Rita's Loss
My findings show that the major organ development for the equine fetus is developed between days 24 to 160.
With the mare in this case she had been shipped several time and had not received proper worming, vaccinations nor proper diet during this time. She left the care of her owner around day 15 and arrived at Fulton's Crossing Ranch on or around day 175. When this mare arrived at Fulton's Crossing Ranch she was emaciated and lethargic. A ultra-sound was preformed and showed low fetal mobility and heart rate. At that time we were informed that the possibility of the mare self- aborting the foal is high and even if she was able to carry it to term she is high risk for fetal complication. Her diet was adjusted and weight was gained to a healthy and stable level.
At estimated day 284 the mare was palpated and received another ultrasound. At that time she had already started the process of a later term abortion. She was given Antibiotics and RegiMate to help slow down the hormone levels that were causing the premature foaling. Fetal movement was normal as well as fetal heart rate. Her progesterone levels were within the normal rage of 5.34
Day 295 (estimated), the mare foaled a 70lb colt with no optical organs and sealed eye lids. This colt also lacked proper coat and hoof development as well as proper lung function. The foal had "puppy dog" ears and showed every sign of a premature foal. Studies have shown that the average life term for a foal less that 320 days is 12 hours- 2 weeks in a qualified Equine ICU. With this foal being born in December and the average temperature being in the 20F the odds of this foal making it thru the night with "no coat" was rated below 10%.
This colt was euthanized after one hour.
Fulton's Crossing Ranch takes a STRONG stand on proper pre-natal care. From proper diet (including selenium, calcium, +12% protein based diet), proper vaccinations (full booster minimum 14 days prior to breeding & Rhino booster at months 5,7,9 months of gestation with a full booster again 45 days prior to due date), ultrasound and palpation check-ups (at 2 weeks, 9 weeks & 34 weeks). Worming is very important to overall mare health as well. A broodmare show be wormed every 2 months and them again 14 days before due date.
Equine Fetal Timeline
Text By: http://www.eagleridge-twh.com/fetus1.htm
Photos by: http://www.shenandoahmini.com/fetaldevelopment.html
Day 9
With the naked eye, you can see only the "embryonic vesicle" which houses the embryo. The vesicle looks like a shimmering, firm, translucent bubble, less than ¼ inch in diameter. On the ultrasound screen, you will see it as a black circle in a sea of grainy gray (your mare's uterus). At this point, the embryo is no larger than a pinpoint.
Day 24
The vesicle has grown to 1 inch in diameter. It's a shimmering, flabby, translucent bubble with a dark red dot (the embryo) at one end. A network of threadlike blood vessels emanates from the ¼ inch dot. You can barely make out the beginnings of animal features: a head, tiny bumps that will become eyes; a fleshy tail nub; and four little buds that will eventually become legs. On the ultrasound monitor, you will see the vesicle as an irregular, guitar-pick shaped black blob in a sea of grainy gray. Generally, around Day 24 an embryonic heart is large enough to be seen on the ultrasound screen. To find it, focus on the "floor" surface of the blob. You will see a white smudge, about ½ inch in diameter, resting there; this is the embryo. Within the smudge, a tiny black dot, about the size of a pinpoint, will be flashing on and off like a computer's screen's cursor-this is the pea sized embryo's beating heart.
Day 40
The vesicle is now 2 ½ inches in diameter, roughly spherical in shape, and somewhat collapsed. The ¾ inch embryo within is now recognizable as a four-legged critter: it has a blobby dome for a head, eyelids, rudimentary ears, ridges where the nostrils will be, and functional elbows an stifle joints. An ultrasound would reveal the vesicle as a roundish black blob: look for the white smudge of an embryo to be suspended from the blob's ceiling, rather than resting on its floor. This shift of position is step one in what researchers call "the rise and fall of the embryo." It results from filmy membranes at the top of the vesicle coming together to form the umbilical cord. As they do so, they shorten, pulling the olive-sized embryo up to the ceiling like a chandelier.
Day 50
The embryo officially becomes a fetus. As can be seen in this photograph of a 50-day fetus, the legs, head, tail and eye are all clearly defined externally. Internally organs and skeletal structures are in place. The overall size is a little deceptive with this image, and it is in fact about one inch in length. Within 10 days or so, the sex of the fetus can be determined using ultrasound, by establishing the direction of migration of the pedicle that will become either the penis or the clitoris. Upward migration towards the anus of course indicates a female.
