Need Advice on Possible Placentitis??

[dbaygirl]

I just happened to mention that my mare is bagging up kind of early and my friend said that I better call the vet ASAP as she may have Placentitis!! Now I'm really worried. I'm calling my vet first thing in the morning. My mare is at Day 313 today, foal will be viable at Day 320, next week Wednesday. Due date is July 3rd, which would be 342 days. Her udder is very puffed out and her croup seems to be changing already. This is way too soon! I noticed this two days ago. I always check her udder and vulva every single morning and night. There is no vaginal discharge that I can see. I read that mares can bag up 3 to 6 weeks before foaling, which would make it alright really...as she is about 4 weeks away from her due date. This is her 4th foal. She is 18 years old and has ALWAYS had wonderfully problem free births.

SHOULD I BE WORRIED? In the past, if I can remember correctly, she would bag up a couple weeks before foaling and actually the 2nd foal did not bag up much until right at the birth. That was worrisome too.

Please tell me your experiences and from what I'm reporting, what do you think? Apparently, from reading tonight on the net, the vet can ultrasound and if necessary use drugs to clear it up, if that is what's going on.

Help....

[misita]

I have never had to deal with Placentitis so hopefully someone much more experienced with that will come on here with good advice.

I did want to mention that I have 3 mares all due between July1st-3rd and they're all bagging up already. They all look fabulous to me. Most of my mares do start bagging up about 4 weeks prior to delivery.

[Dressage_Diva333]

I had a mare foal at 320 days, started notcing changes around day 305.

Perfectly healthy, rather large filly :D

[dbaygirl]

OH YOU GUYS, THANKS! I think I'm already getting into "jittery mode". It seems different with every foal, except for the foaling day, of course, when everything goes tickety-boo...if you know what I mean. This is a fabo broodmare in every respect. I just don't remember her bagging up this early, except for the first one. She was drizzling all over her legs for a couple weeks. I'm sure she's just fine. But I will call the vet, just in case. I'm not one to call her for every little thing. A good sign, foal was rockin' tonight, so I know he's okay. ...or she.

I am so glad to hear that your mares are bagging now and expecting the same day as mine. Thank you for that info. AND foaling at Day 320, that is GREAT! I've never had that happen. I've only had 4 foals, I mean my mare has had them, not me. You'd think I was having them. I feel her every mood and twinge of discomfort. She's been with me since she was four years old...through thick and thin, thus the worrying...

I think I can sleep now. Thanks again.

Worrywort...

[amdfarm]

Not dealt w/ placentitis either, but I can understand your worry for your special mare.

My mares and my friends mares have bagged up as early as 6 weeks prior to foaling, but most go about a month before. All have gone generally w/in that 340 mark give or take. I had a mare wax for 6 weeks and she drove me crazy. Had another mare foal on July 2nd last year and she carried for 403 days!! I was expecting an early May baby... silly me.

Hang in there. Good luck!

[Cosette]

One of my mares had placentitis this year and unfortunately it was a very sad ending. But, she started bagging up and was dripping milk at day 278, *much* earlier than your mare. I did want to say that 320 is not always the magic number, my mare foaled out on day 320 and the foal was premature and dismature and very sadly did not make it. We had her on banmine, tucoprim, regumate and pentoxyfiline (sp?). You can confirm placentitis by measuring the thickness of the placenta with an ultrasound, but I think it usually shows symptoms between days 280 and 300 - so again your mare is further along. Good luck and I hope all is normal!

[Dunamis]

If you are worried, I would have the vet out for a look-see, or at least call and see what they say. Everything is probably just fine, but if it is placentitis, there are ways to "help". I, myself, have not experienced it either, but my friend's mare bagged up early this year (maiden) and we worried about placentitis. Vet came out and checked...all was fine. The foal was born quite premature, almost four weeks, but he did pull through. He is what they call a "dummy foal", or, in big terms, neonatal maladjustment syndrome. Definitely a rough start for the little guy, but BOY OH BOY is he going to be something! Sire is Freestyle:) He already floats when he moves!

http://www.windnwoodfarm.com/news/news.htm

Good luck, and keep us posted!!

[Hillside H Ranch]

At 313 days, I wouldn't worry if she has just started bagging up. The "normal" foaling range is 320 days to 370 days so perhaps she is just going to go in the earlier part of that range. My mares often start having udder changes between 4 and 6 weeks from foaling.

[avezan]

I had a mare foal at 317 days this year. She started bagging up about 3 weeks earlier than normal, but everything else was fine. She foaled a VERY LARGE filly who was fully mature. But all of my mares routinely bag up 3 weeks before their "due" date. It sounds like you are fine. :)

[Fairview Horse Center]

My mares all begin to develop a bag around day 300 (or a bit earlier).

[Home Again Farm]

My mares also all begin to bag up around day 300 and will have a decent bag by 315 days. I would not be concerned.

I find it very useful to keep charts on every mare's pregnancy, noting when they start to develop an udder, how and when the body changes, milk test results, changes in attitude, appetite, etc. These charts help tremendously in predicting foaling and in noticing changes that may not be normal for any of them.

[twistoffate]

I have a similar question for all you more experienced breeders. I have a maiden mare, she's 232 days and I noticed yesterday that the tissue of her udder appears thicker. I don't know if it would be considered "bagging up" but now I'm nervous. She had a VERY small udder and it just looks different. Should I be concerned??? I called the vet's office and the tech said she's seen them waxing 2 months before delivery and I shouldn't worry.... :confused:

[Home Again Farm]

Twistoffate,

That tech is full of baloney. I'd be very concerned at 232 days with any significant change in an udder. The only one I ever had turned out to be undiagnosed twins. I'd insist on speaking directly with the vet. An ultrasound can show if the placenta is thickened and it can be treated. Good luck!

