I'm worried...

[slantedhorse]

My pony mare looks like she's getting close to foaling. Her tail head has been relaxed for several days - jello on the sides and flatter croup. She is fairly still now - just hangs out in her small paddock with almost no grass (this is the first year I have locked her off the field as fescue has crept into it). She is bagged up and her teats are full, too. I milked her and it's fairly opaque with maybe a hint of yellow - on the spa strips, she tests at least 250 calcium but pH is still somewhere between 7.8 and 8.4. I started taking her temp this am.

Her foaling date is 6/7/08. She was two weeks early last year. Will I make it to the critical 320 days? I'm calling the vet on Monday ... but at this point, is there anything they can do? Any chance I'm just worrying for nothing?

[junebug84]

If it's any consolation, my mare has been stuck in the exact same spot for 2 weeks, and is just now actually going somewhere on the spa strips (6.2 pH and 500ppm calcium).
I did have a mini mare foal a completely healthy and perfect filly at 307 days.
Any chance her breeding dates were messed up?

[wildREDhorse]

That's still a fairly basic pH... Not sure if there is anything you can do, but take a deep breath. I don't think you can tell her to cross her legs :) Sounds like she is keeping herself quiet and calm, and I'd probably just maintain that atmosphere until the vet can assess.

[ahf]

This mare is at 299 days. Way too early. Yes - there are things that can be done if the vet can determine that she has placentitis. SMZ's, regumate, and in some cases, use of cortico-steriods to speed up the development of the fetus.

If this were me, and I have a mare currently at 299 days, it would be a red flag, freak-out situation.

[Altamont Sport Horses]

Any sign of discharge? That would definitely warrant a vet exam.

I've had mares that look like this at this point and go a long time before foaling still. Their back ends just keep getting softer and more jell-O-ish until it looks like their back end might rest on their hocks. I've noticed this earlier transition with subsequent foals.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I think I read somewhere that at least one mare regressed back on her calcium levels. The pH is nothing to be alarmed about.

About the lack of movement. It's getting warm out and the mares heavy in foal feel hot and crappy. Can't blame them for wanting to conserve their energy. But by all means if you are really concerned then have the vet examine her. I've got no problem calling the vet and am happy to pay if nothing than my peace of mind. I singlehandedly paid for my vet's new broodmare barn. ;):lol:

[slantedhorse]

She agrees...we're really early! Her actual cover dates we're confirmed at 6/23 and 6/25 so we're at 309 as of today. My vet ultrasounded and found the foal to be active and of good size (I think that was based on her nose and eye sizes). She cultured her and didn't find any signs of infection based on the cytology. She gave her ventipulmin to keep her from having the foal based on being stimulated by the exam and started her on regumate. I bet that's like At this point, there seems to be no reason why she's trying to foal 3 weeks early - she just is, I guess. We're hoping to get 10 extra days but betting she goes tomorrow night.

So - I'm on foal watch...the worst possible week on my career to just not show up. No way to do what I need to do from home. Oh, well. Maybe I should just call in and say I have a horrendous flu bug. I had put in for a week off but, of course, we're three weeks early so it doesn't help. What do other people do?

I think we're going in the next 12-24 hours as I just saw a couple of drips on milk on one side. I forgot to take the evening temp so I can't tell if it was lower than the am. Last night, the calcium was over 250 maybe like 400-500 and the pH dropped to below 6.8. I'm hoping this won't be tragic. I've got my camera running so it's fairly easy but I hope I don't fall asleep!)

Anyone know where I can get oxygen or at least the tank fittings (regulator/flow meter/tubing)? My vet's thinking it may need some oxygen. She must have recently bought the tank but not the other pieces. She said if I could get the regulator and tubing, I could use the tank. I tried tonight at the pharmacy in Leesburg without any luck. I thought about calling the oxygen tank rental places and just try to rent the whole thing for an elderly relative coming into town. If the foal waits until tomorrow, I'll have a little time.

[kookicat]

Jingles! Any update?

[slantedhorse]

Momma is cool as a cucumber..... You'd never know.

I have a little wax on one side and I'm very tired. All nighters are for college kids!

