
MJ

[muttduck]

*sigh* no baby last night.

Now on Day 28, Tube 6 of Domperidone.
As of today, we are now going to try the Domperidone every other day, per the vet.

[Druydess]

Good luck Muttduck; we're pulling for you,..and her!

[candy4legs]

Waiting with you, MuttDuck...hope to hear good news soon...

[Clippity-Clop]

Good grief! What an ordeal for all of you. I am hoping you have a foal very soon. I have heard from more than one source that palpating is not all that accurate for estimated foaling date. Hang in there and best wishes for a healthy delivery for mom and foal.

[Rafflesgirl]

Gee do me a favor everyone and when and if I ever breed a mare again and have any issues don't put all the horror stories on here. How depressing. I think most horse people know there are horror stories. It is sorta like being pregnant yourself for the first time and all the people who tell you their horror story deliveries. Wow.

[livinthedream]

Im right behind you.....hes has put her to 2 times daily , as of this afternoon...she has tons of milk now...and will not stop scratching her bum, on anything, including me....I check here everyday.....I hope if she goes tonight , all is well...

[TDH]

Originally Posted by Rafflesgirl

Gee do me a favor everyone and when and if I ever breed a mare again and have any issues don't put all the horror stories on here. How depressing. I think most horse people know there are horror stories. It is sorta like being pregnant yourself for the first time and all the people who tell you their horror story deliveries. Wow.

A horror story is when one tells it for the sensationalism.

All I've read here is toned for informational purposes... and if you're taking on breeding a horse, you'd better know about all these horror stories to prepare yourself for the in-case situations.

Same for people, come to think of it.

Best wishes, hoping for nothing but good news, Muttduck.....

[muttduck]

Originally Posted by Rafflesgirl

Gee do me a favor everyone and when and if I ever breed a mare again and have any issues don't put all the horror stories on here. How depressing. I think most horse people know there are horror stories. It is sorta like being pregnant yourself for the first time and all the people who tell you their horror story deliveries. Wow.

I asked for everyone's experiences... knowing negative would be in the mix - especially since it's a "negative" situation to start with, thanks to an ill educated "breeder", and my easy to pull heart strings...

I have prepared (as best as one can be) for mispresentation, still born, dummy foal, red bag, shoulder lock, and even twinning. Read and studied the "what ifs" and "how to best helps". Have all the most important numbers in speed dial.

Hearing the stories here, while sad and disheartening, at the very least help keep me prepared, and make sure that I can be as best educated, should the worst case scenarios happen.

The worst cases are never what anyone wants to hear. But for an owner of a pregnant mare to be as prepared as possible, they are sometimes important reminders.

[beth55051]

Still sending good thoughts for a safe foaling.

[snickers]

Now its a race to see which mare will go first. The big girl or the lil girl.

Prayers that both will have an easy foaling and foal will be healthy.

[muttduck]

Still no baby here.

I do wish she'd put me out of my misery soon.

[tuffsmom]

Sending many prayers for a healthy delivery.

[livinthedream]

I have to say on the horror, stories, there to me is no horror, worse than waiting, 11 or 12...or in my case 13 months and loosing foal and or both...mama.....I want to hear all the stories I can , personally...you learn from others, and there is NO one here that is perfect and knows it ALL....but having horse's you learn something new everyday.....I feel myself, like Im in a night mare ( get it) right now....Wheres my baby;;;;

If you Breed ...You read.....about everything

[cameo05]

Wow I sure am sending prayers for your girl and the baby that both are safe and healthy. I hope she goes soon.