Day 60
The vesicle is now flabby and shapeless, conforming to the uterine walls; the fetus is about 2 1/2 inches long. You can see that it clearly resembles a horse, thanks to the development of tiny hooves, complete with soles and frogs. Its head is still tucked, but less so than before. The fetus is hairless, and about the size of a hamster.
Day 80
The fetal head and neck will be untucked, and are being held level with the spine in the "normal" horse position. Its sex is now viable: you can see that little lumps have formed for the scrotum, if it's a male, or the udder, if its a female. The fetus is now about the size of a chipmunk.
Day 100
Your mare's 7-inch fetus is about the size of a 6-week old kitten. You can see a bit of hair on its lips; its ears are unfurling from its head. They're now nearly 1/2 inch long and are curled forward. The coronary bands look like raised lines encircling the tops of its tiny 1/4-inch hooves.
Day 150
Gaining more than a pound every 10 days, the fetus now is about the size of a rabbit. Hair graces its chin, muzzle, and eyelids. If you look closely, you'll see that eyelashes have emerged.
Day 180
The fetus has quadrupled its weight in just 30 days. Mane and tail hairs have appeared; it's about the size of a Beagle.
Day 240
Now about the size of a small lamb, the fetus has whisker-like hairs on its chin, throat and muzzle.
Day 270
Your mare's fetus now looks like a foal: fine hair covers its body, and it now has a swatch of hair on its tail. It's about the size of a German Shepherd.
Day 330
In the last week or so, the fetus's lungs have developed to the point that they can function in the "real world"; its legs have strengthened to the point that they can support is weight; and its hair has coarsened, from the fine, silky texture of fetus hair, to that of a bonafide foal. As far as development goes, the fetus is "done." You'll get the chance to meet your mare's foal in a matter of days or weeks. (Normal equine gestation can range from 320 to 365 days.)
The best resource found on the study of this case is:
Veterinary Reproductive Ultrasonography
By Wolfgang Kähn, Dietrich Volkmann, Robert M. Kenney
Mandy's Loss
My findings show that the major organ development for the equine fetus is developed between days 24 to 160.
With the naked eye, you can see only the "embryonic vesicle" which houses the embryo. The vesicle looks like a shimmering, firm, translucent bubble, less than ¼ inch in diameter. On the ultrasound screen, you will see it as a black circle in a sea of grainy gray (your mare's uterus). At this point, the embryo is no larger than a pinpoint.
The vesicle has grown to 1 inch in diameter. It's a shimmering, flabby, translucent bubble with a dark red dot (the embryo) at one end. A network of threadlike blood vessels emanates from the ¼ inch dot. You can barely make out the beginnings of animal features: a head, tiny bumps that will become eyes; a fleshy tail nub; and four little buds that will eventually become legs. On the ultrasound monitor, you will see the vesicle as an irregular, guitar-pick shaped black blob in a sea of grainy gray. Generally, around Day 24 an embryonic heart is large enough to be seen on the ultrasound screen. To find it, focus on the "floor" surface of the blob. You will see a white smudge, about ½ inch in diameter, resting there; this is the embryo. Within the smudge, a tiny black dot, about the size of a pinpoint, will be flashing on and off like a computer's screen's cursor-this is the pea sized embryo's beating heart.
Day 40
The vesicle is now 2 ½ inches in diameter, roughly spherical in shape, and somewhat collapsed. The ¾ inch embryo within is now recognizable as a four-legged critter: it has a blobby dome for a head, eyelids, rudimentary ears, ridges where the nostrils will be, and functional elbows an stifle joints. An ultrasound would reveal the vesicle as a roundish black blob: look for the white smudge of an embryo to be suspended from the blob's ceiling, rather than resting on its floor. This shift of position is step one in what researchers call "the rise and fall of the embryo." It results from filmy membranes at the top of the vesicle coming together to form the umbilical cord. As they do so, they shorten, pulling the olive-sized embryo up to the ceiling like a chandelier.
Day 50
The embryo officially becomes a fetus. As can be seen in this photograph of a 50-day fetus, the legs, head, tail and eye are all clearly defined externally. Internally organs and skeletal structures are in place. The overall size is a little deceptive with this image, and it is in fact about one inch in length. Within 10 days or so, the sex of the fetus can be determined using ultrasound, by establishing the direction of migration of the pedicle that will become either the penis or the clitoris. Upward migration towards the anus of course indicates a female.
