Broodmare going through colic surgery... Jingles needed

[Faiths CremelloWB]

My beloved broodmare, White Gold, was colicky yesterday and to make a long story short she ended up at the hospital and going through colic surgery. They found she was twisted and displaced so it was a good thing the decision was made quick to go the surgery route. Because we caught it quickly there was no need to take out any of the colon. She is doing good today and passed a bunch of manure over the night.

Now for Part II... She was in foal when I took her there and the vets said she would have a 20% chance of losing the foal. I told them to start her on regumate (10cc 2x a day), which they have. A broodmare I purchased a few years ago has had colic surgery and she went onto have 3 more foals since the surgery. So I know it can have a positive outcome.

Would love to hear stories where someone had a broodmare go through colic surgery and maintained the pregnancy. How was the foal when it was born? I have never had a horse go through colic surgery before and any advice or stories would be appreciated. How long until the mare is back on *normal* turnout...

Of course, White Gold is going to have a long road to a full recovery now, which will include stall rest.

Part III to the story. White Gold had a, not quite, two month old foal by her side. We left the foal at home so it would not complicate matters at the hospital. The foal (Lukas) was left alone for the day and when I got home we took a stall wall down and put a 2x10 across it. He is now allowed to go into his dams best friends stall (Princess Vera). Vera is so sweet and kind. She would walk around a fly if she could see it. Anyway the orphaned colt (Lukas) is being fostered by Vera. Vera also has a 2.5 month old colt by her side. Today I held Vera 3 times and she let the orphaned colt nurse. YAY. She will not let him nurse on her own but will as long as I stand there. She shares hay with both foals and both foals followed her around the paddock this morning. So it looks great that they will become a new family while White Gold goes down the road to recovery.

So my question then becomes (maybe should be a different thread) what or how should I up the mares feed who now has two growing foals nursing off her. I want her milk production to increase, if that is possible. She is a BIG mare and if anything I would consider her on the fat side. So her condition is not an issue in the least.

[genevieveg17]

Jingles for your mare and a huge hug to Vera for being so kind.

First part of the question - I have had a mare colic and require surgery. She was 9 mos along and delivered a lovely healthy filly at 345 days. She was bred back and has had 4 foals since her episode with no further colic problems.

As for Vera = can you give her Calf Manna? I have used it for years to increase milk production with fabulous results.

Good luck, jingles and hugs.

[Fred]

sending lots of jingles for your mare and foal(s) and lots of pats for that good mare Vera.

One concern I might have is that the foal might not be able to nurse often enough (are you holding the mare for him to nurse throughout the night?)
Perhaps you could also introduce him to milk replacer, either by bottle or bucket, so that he has a 'back up system' in place, to ensure that he is getting enough, and has another option.

GOOD LUCK!!

[Derby Lyn Farms]

I don't have any advice as I have never been in the situation. But I wish you the best of luck with your mare! I hope everything turns out well.
I have actually heard from some tb farms that the hops in the beer helps to increase milk. This was also suggested to a friend of mine who just had a human baby. Not sure if it is safe for horses, but it was doctor recomended for humans.

[Pony Fixer]

I owned a crossbred gelding named "Kryptonite"--so named because the broodmare had colic surgery while pregnant with him. I think they gave a 60% chance of surviving. Clearly, he did, and the breeder decided he was "stronger than Superman"...

Good luck!

[Home Again Farm]

Jingling like mad for your mare!!!

[ElegantExpressionsFarm]

I have use to work at a farm where there was a mare who had required not one but THREE seperate colic surgeries by the time she was 8 or 9 I believe...she went on to have 3 foals that I know of after that before being sold (she was 12 or 13 then) ...she delivered perfectly healthy and textbook everytime!! ...so it can be done!! Best of luck...my fingers will be crossed for you!!

[siegi b.]

I've had two mares that required colic surgery while they had a foal by their side and both times I sent the foal with them. I think it's much easier on the mare because the first thing they look for when they come out of anesthesia is their foal and some of them get very anxious if they don't see them.

Eight years ago one of my mares had to have 27 feet of her small intestine removed and she is now 17 years old and has a foal by her side.

Good luck!

[VirginiaBred]

Prayers & good wishes for your mare!

[Sakura Hill Farm]

Best wishes for your mare! and her baby, of course!

[Rhyadawn]

Prayers for your mare!!!

[florida foxhunter]

Best of luck to you all.

