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Mare infection! I need help asap!Update: Mare is fine! baby too.

21K views 96 replies 33 participants last post by  Back2Horseback 
#1 ·
K so my mare just had her baby on Friday. I wasn't there for the birth. Well, I was checking both mama and baby and I am 98% sure mama has an infection because she didn't expel all of her placenta. Vet clinic is closed, and I can't afford to call him over. We have oxytocin in the fridge at the stable for emergencies, however it is frozen. I will be giving it to her tomorrow morning, but I need help and info first.

1. How many cc's should I give her? I'm guessing she weighs about 850-100 lbs
2. What size needle should I use?
3. Should I give it in her butt or neck? Or neither? Does it matter?
4. What should I be looking for?

Please help because I am freaking out. My dad sold my pickup from under me so it takes a while to arrange transport to the vet. Using the oxytocin is my first option, and if it doesn't work I will take her to the vet. But I don't know much about it, or the whole birth thing in general. Please help because I have no clue what to do. I work at a hospital, so I know what an infection looks and smells like, also there are two other people at the stable who looked at her and do agree that she is starting to get an infection. Hunny takes shots well, so I am not worried about that, I'm just worried about what to look for. How do I know if she got it out? Thanks help is appreciated a lot :)
 
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#4 ·
Vet...ASAP.

If she isn't seen, she could die, and so can baby.

Side Note: Can the infection spread into the milk of mom and pass into foal?
 
#7 ·
She doesn't have a fever at this point, she is acting normal and energetic, and I do not have the vets number, not to mention the transportation to get her to the vet at this time. One of the ladies I spoke to has foaled out a lot of mares and I trust her opinion. I am calling the vet as soon as they open tomorrow to arrange an appointment, but since calling them is pointless at this point in time because all I will get is an answering machine, I have to wait. It is going to be to cold tonight to give her oxytocin for fear of her getting too sweaty and cold and developing pneumonia. The barn is not insulated so sticking her in there only protects from the elements, not the temperature. All I can do at this point in time is either wait, or give her the oxytocin and see if it helps. The ladies at the stable that used to work at a breeding ranch agree that yes, she didn't pass all of it, but they do think that using the oxytocin first may get it out. Either way I'm calling the vet, but if there is a chance of her passing it before getting her to the vet for a for sure check I am going to try it.

Edit: the stable doesn't have a chute for the vet to do a house call, unless we used the vet clinic next door and I do not think they would be super happy about that.
 
#9 ·
They are not equine, the only large animal they treat is cows. All they do for horses is coggins test and shots, but they really are as helpful as going to a small animal vet when it comes to horse care. The main problem is the time, the fact that my paycheck isn't here til Friday, and I don't have the vet's on call number. The people at the stable who deal with horse birth frequently are sure that oxytocin will get it out, so for the sake of the fact that I am going to try everything, she is getting it tomorrow. So back to my questions, How much do I give her, and what size needle? I have school from 8am-1pm tomorrow with no breaks in-between, and I am not just letting her sit that time without something maybe happening. So I am giving it to her tomorrow, I just have questions about it. Telling me to take her to the vet isn't really helping at this point, I know she needs to go to the vet and she will go, but I can't skip school without getting my butt handed to me on a silver platter by my academic advisor, my mother, and my teachers. If she gets it out with the oxytocin good for her, but she is still going to the vet regardless.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
So back to my questions, How much do I give her, and what size needle?
NONE of us are a VET and therefore we do not know.

You need a VET, not a horse breeder, not a friend, not a neighbor, not a barn owner, not a mortal enemy, A VET!!!

Don't know the number? GOOGLE IT! Don't have a chute, well woop de do, neither do I and the only time my Vet said I *had* to have one was when I wanted a wild cow treated. No transportation? No problem, Vets make house calls!

If your Vet doesn't do emergencies, get on the internet and find one that does. Not having the number of a Vet that is available 24hrs is highly irresponsible for a regular horse owner, downright INSANE for an owner of a bred mare.
 
#10 ·
I hope you realize that vets normally (especially in an emergency) don't expect you to pay NOW! They treat your horse and send the bill. It's your choice either call the vet or be prepared to quite possibly lose your horse altogether.
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#12 ·
Maybe the people at the barn that are experienced in horse's foaling will be able to help you with the correct dosage?