[kmp2707]

My mare is at day 296 today and has been showing some small changes for the last week. We had her caslicks opened up yesterday and are getting private paddock ready for her in the next day or so.

[Cindy's Warmbloods]

I have to agree that the 320 is not always the "magic number". I was dealing with a placentitis case this year as well and thought I was in the clear when my mare carried until 326 days. Unfortunately the foal was dysmature and did not make it either (was actually born dead but had been alive a few days earlier). It was heartbreaking as it was the cremello filly I had so dreamed of...
That being said there are many foals born much earlier that have no problems and are strong and healthy. Keeping my fingers crossed yours is of them!

[Hillside H Ranch]

I have a similar question for all you more experienced breeders. I have a maiden mare, she's 232 days and I noticed yesterday that the tissue of her udder appears thicker. I don't know if it would be considered "bagging up" but now I'm nervous. She had a VERY small udder and it just looks different. Should I be concerned??? I called the vet's office and the tech said she's seen them waxing 2 months before delivery and I shouldn't worry.... :confused:

This is B.S. You should either speak with a vet, or another practice. 232 days is way too early to have udder changes and could be a sign that something is very wrong. An ultrasound may be in order.

[Fairview Horse Center]

Udder changes before 300 will always get my interest. Before 280 I would have it checked, and bewteen 280 and 300 I would watch them closely to see any further change, and the speed of progression.

There is wax, and there is WAX. Mares can have a clear, yellowish type secretion any time during their pregnancy (or before). That is not WAX, but it is tiny pieces of a waxy udder secretion. That is normal. Then they get "prewax" which is what they get a week or 2 before the WAX. It is still clearish, but you may be able to peel off a small amount as a piece. WAX is opaque, whiteish, and looks more like a droplet that has dried.

[twistoffate]

Just to clarify in my issue.... She has no wax, is producing no milk.....the tissue above her udder just appears "thicker." Before she just had 2 teets basically hanging from the skin of her belly....if that makes sense?? I don't know that I would consider it bagging up at all but then again...after I saw this thread it got me to wondering.....

I don't have a vet that a would trust to diagnose placentitis :( but I will call again tomorrow and make an appointment just to check and see what he thinks.

[Fairview Horse Center]

The only way to diagnose placentitus is for an experienced vet to ultrasound the thickness and attachment/fluid in the placenta.

If you continue to watch her, and she does appear like she is building a bag, then I would find someone that is experienced at diagnosing.

Some mares can also have a bit of seasonal glandular activity, almost like alergies. We had an older mare that had never been bred, and she would look like she had a bag each spring.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

My mares all begin to develop a bag around day 300 (or a bit earlier).


Mine is a maiden but this is when she started...and now at 318 has a decent bag....didn't think I should be stressed and glad now that I'm not!!!

Twist...hope your mare is ok. Mine did start having some slight changes early in the morning well before 300 but big believe in it never hurts to have someone far more experienced then me take a look. The farm call price is worth it for a bit of piece of mind.

[dbaygirl]

Dear Breeders' Gang,

You guys are the best! I just got home and read all your posts. You have all been so helpful. I contacted my vet's office this morning and my vet is away for a few days, but her assistant was assuring me that all sounded normal to her. She has foals at home as well and is an experienced breeder. I checked my girl out this morning and tonight and she is ... as usual... the All Knowing One. Like, haven't I learned to let her handle this stuff yet? I just love this hormonal bliss period in a mare that is usually quite opinionated, Alpha and energetic. I must enjoy her unusual aura while I can. Anyways, her udder is beautifully filling out (notice how it is now beautiful compared to a signal of dire circumstances just 24 hours ago?) and her vulva is pink and clean and her croup is the same...and she is munching calmly on the delicacies provided tonight. I'm having trouble keeping weight on her topline this year, must be age setting in for the first time. Do you guys feed a lot of grain in the last month? It seems they slow down their eating process towards the end, takes forever to finish her grain, etc.

Thanks to ALL of your posts, I now realize that my mare is doing nothing out of the ordinary. I did keep journals, by the way, in the past,,,must dig them up out of my computer documents somewhere. I know what you mean about keeping track so you know what's normal and what's not.

I am also so sorry for you guys who lost premie babies. After all the blood, sweat and tears we put into breeding our horses, that has to be the worst disappointment...losing babies. I pray all your mares have healthy, magnificent babies this year...the ones that are left to foal this year that is...:-) Hope everyone is posting pictures on the Foals 2008 thread. I have yet to visit there.

This board is so helpful when I need advice and I'm amazed at how fast the responses come in, even late at night.

Take care Gang,
Jan

[twistoffate]

dbaygirl-so glad it sounds like things are on schedule...good luck with your foaling!

I took my mare to the vet today and he says what I'm seeing is edema and nothing to worry about :D Now I can hold off being a worried mom for a little longer :winkgrin:. He palpated her and felt 2 front legs and a head and it was moving around and he pulled some blood to check hormone levels. Hopefully it will be uneventful from here on out....yeah right! :)

[dbaygirl]

Thanks, Twistoffate. Good luck to you too! I have to give my mare her last shots before foaling...today. Her feet were trimmed up today. So! That's it, we just wait now.

Keep us posted when your mare foals. :-))

[Fairview Horse Center]

he pulled some blood to check hormone levels.

JFYI, a quote from the Equine Reproduction website:
"progesterone levels naturally drop to a base-line level by about day 210 of pregnancy"

So if he is testing for progesterone levels, and it comes back low, that would be normal. ;)

http://www.equine-reproduction.com/articles/Regumate.shtml