Day 60
The vesicle is now flabby and shapeless, conforming to the uterine walls; the fetus is about 2 1/2 inches long. You can see that it clearly resembles a horse, thanks to the development of tiny hooves, complete with soles and frogs. Its head is still tucked, but less so than before. The fetus is hairless, and about the size of a hamster.
Day 80
The fetal head and neck will be untucked, and are being held level with the spine in the "normal" horse position. Its sex is now viable: you can see that little lumps have formed for the scrotum, if it's a male, or the udder, if its a female. The fetus is now about the size of a chipmunk.
Day 100
Your mare's 7-inch fetus is about the size of a 6-week old kitten. You can see a bit of hair on its lips; its ears are unfurling from its head. They're now nearly 1/2 inch long and are curled forward. The coronary bands look like raised lines encircling the tops of its tiny 1/4-inch hooves.
Day 150
Gaining more than a pound every 10 days, the fetus now is about the size of a rabbit. Hair graces its chin, muzzle, and eyelids. If you look closely, you'll see that eyelashes have emerged.
Day 180
The fetus has quadrupled its weight in just 30 days. Mane and tail hairs have appeared; it's about the size of a Beagle.
Day 240
Now about the size of a small lamb, the fetus has whisker-like hairs on its chin, throat and muzzle.
Day 270
Your mare's fetus now looks like a foal: fine hair covers its body, and it now has a swatch of hair on its tail. It's about the size of a German Shepherd.
Day 330
In the last week or so, the fetus's lungs have developed to the point that they can function in the "real world"; its legs have strengthened to the point that they can support is weight; and its hair has coarsened, from the fine, silky texture of fetus hair, to that of a bonafide foal. As far as development goes, the fetus is "done." You'll get the chance to meet your mare's foal in a matter of days or weeks. (Normal equine gestation can range from 320 to 365 days.)
The best resource found on the study of this case is:
Mandy's Loss
grain and left out in the pasture to exercise.
I still remember everything as if I was living it day after day after day. This has been a week of heartbreak, lessons and bonding. Mandy was bred and confirmed in foal to TWO SHAMELESS a APHA champion sire.
Prior to conception she had been under lights and cycling regularly, I had brought her to the breeders not once, not twice but 3 times. The last time in April, I had her on Regimate to help her cycle and then given her a hormone injection to throw her into a solid heat. Before I brought her home on April 26th, we had her checked by the vet and he confirmed that she had just ovulated (within the last 2 hours) and should be good to go. Once I brought her home I retired her for the year (from showing halter) to the mare pasture. Everything seemed to go as planned until November 12th. Mandy was 200 days in foal and developed a very soft Edema that was behind her utter and did not effect her mammary glands. I took her to our vet to have her checked since this was her first foal and it seemed very odd to me. He checked her over and gave her a clean bill of health. Recommending that she be taken off grain and given banamine for swelling.
Then the fateful morning came. Sunday November 16th, only 3 days since she had been seen by the vet, I woke up and went out to feed the pasture horses. Mandy and my other broodmare were out in the front pasture. Rita was waiting for me at the fence but Mandy was standing at the fence line near the road, the first thing I noticed about her was that she looked like she had rolled in some mud and was her tail was wet and looked muddy. My heart sunk, I called her to me and that is when I saw the placenta still attached to her. I think I must have yelled because it was then that my kids came running out of the house and with just one look they both know that is was not good. The only thing I could do was stand there, I couldn't move, I couldn't talk... NOTHING! The next thing I knew my kids had taken the hay cart and went on feeding the horses out back for me, I called my vet and told him what had happened. In a very calm but sadden voice he told me to give her a couple hours and if she doesn't pass the placenta on her own to either stop by and pick up a Oxytosen shot or to bring her in. It wasn't until I hung up with the vet that really looked around the pasture and saw the poor lil colt laying there.
He was 140 days early, but very developed. I could tell that he was of course a colt, colored like his mommy, and very stocky! He weighed about 25lbs. by all accounts he looked like a healthy (200 day gestational) foal. I noticed that Mandy didn't really call for him or go back to where he was laying. I just looked down at him and told him he was to special to be here with us.
I then walked up to Mandy and gave her a huge hug and told her that it was time for me to take care of her. She let out a loud sigh and went back to eating her breakfast. I tied off the access placenta and went inside to make my phone calls to the breeder and to a few close friends, I was a wreck!
When the two hours had passed and Mandy had not passed the placenta I started to worry. I called our vet and told him that I will be bringing her in shortly. After I had regained some of my composure I went out to load Mandy. I remember asking the kids where the foal was and they told me that they had moved it to the Cancer garden and asked if it was ok for them to burry him next to the large rose bush, I agreed, then loaded Mandy and took her in to the vets.