Doesn't someone at the barn have the on-call number to a vet so you can at least get advice from a professional if the oxytocin will even work or if you'll cause an unnecessary reaction that may create more problems then actually be beneficial?

Are you going to give it to her tomorrow after school or before school? If it's before school, is someone there to watch her to make sure she is going to be okay since you can't skip?
 
#14 ·
Maybe the people at the barn that are experienced in horse's foaling will be able to help you with the correct dosage?

Doesn't someone at the barn have the on-call number to a vet so you can at least get advice from a professional if the oxytocin will even work or if you'll cause an unnecessary reaction that may create more problems then actually be beneficial?

Are you going to give it to her tomorrow after school or before school? If it's before school, is someone there to watch her to make sure she is going to be okay since you can't skip?
That was my question exactly. I am sorry OP, but it is not like this was something that happened overnight. Your mare was bred and pregnant for a while. I am of the opinion that people who own horses should have a plan, a relationship with a vet, and the $$ to help them in case of emergency.

I am beyond frustrated with people who have wonderful mares who are bred, and then have no $$ to care for them. Probably because there are at least 2 on here tonite.

OP-it is extremely frustrating to sit on this end of a computer, hear people calling for help and feel totally helpless, especially when you know it is an emergency and the horse needs a vet. You cannot tell me that you just realized after clinic hours that this was a possibility. You should have called the vet DURING hours and let him know what was going on and asked HIM what to do for the night.
 
#15 ·
Yeahh delfina I didn't know she was bred until 7 weeks before she had the baby. It is not irresponsibility, it was a seller that said she couldn't have been bred. I didn't want this baby, I don't need this baby, and am now suffering the consequences of an ignorant person. Please don't call me insane or ignorant, it is impolite, rude, mean, and if you are going to sit at your computer and type yell at me please just stop talking to me. It would be greatly appreciated.

Yes, CLaPorter, someone would be there to watch her. Unfortunately, no one has the vet number besides the office number. We only have one horse vet in our area that is good and trusted.

Please don't attack me, I am doing my best at this point.
 
#16 · (Edited by Moderator)
I just dont get it I really dont. If emergencies like this could be done online Vets would never leave home. Don't have money for vet call or even a number handy incase of emergencies such as this is down right foolish and iresponsible horse owner. If you were not there for the birth of the foal and felt that some of the after birth was left behind and its been a week. why didnt you call the vet sooner then a week later.
Well I hope the mare will be okay and the foal. Good luck.
TRR
 
#17 ·
If you didn't know the mare was bred then you DEFINITELY should have had a vet out within hours of the foals birth to check the mare an foal since neither received proper prenatal care. A vet would have checked for incomplete afterbirth at that time.
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#21 ·
Called the vet told him everything, he said we will get her in tomorrow for a flush to check, and if things are going wrong she will get antibiotics.

lol franknbeans that made me chuckle.

But she is getting in tomorrow and when I explained to him what it looked like he said that it may be just her normal discharge still, but we will check anyways.
 
#22 ·
Ok first why do you think she retained her placenta? Second do you have any penicillin, if so give her 1 cc per 100 lbs in the neck or thigh. make sure you pull the plunger out some to make sure there is no blood coming into the syringe if there is move the needle if you get penicillin in the vein she will die. I use 18 gauge needles 1 1/2 inches long. Horses do have discharge after foaling.
 
#41 ·
Ok first why do you think she retained her placenta? Second do you have any penicillin, if so give her 1 cc per 100 lbs in the neck or thigh. make sure you pull the plunger out some to make sure there is no blood coming into the syringe if there is move the needle if you get penicillin in the vein she will die. I use 18 gauge needles 1 1/2 inches long. Horses do have discharge after foaling.
That is the NOT dosage calculation PenG.

Until the vet has confirmed an infection, do not give the mare anything. There are two lives to consider at this point - mare and foal.
 
#24 · (Edited)
cmarie I am just worried because her discharge was barely noticeable and all of a sudden it is gooey and red/orange and has an odd smell to it. I work at a hospital so I know the nasty infection smell, it isn't that bad, but it is slightly there which is why I am worried. The vet said that it is probably just her discharge, but he is getting her in to check anyways.

Edit: i will check for penicillin. That is the first thing I thought of and said to people when I saw it. I will check for a needle and syringe, because we almost always have penicillin on hand, but needles and syringes I do not know about our stock at the stable. An 18g is big enough for a horse?! ...wow haha ok I will check!
 
#26 ·
I'm always scared I'm going to hit something in the neck so I usually shoot for the hind end. We don't have any needles there that are stable owned, only needles that are labeled. I will have to update my emergency meds kit by adding needles and syringes of all shapes and sizes.

Since the vet said it is probably just more discharge I am not as worried and freaking out as I was. I won't give her the oxytocin tomorrow morning, since he said to just wait til I get her in there in the afternoon. She was fine when I drove down to check out the needles, syringe, and penicillin situation. She wanted more food actually...typical isn't it? I checked her temp again and it was normal, so no worries there. I checked her vulva region and wiped it off with a clean, warm water paper towel. It was the good paper towels that are like washcloth usefulness so no worries about little flakes of paper around her hoo-ha. I gave her some hay to nibble at and let her and her baby be for the night. I'll be out there in less then 8 hours to feed tomorrow morning. I need sleep now, morning is going to hit in 5 and a half hours and tomorrow is not going to be a short day...

Thank you cmarie for help. I don't know what normal discharge is supposed to look like...so for all I know it could be normal, and she could just still be sore. Why is this birthing thing so dang complicated? Is it really that difficult for a seller to say "oh hey I'm pretty sure she is pregnant so you should monitor her or I will have her checked to get a positive answer or not." This whole baby debacle is ridiculous.
 
#27 ·
I would not be giving shots to the mare without checking with the vet, even antibiotics can have effects on the foal through the blood stream. Diagnosing over the internet and suggesting penicillan for a nursing mare is probably not the best idea, especially if the vet did not suggest antibiotics until he looks at her. You do not want to give antibiotics that will pass into the milk if at all possible, remember, everything that you give the mare goes to the baby.
As far as the oxytocin, it will make the uterus contract, however, if it is closed, then the uterus will rupture from the oxyitocin.... Plus, if the contractions get bad, the mare might roll and do damage to herself or her foal
 
#28 ·
K so my mare just had her baby on Friday. I wasn't there for the birth. Well, I was checking both mama and baby and I am 98% sure mama has an infection because she didn't expel all of her placenta.

Using the oxytocin is my first option, and if it doesn't work I will take her to the vet. But I don't know much about it, or the whole birth thing in general. I work at a hospital, so I know what an infection looks and smells like."
Hello...I appreciate how stressful and difficult the situation you are in is...I know literally next to nothing regarding equine maternity care. But, working as an RN in labor & delivery for humans x 6+ of my 15 year career, I know a LOT about that subject and some info MAY (?) be similar...

For example, if there IS even a tiny retained placental fragment, that is an immediate life threatening emergency for human women. However, the absolute hallmark of such is a lot of bleeding. The fragment essentially prevents the uterus from properly "clamping down", or contracting, upon itself. This is human physiology of course, however, I believe IF THERE WERE RETAINED PLACENTA, the mare would probably have bled quite a lot...(anyone?).

My gut feeling/possible guess? A beginning infection related to a non-placental retention issue. Of course no LESS THREATNING TO HER LIFE, but genuinely not an Oxytocin-type treatable situation, since ALL that Oxy does is cause intense contraction of the uterus = expulsion of a foal or separation & then expulsion of an intact placenta in stage 4 of labor. Oxy is not used to expel placental FRAGMENTS in humans, as the ONLY WAY TO REMOVE THEM is a curtage (scraping), after a VERY CAREFUL INITIAL PALPATION of the inner uterine wall, BY THE MD, to find the fragment, to then release the errant piece of placenta.

Infection post-partum is extremely common in humans and is life threatning. From your description, infection seems highly likely in your mare, and God willing, she is not yet so infected as to have caused her to become febrile, so hopefully the vet can discern what exactly is going on in the morning and treat her.

She is not cold, temp wise, correct? Too low a temp CAN BE at times much more dangerous and thus worse than a fever, as it can point to shock. Thus, is her temp NORMAL?

Is she eating and drinking and moving about normally? What is her interest level in caring for her foal at this time, as all are good indicators of where she now is, health-wise.

Though obviously I know I likely did nothing to help you out with the ACTUAL situation, I DO REALLY HOPE I "may" have been able to offer SOME piece of mind, or things to think on while waiting to see the vet tomorrow?

I wish you the absolute most luck possible, and will pray for your mare and foal and for you tonight. Take care of yourself so you can be there for mom and baby...
 
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