[Jessi P]

Slanted, perhaps you could try a medical supply company? The kind that delivers supplies to older folks at home? They would probably know specifically what you would need to go with the tank. And I would specifically ask if they take a discount for cash - most places that bill insurance companies will take less to be paid up front. Just a suggestion. :)

[slantedhorse]

When I talked to my vet earlier today, she thought she could just get one at Leesburg Pharmacy - they do all her compounding and whatnot. As it turns out, you cannot get that kind of stuff from them (I tried). So I made some calls and called the vet back as it was hard to determine what I needed to get as far as the right size fittings. She ordered one from Roberts Oxygen and it won't be here until tomorrow. (Yikes). But, it sounded like they could take one off the small animal tank if needed. I hope we get what we need when we need it as I am already stressed out.
I sent hubby to get heat lamps just in case. It's going to be cold tonight! The vet says the baby can wear an old sweatshirt - I have the perfect one...hardly worn, mom gave it to me. ;-)

An extra update at 3am as it looks like I didn't save this post earlier. I've been mostly watching from the wireless camera which is quite comfortable for me though it means that my mare gets her light left on. It is OK with the aisle light but much better with a stall light. One year we bought infrared bulbs - they were just OK as they didn't show enough detail for me. Anyway...I just came back from picking her stall and fixing her tail wrap for the 100th time. When I checked her udder, no wax and no dripping milk! She also hasn't exhibited the signs I expect like pacing around. She hardly lays down as it must be uncomfortable. So I think the regumate is working - that would be super news. If we could get another week out of it, we'd be soooo much better off. (Of course, I'm going to need extra mare stare eyes - I'm beat and there's only so much we can do). Poor hubby. I'm glad the vet came out two days ago. If the mare holds it, that could potentially eliminate a lot of problems.

I hope I can stay awake for another couple of hours when my barn help will be at the barn - maybe I can take a nap.

JuneBug - Did your mare foal yet?

Jessi - you are so right about insurance. My husband sought out a TMJ specialist; arrived at his appt and told the front desk he wasn't covered. That nice doctor saw him for 3 in depth appts for $25 each.

[Windswept Stable]

Jingles Slanted.
We had a 6 wk early pony foal last spring. The filly did ok.
It was a little difficult at the start--to get her to find milk and latch on--but after that hurdle all seemed well.

Hope all goes well.

[quicksilverponies]

Hope all is going well so far. I had a foal born a whole month early this year - mare was only half bagged up, and she wasn't a maiden. Luckily the foal was fine and is growing like a weed. Good luck - I am still watching 2:).

[slantedhorse]

I didn't know of many that went that early. That's really good to know.

I think the regumate is working and we may get some time. I am concerned since she lost her plug that it's a potential source of infection. Her udder has reverted in size and isn't nearly as full so maybe we have a few days now? I've made the decision to go to work today (boss called - "where are you?"). I've had three nights of no sleep and scanty work hours. The gal that lives in my barn apartment has the day off and will be studying so she'll watch the camera. She's a vet tech at the horse hospital so I am lucky to have her. Though she has never offered to do any vet type stuff for me before I know she knows what to do and who to call. (I'm sure she's worried about liability). I just need her eyes and fingers to make a call.

I'd better hit the road!

[slantedhorse]

It's a boy. Everything I could want. bay 3 socks and a huge blaze. adorable. will probably grey but we'll get some super cute pics now!

He was born at 313 days - 30 days earlier than his technical due date and about 20 days earlier than I expected him. He is stronger than all the others we've had. A super nurser and hardly lays down! I have to lay him down every couple of hours if he just stands there. The up & down thing is troublesome for him. A little smaller than my other foals but not outside the norm of pony foals. The foal vet checked OK. She took blood - but he didn't need anything special. The vet needs to come back tonight to do the IgG.

I swear that mare didn't look that ready this am so I out her on the grassy field for a 2 hour turnout while I drove the 4yr old to the pony trainer 40 mins away. I was almost there when my hubby called..."She's having it". A string of expletives followed from my side. I did the dump and run with the poor green pony on the trailer. The vet was the same distance away but she beat me there. Hubby got to be the hero and pull the sac off his face. It all worked out OK. Vet smiled as she left me the oxygen tank, just in case I needed it. I laughed and said I was sorry for calling every day to see if they had it setup.

All is well. But, I don't want another this early next year.

[rideagoldenpony]

Whew!!! Glad he's here safe and sound! Congratulations!!!

[Silly Mommy]

Just an FYI about "due Dates" - they don't exist!:lol::lol::lol:

IIRC, ponies cook faster and 320 isn't too worrisome.

I have a Paint mare that had 2 pony foals and then 3 TBx babies --- all 5 between 320-323 --- all fully cooked and actually more mature looking than the ones that baked for 330-340 days.

[Windswept Stable]

Glad all is well. Congrats.