Once she was sedated, our vet did a ultra-sound to check and see if there was anything remaining in her uterus (like another foal). Everything checked out ok but he did notice that her placenta was still attached rather snuggly. He performed a iodine flush and gave her a shot of Oxytosen. His instructions for once I got home was to watch her in the stall and if she had still not passed the placenta by 2pm then to give her another shot of Oxytosen, also to give her 1 gram of Bute twice a day to help prevent laminitis and if the placenta didn't pass by 8pm to call him back and set up a time to bring her back the following morning for another iodine flush. Needless to say she needed the next shot, I spent close to 5 hours out there with her to watch her condition and to see if she would pass the placenta on her own... and nothing! I called my vet back and told him the news and he asked to see her first thing Monday morning. I continued to spend most of the evening out in the barn with my Mandy baby.
It was so hard, to see her confused and in pain, not being able to do anything to help her. I felt horrible, I felt guilty for even breeding her and causing her this grief, all I could do was hug her and cry for her loss. Deep down I was so grateful that I had not lost her, I kept praying to God "PLEASE, what ever you decide to do PLEASE don't take my Mandy from me!!"
Monday morning, I woke up after only 3 hours of sleep and went out to check on her, she was doing fine but there was still no change in her retained placenta. I had also noticed that she had only had 2 bowel movements and noted that to ask our vet. I went about feeding everyone and once I was done I loaded Mandy up and hauled her once again to the clinic. My vet being the wonderful man that he is was so sympathetic and calming. I can now say that if it wasn't for his wonderful care of Mandy and myself I don't think I would have handled this horrible event as well as I did! He flushed her once again and tried to help the placenta (as much as he could without causing more harm than good). He took the section that had been hanging attached to her and cut it shorter so there would be less to attract flies and other insects that could cause her to develop an infection in her uterus. His instructions this time were to start giving her SMZ's (a powerful wide spectrum antibiotic), also give her shots of Oxytosen every hour for the next 6 hours and to bring her in for yet another re-check in the morning. *Note* this is no easy task to perform with Mandy, she HATES shots and catches on fast to the tap tap tap POKE! She will do anything and everything she can to keep you from giving her injects and if you are lucky enough to get the needle in her then she is powerful enough in both her neck and her hip to be able to work the needle out to where you have to start all over. Giving Mandy shots is NO FUN and it just made me feel even worse about this whole ordeal!
After giving her 5 of the six shots I was so drained and so stressed out from everything let alone worrying if I was going to loose Mandy too, I just crashed. I woke up at 6:30 pm (30 minutes late for her last shot) and found out that David had been brave enough and kind enough to me to go ahead and try his hand at giving Mandy her last shot. From what the kids told me, Mandy had caught on to people coming into her stall with the halter meant that she was due for another shot and decided that she was going to do anything and everything to debate the need for the shot with David. I am proud to report, he was able to give her the shot... he now refuses to give anymore shots, but he got it done and allowed me to get a 90+ minute nap in. I applaud his efforts!
Tuesday November 18th, I loaded Mandy up once again to visit the vet and to see if all of the shots had done their job and we could FINALLY breath a sigh of relief. Our vet once again flushed and and what would you know... the remainder of the placenta came right out with no worries! When the vet showed me, I wanted to pass out right then and there, I was so tired, so stressed and flat out beaten down from everything. Just knowing that it was all over felt like a ton of weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I just hugged Mandy's sedated head and told her that it was all over and that I meant it all of the times I told her that it is not supposed to be like this!!
Once we got home I unloaded Mandy, went inside and emailed everyone the wonderful news and tried to fall asleep. It took me hours to finally relax enough to go to sleep but when I did, I was out like a light.
Today is the first day that Mandy has been able to go out and play since all of this and I decided to take this time to write down just what all happened. This is something that every breeder runs the risk of and I have learned that God is the only one that has the power in this business! I am thankful and blessed that I did not loose my mare and she recovered very well.
This has also shown me just how many wonderful friends I have surrounding me. All of my fellow breeders, my show friends, my personal friends and all of my family have been so wonderful and the prayers from everyone had been answered! I will never forget this feeling nor will I ever forget just how wonderful everyone has been, Thank you, just doesn't even begin to start expressing how I feel.
I pray that everyone's foaling season goes well and there is no more pain, just joy and happiness for all!
~Kelly Fulton
(photo taken 2 weeks prior to the aborting)
