High Risk Mare Foals

Spooks was a high-risk mare due to developing Placentitis before her "safe date." Placentitis in mares is an inflammation of the placenta, the organ that nourishes the developing fetus, and is a significant cause of abortion and foal death. It is commonly caused by bacterial infections that ascend from the mare's reproductive tract, particularly through the cervix. Early detection and treatment are crucial for maintaining the pregnancy and ensuring foal viability.

For Treatment, we had to put her on antibiotic therapy, which is essential to combat the infection.
Along with anti-inflammatory medications help reduce inflammation and pain. In addition to progestins, which can help maintain the pregnancy.

Unfortunately, Spooks had premature lactation, which means she used up all her colostrum stores before the foal was born. We collected what we could, but her quality was never "great"; it was "good" at best and quickly went to "fair".

Mares diagnosed with placentitis require careful monitoring when labour is anticipated, as they are at risk of a red bag delivery. Without correction upon delivery, the foal is at high risk for oxygen deprivation, which can lead to “dummy foal syndrome” or even death. Foals born to mares affected by placentitis also have an increased risk of sepsis (a systemic inflammatory response), which may likely require hospitalization. Sepsis can either originate from the bacterial placentitis spreading to the fetus, or from poor quality colostrum due to the mare leaking milk before delivery of the foal, or from underdeveloped or “dummy” foals failing to consume adequate amounts of colostrum.

The foal did display some signs of "Dummy Foal Syndrome," and we did do the Madigan Squeeze on her, which you can see in the video. Spooks and the foal were on continued medication, and the foal did end up needing a Plasma Transfusion due to the poor quality of Colostrum from the dam. Both are doing well now and have made a full recovery.

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