I, too, had a mare have colic surgery THREE WEEKS before foaling a HUGE foal (my love, Debonair who is now 17.2 hands). She then foaled him at home with the stitches still in........and both survived well (although I could have died from the nervous breakdown it just about caused me) . She did go on to have one more foal and again displaced her colon, and had to have colic surgery a second time (just after foaling that time)....so I retired her from breeding and she's now a lady's love and dressage horse in VA!!!

[Faiths CremelloWB]

seigi b. That is incredible... 27 feet removed!

Florida Foxhunter; 3 weeks prior to foaling with all that weight on her belly.

ElegantExpressionsFarml 3 surgeries and still three more foals.

These mares deserve some awards or something. And here I am freaking out over my mare having one colic surgery and only being 2 months along. I can not even begin to imagine this happening when she is a few weeks away from delivery. I would have had all white hair by the time it was all over.

Thanks so much for the stories, it does make me feel better about our situation.

No update on White Gold this evening, so I assume all is going well at the hospital. I should hear from them in the morning. The colt (Lukas) is doing quite well. He ate some foal pellets tonight and got to nurse a few more times. I have done a page up for him with photos of him with his auntie and big brother (though not related). Then below those photos are some of Lukas and White Gold taken a couple days prior to her getting sick... and the bottom is one of White Gold in the hospital a couple hours prior to surgery. http://www.blazingcoloursfarm.com/lukas.html (http://www.blazingcoloursfarm.com/lukas.html)

Thanks so much for all the prayers and jingles. Both White Gold and foal seem to be on the road to recovery but we all know too well anything can turn for the worse at a moments notice. So I am praying for the best and hope White Gold can return home by the weekend.

For a horse who just had colic surgery how long would be the *norm* that they are on stall rest?

[Dressage_Diva333]

I knew a mare that had colic surgery at about 30 days into her pregnacy. She carried to term and foaled with no problems :yes:

As far as stall rest, I've never had a colic surgery (knock on wood), but I had had an castration eviscoration, which is somewhat the same concept. Several feet of intestine had to be removed. He was on complete stall rest for a month, then gradual handwalking began. I believe it was about 3 months before he could be turned out again?


Sending jingles for a continued recovery!

[Faiths CremelloWB]

As far as stall rest, I've never had a colic surgery (knock on wood), but I had had an castration eviscoration, which is somewhat the same concept. Several feet of intestine had to be removed. He was on complete stall rest for a month, then gradual handwalking began. I believe it was about 3 months before he could be turned out again?


Sending jingles for a continued recovery!

Thanks! That is sort of what I thought. I am sure the vets will go over it all with me but just wanted to have an idea. I am quite sure that her colt will not be returned to her for this reason. I do not want the colt being on stall rest for 1-2 months. That would not be good for him and would be sure to drive his mom bannana's! Glad he is being taken on by his moms best friend.

[TKR]

Jingling and wishing the best for your mare and her foal. Huge hugs and kudos to his foster mom -- what a wonderful mare!
PennyG

[Commander Cody]

My mare had colic surgery for a nephrosplenic entrapment when she was 7 months pregnant. She was a huge Percheron mare, which I am sure complicated things a bit, at least for the surgeons. She did great, had a perfectly normal foal and went on to have many more after that with no issues. Good luck and wishing you the best possible outcome!

[TrueColours]

Good luck with her. I hope that she pulls through okay, the foal she is carrying is just fine as well and her kid from this year adjusts to his rather abrupt and early weaning ...

[can't re-]

Jingles!!!! I had a mare recover from colic surgery and foal a healthy foal. She was 4 months pregnant when she had surgery.

[ticofuzzy]

Last year I had a mare have colic surgery 20 hours post foaling due to an entrapment. They had to open up her intestines, but did not have to remove any. She did not have any complications and it was 3 months before she could go on normal turnout. We hand grazed her multiple times/ day so her colt could run around, but she was not supposed to move freely until the suture line was completely healed with no soft spots in it. The vets were very adamant about this since she was a broodmare and lots of stress would be placed on her abdomen. They wanted to make sure that everything was completely healed and strong so she did not herniate in the future. She did have one slightly soft spot (right near where her umbilicus would have been) that would NOT go away and I finally gave up and turned her out for the sake of her colt and it just eventually went away over the course of about 8 months. I'm glad I didn't keep her on stall rest until it was perfect!
We did not breed her back last year because she was SO SKINNY due to lactating and not being able to eat normally for a while (my vet hospital was VERY conservative about letting me increase her feed after that - they said they'd rather see her skinny than risk colicing again...).
She has not had any further problems and is now in foal to Rousseau for 2010. I am crossing my fingers for no problems......
Good luck in your case. Jingling for your mare.

