Pre pubic tendon rupture in late term mare

foothillsequine · Postby **foothillsequine** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:19 pm

I have so many thanks to all of you who are praying along with us at this time....we are a small breed to race farm, and our mares and their babies are very important to us. We carefully select who we breed to, and this is a huge blow to the operation. We have not gone with the dexamethasone at this point, but that is not to say we are not going to!

I have taken pictures and sent them to a 4th vet to try to confirm or deny what is going on. I just don't want to load her on a trailer and drive her for 2 hours at this time if I don't have to. I am really hoping (but perhaps I am delusional) that this is just as Madelyn stated and it is "edema". Who knows, vets have been wrong before, and at this point, I am hoping they are. We will see.....

Thanks again, and I will let everyone know what the outcome is.

Laurierace · Postby **Laurierace** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 4:25 am

I am very much praying for you. That must be an agonizing wait. I am curious, are there any type of diagnostics used like ultrasound or do the vets just make an educated guess? Obviously the less technical the method of diagnosis the greater the likelihood they could be wrong. Best of luck to you both.

Mood Swings · Postby **Mood Swings** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 9:11 am

FHE - I am so sorry to hear what you are going through

I too am hoping that your vet misdiagnosed your mare and that it is just ventral edema. Best of luck to you, your mare and your foal!

PS - would you consider sending her to an equine hospital to foal? That way they could perform a cesarian ...

Doublete - I'm sorry for your loss

Gerry · Postby **Gerry** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 6:18 pm

If its any consolution (coming from me probably not) when I bought Kerygma in a Feb sale she was very much as you describe your mare. I could not believe that anyone would send a mare looking like she did through a sales ring but they did....she had a tendon tear and a great deal of edema...by the time she foaled her belly was practically on the ground (and yes she was on vet care). The colt was born without incident and is now in training. Kery lived another few months but had an artery rupture one day as she strained to urinate. The edema/swelling never went away and she always had a large V under her belly.
Thoughts and prayers to your mare she is young so she has that on her side.

foothillsequine · Postby **foothillsequine** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 9:30 pm

Well, we are at 316 days, and while the baby is still moving around, and the belly sling is holding, her belly seems to be larger today, although no where near the ground like Gerry describes, or what the pictures show in my research. I am still waiting to hear from the 4th vet regarding the pictures I sent. I feel like we are on death watch as opposed to foal watch at this point. Thanks again to all those who have weighed in on this situation. I am looking for a nurse mare, and am considering having her foal at the State Hospital for vet students so a cesarian can be done if necessary.....I really hate to think about losing her though, so I am trying to think positively........perhaps for naught at this point. Thanks again.

Diane · Postby **Diane** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 11:01 pm

This is excrutiating to read, and I do check the thread at least twice a day. I feel so bad for you and your mare. It reminds me of going through cancer and surgery with one of my cats several years ago. It was 3 months of crying, trying to do the right thing and getting worn out by the sheer exhaustion of emotion. You mentioned nurse mare so I thought I'd pass along what I heard last week from Craig at Old English Rancho. They are using a chemical-medical approach to assist mares in adopting orphan foals and have had good results. They put the orphan foal in pen next to potential nurse mare to get acquainted. They then use hormone injections to the point of almost simulating labor and delivery. After this chemical/hormonal event the mares sometimes even give the foal a tongue bath and from there on it's her foal. That's the nutshell version.
Hang in there.

Jenny · Postby **Jenny** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 4:28 pm

Any news?

foothillsequine · Postby **foothillsequine** » Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:47 pm

Hi all,

Thanks so much for all the reply's, advice etc. Consensus seems to be that she has a hernia as opposed to a tear! Man, we are still not out of the woods, but...things are looking better! She can probably not be re-bred, but that's okay with me. All I am wanting at this point is a healthy foal and mum! I had her booked to Grindstone, but again, I would rather have her to raise her foal instead of a nurse mare. We have one lined up just in case. We have to swallow the booking fee, and pay all the vet bills, but that's okay, we will figure it out somehow! We also have vets on standby for the delivery (just in case).

She is 319 days today, so we are hoping against hope that all is well with the foal, and she will deliver okay. He/she is still moving around like a whirling dirvish! So far, so good!!

I will keep you all posted, and many, many thanks again for your thoughts and prayers!!

Laurierace · Postby **Laurierace** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 5:04 am

Awesome! Hope it goes well from here on out.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 5:07 am

Sounds like good news! Perhaps the hernia can be repaired in the future. In the meantime, perhaps you could send a different mare to Grindstone to use the booking fee? I like him as a sire and was dismayed that he left KY last year.

Jenny · Postby **Jenny** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 5:51 am

Well thank God.
Hoping with you for a healthy mare and foal also. I only check pq rarely, with foal watch and breeding, the farm and the track. I am swamped. Fortunately if there is a response to this thread I get an email sent. That prompts me to look here. So please do keep us posted.

Mood Swings · Postby **Mood Swings** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 8:45 am

My fingers and toes are crossed for! Wishing you a safe foaling.[/i]

Shammy Davis · Postby **Shammy Davis** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 9:07 am

I wish the best on this. Knock on wood, I've never had a problem delivery w/any of my mares, but you never know when trouble raises its ugly head.

Jessi P · Postby **Jessi P** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:13 pm

Still sending good healing thoughts - wouldn't it be great if it's "only" a hernia? Hoping for the best for you, and a safe, easy foaling.

I love Grindstone too.

foothillsequine · Postby **foothillsequine** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 6:04 pm

Grindstone is a stunning horse, there is no question. He is actually touchable, and seems kind, except when you are standing in front of his stall--he doesn't like people staring in at him. Go figure! I have one mare already "seeing" him, but I don't have another one to send instead of my current lady with the difficulties. She is 320 days, getting more edematous, and is very uncomfortable. I am hoping she goes soon to ease her discomfort. However, mother nature decides, not us. I will post again when something happens to let everyone know how this turns out.

Thanks again to all for your support.