Lost a Beautiful Filly This Morning

[Little Wolf Ranch]

I was really hoping I was going to be able to share the good news of a bouncing new foal here at JNK Ranch but such is not God's will. Born early this morning via an unsuccessful red bag delivery from my maiden mare "Dillard's HHH Close Enough To Perfect" aka Missy by my stallion "Josiah One" aka Sampson is our angel filly who we named Rain who was exactly what I had asked for - a beautiful blue eyed sorrel tovero with lovely markings. We did CPR for 20 minutes with no luck, it just wasn't meant to be. Rain was normal sized and was 298 to 329 days gestation.

What I am MOST upset about is I wasn't watching her on "high alert" because she was testing 10% and very heavy in the non-foaling range. Her milk was very sticky and golden last night but I didn't trust my gut. I don't believe I will ever be using test strips again and I'll just be watching signs and testing milk "the old fashioned way". I'll never go against my guts again.

Momma is who I am now worried about. She is up and down a good bit and she is still bleeding vaginally a good bit. She acts like she is wanting to pee but instead a watery bloody substance comes out - vet thinks it is placental blood still being pushed out? She is eager to eat grass and is eating grain normally.

This was my only foal due this season, hopefully she will be waiting for me on the other side one day.

Pictures to come.

 

[Joanne]

I am so sorry. It is so sad when it is your only one as there is not another to look forward to.

We all have been there with all the tests and clever ways to "know" when they will foal.

Once they start having sticky colostrum things can change within hours. I have often felt just like you. Why bother with the test when you are not going to leave them anyway.

This is especially true from when you tuck them in at night until the morning. So many hours for things to change on them.

Heartbreaking. Again, I am sorry for your loss.

 

[Genie]

First I would like to extend our deepest sympathy. Very sad and sickening at the same time. So many sad stories this year. This has been our very worst year ever, in 20 years.

Did you give oxytocin? Sometimes when they are pushing they feel there is something there to expel but rather the uterus is prolapsing.

Don't give too much oxytocin as it can be more like "slamming the uterus closed" rather than slowing closing it. (that was what our vet said)Closing it too fast is very painful.

If you didn't have a vet out then I would call the vet and describe the mare's actions.

She may need some banamine (powdered flunixen) and I would also be dosing for 2 weeks with septra or some kind of antibiotic.

 

[Jill]

I am so sorry!!!

You probably should call the vet about your mare's urine, but to offer some reassurance, last year we had a mare who'd recently foaled and she was also peeing what I thought was probably blood. However, the vet told me it was ________ (can't remember the term) and it was normal. She was expressing fluid out of her uterus, at least I think that's the explanation I was given.

Again, I am so very sorry

 

[Shortpig]

I'm so sorry for your loss and I hope your mare will be fine.

What an awful year this has been for so many breeders. Yes someday you will meet up with your filly at the rainbow bridge. What a blessed day that will be.

I pray next year will be better for everyone.

Marie

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

I'm so very sorry for you loss and praying you mare will be just fine once she's past the truama of the birth. Hugs to you all.

I don't have any explanation for what your mare is doing but follow your instincts and also stay in contact with your vet. I've not personally had one act that way and I have had redbags but they all can be different.

I would like to know and you can PM me if you wish, but what brand of strips were you using? And also I would like to know if you'd check the expiration date and see if it's past. And lastly, do you keep your strips whole or do you cut them down the middle to make the bottle of strips last twice as long. The reason I'm asking these questions is that I use the strips and have found them to be very reliable with the exception of one mare. She tested 10% at 11pm (clear to the eye and not sticky at all) and had foaled by 8am. Fortunately I'd been given a head's up about this mare and knew the strips may not work on her. Also, I have some questions about the "life" of the strips (actually think it's longer than the expiration date but wanting to do more research) and I have a theory that touching the strips makes them less reliable so that is why I'm asking about cutting them. Some people do and I worry that is going to diminish the quality of the results.

Again, sorry for your loss.

 

[Little Wolf Ranch]

Hey guys. . .

Yes I have given her Banamine to help with the pain but no I have not given any Oxytocin. Called the vet and he said to keep an eye on her as she may be expelling extra fluids and blood from the birth but to keep an eye on her.

I used Mother Nature's milk test strips on her and yes I did cut them down the middle to make them last longer. They were brand spankin new as I got them in on March 26th from the company.

I have the vet on call and I am watching her closely and praying that she's just expelling extra fluids.

 

[minie812]

I am sorry for the loss of your filly. I just go by gut instinct and my foaling camera and signs from my mares. When they start sweating I know it is within hours for sure. Course with other signs too. Maidens are so hard to predict.

 

[Reble]

So sorry for your loss, hope the mare settles down and

is Ok, keep us updated...

 

[albahurst]

Katie-

I am so sorry, too,for the loss of your foal.

I guess I would suggest you get the mare flushed. My equine specialist flushes uses a special 'concoction' (not just the sterile saline), which he learned from a top US vet who deals with hundreds of embryo transplant mares every year. If you would like to know the details for your vet, you can pm me.

Again- sorry for you loss. I share your sadness.

Peggy

 

[targetsmom]

I am so sorry for your loss. Please don't beat your self over "what ifs" but try to learn all you can from this. From my very limited experience, I feel that there are some situations where there is nothing that can be done to save the foal.

 

[Little Wolf Ranch]

UPDATE:

Missy is still up and doing good and she is perky. Talked to the vet and we are going to get her started on some antiobiotics and he says that he would like to flush her during her foal heat since it was an easy delivery besides losing the foal.

I am going to be taking her outside to graze and hopefully she will perk up but she acts as if she knows the foal didn't make it. No nickering, etc. and she is very calm so please keep me and her in your prayers and thoughts!

 

[little lady]

I feel your pain. So sorry. Cyber ((hugs)).

 

[Make A Wish Miniatures]

I am sorry that you lost the foal There are so may bad outcomes this year. I think more than usual. I don't bother with using the strips anymore , I had some mares that foaled when the strips said they would n't and others that hung on days after they showed ready to foal. I use the foalert system and cameras. I check my bags twice a day and watch for changes in my mare's behavior. The foalert is my back up and often I am watching the mare before the alarm goes off usually because of sticky glue like colostrum. Once again I am sorry .It is extra hard to lose your only foal.

 

[bannerminis]

That is so sad

Very sorry for the loss of your little one

 

[sedeh]

I'm so sorry you lost the foal!

I hope the mare is doing better. I don't use the test strips anymore either. By the time they say the mare is ready to go I'm already watching them like a hawk because of other signs. Always trust your gut!

 

[Mona]

I am so sorry for your I hope your mare will be OK.

 

[Doobie]

So sorry for you loss...

I guess God wanted a pretty filly in his field to watch.

 

[spindleberry]

aww Im sorry for your loss.

 

[Little Wolf Ranch]

Just wanted to update that Missy has stopped her vaginal bleeding and that she is eating and drinking well. Vet is positive that she is doing good and seems to be comfortable. I got the go ahead to go ahead and breed her in May with the other girls as she is still in really good condition and didn't have a difficult delivery.

We are coping with the loss with dreaming of next years to-be babies. Hopefully we will have better luck next year.