PS - I once weaned a foal at 2 months old because her mother was SO mean to her. I put her in with another mare/foal and gave her milk pellets & grain. The other mare eventually let her nurse about 80% of the time she tried and she did perfectly fine.

[Rhyadawn]

any updates???

[Faiths CremelloWB]

Thanks Ticosfuzzy and Cant-re for sharing the stories.

Ah well it was all going too smoothly. :(

I got a call yesterday from the vet hospital saying that White Gold would be ready to come home Sunday. I arranged for a trailer ride home (thanks so much PennyLane) as my truck is back at the dealership for a 3rd time in a week and the Ford Focas I have as a loaner is useless! And then this morning I got a call from the vet saying that she was not ready to come home anymore. White Gold had a bit of a fever and then a few hours later they checked again and the fever went down. So the vet wants to keep her there for another 24 hours to make sure it does not go back up. And also to keep a close eye on the incision to make sure it stays clean and dry. I am told from day 5-7 after surgery, is when one would see an infection start if it was going to. And the spike in her temperature is just enough for the vet to want to take another 24 hours to monitor her. So I am praying that it stays down and she might be able to come home tomorrow or perhaps Tuesday. If the temperature goes back up then her incision may start to ooze at which point it may need to be opened and drained.

Little Lukas is doing well at home. He is allowed to nurse most of the time now. He really looks up to his older brother (though not related). He follows him when is it play time with the other foals. When the older brother thinks it is time for a nap, Lukas goes down right beside him for some zzz's. Vera drinks a lot of water so every time she make a trip to the water trough in the field both foals go along with her for a drink too. He eats his pellets too. So that is still going well. Love auntie Vera.
Need some positive thoughts for White Gold...

[aurum]

Terrible story, I cannot stand any more horror stories right now! I wish you tons of luck and a speedy recovery for the mare!!!

[crestline]

Hope your mare heals up quick despite the bump in the road...

Several years ago we grafted an orphan onto a mare with a foal. We got him drinking milk replacer (he was younger) and then switched over the milk pellets to supplement. We made a little creep feeder in the corner for the foals to creep feed some of the pellets as we figured both would not be getting quite enough milk. We watched them close and both grew up fabulous...and mare did great. We fed her a ton of hay (mostly tim and a little alf) and added a bunch of senior feed for extra calories.

If your autie mare is already doing that well then it sounds like they'll be a happy family until weaning...

Good luck with your mare!

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

Jingles from NJ.

[Faiths CremelloWB]

Thanks, thanks... Got the call this morning and we are given the green light to go pick her up again. The fever was from a reaction to the IV, I am told. So nothing to do with the tummy stitches. I am relieved :) Heading out now to go meet PennyLane who is going to ship her home for me. Wish us luck...

crestline... One thing this mare does not need is calories. ;) She is a BIG girl. We have upped her calories though and I pray it goes to the milk and not to her body condition. I will try to get photos this evening of them and when White Gold returns home.

I will be soooo happy to put this past week behind us.

[Home Again Farm]

Sending jingles for a safe trip home and full recovery!

[Faiths CremelloWB]

Honey (White Gold) is doing very well. And I am super happy to report that she is still pregnant!! Had my vet out this afternoon to check three mares and all are still preggo. Oooo, I am so darn happy!!!

Putting off the preg check was tough as I *really* wanted to know. But the vet said if she was going to lose it, it would be 1-2 weeks after the surgery. So we waited and she is still going strong. Yipeee!

Took her for a walk this evening (as I always do) and this was the first time she had some beans. Did a few hops, a little squeal, her tail in the air and a couple snorts. It was so nice to see her do something other than be her quiet, calm self walking beside me. Must have been because she found out she was still preggers, so she was happy too!

She has been healing up well. The stitch came out and her incision has healed fabulously. She still has about 2 more weeks of stall rest with daily hand-walking, then slow introduction back to turnout.

Oh and her colt Lukas is doing well, though looks a bit rough compared to the other foals. Just not really shedding out, though he is a few weeks younger than the other foals. He still lives with Vera and her colt. He comes running over to his own stall (12x14) that is attached to Vera's (12x20) stall in the am/pm for his own grain. He eats a foal pellet mixed with Milk pellets as well.

This whole ordeal has been was quite tough on everyone here. We are so thankful that it has turned out the way it has.

[Rhyadawn]

so happy to hear this :)

I'm still jingling for her and her baby

[florida foxhunter]

So glad everything is working out for you and your girl!!!

[Dressage_Diva333]

Whoo! Great news, congrats!

Sending jingles that she continue's to heal without any drawbacks :yes: