Premature Placental Seperation

[Mood Swings]

Just curious (for those of you who've had experience with this), what did your vet do/suggest? What was the outcome? I have a mare that is 7 months and was just diagnosed with premature seperation. We are taking all the precautions we can but I was wondering if there are other ideas floating around and what kind of outcomes (good or bad) people have had. Thanks.

[Mood Swings]

Anyone . . . I am very concerned about this mare I would love if someone/anyone had some positive stories to share. I realize that the situation is grim as she is so far from her due date but miracles do happen, right?!
Thanks

[madelyn]

How was this diagnosed? If she has a red bag visible, then usually abortion follows pretty fast.

If via ultrasound, a lot of times it is a symptom of placentitis and drastic antibiotics, IV fluids, etc. can help a lot.. and of course after the antibiotics you have to do yogurt or Fastrack or Probios or something..

Good luck.

[Intrinsic Worth]

We always put mares on coltrim and regumate when they started to have these problems.

Pin Oak also uses Ventipulmin which is supposed to help as well. I can't remember the dosage though.

[Mood Swings]

We always put mares on coltrim and regumate when they started to have these problems.

Pin Oak also uses Ventipulmin which is supposed to help as well. I can't remember the dosage though.

What is coltrim? I will speak to my vet about the ventipulmin, thanks.
She is currently on a double dose of regumate and sulfatrim, there was no evidence of any thickening in the placenta - just some seperation. This was determined from a rectal ultrasound. I requested the ultrasound because she had a small amount of blood in her vulva. She is not showing any other signs, ie bagging up etc. However we are hoping the breeding date is incorrect and that will increase her and the foals chances. The risk is significant to the mare as the foal is already so large and her muscles have not started to relax in preperation for foaling so the longer we can hold on the better.
Thank you for any suggestions.

[K~2]

The only experience I ever witnessed regarding premature placental seperation was diagnosed when the mare in question did not bag up at all when she was over a week overdue (picture maiden mare udder).

They used an external ultrasound and determined the separation, and sent the mare to the Haygard-Davidson-McGee clinic to foal out as she was determined to be a 'high-risk' foaling.

From what I heard afterwords, the mare foaled out, the foal was very weak and it ended up dying at 2 days

I will add the disclaimer that this mare was in her mid-20s, had survived West Nile the year before, and had Cushings.

A good place to find reproductive information is http://www.equine-reproduction.com, you might be able to find better input on their bulletin board.

FWIW

[madelyn]

Yikes. At seven months' gestation, the foal should only be about the size of a beagle. Sounds like something else is going on. You might also get a second opinion from another vet.

[Intrinsic Worth]

Actually, it's more common that most people think. Flanders is very prone to it and is put on Vitamin C tabs throughout her entire pregnancy (12 pills a day.) This is done supposedly to prevent it from occuring.

[Intrinsic Worth]

We always put mares on coltrim and regumate when they started to have these problems.

Pin Oak also uses Ventipulmin which is supposed to help as well. I can't remember the dosage though.

What is coltrim? I will speak to my vet about the ventipulmin, thanks.
She is currently on a double dose of regumate and sulfatrim, there was no evidence of any thickening in the placenta - just some seperation. This was determined from a rectal ultrasound. I requested the ultrasound because she had a small amount of blood in her vulva. She is not showing any other signs, ie bagging up etc. However we are hoping the breeding date is incorrect and that will increase her and the foals chances. The risk is significant to the mare as the foal is already so large and her muscles have not started to relax in preperation for foaling so the longer we can hold on the better.
Thank you for any suggestions.

Coltrim is an antibiotic (12 pills twice a day.)

[Mood Swings]

Intrisic Worth - thank you for all of your suggestions. I will inquire about the vit. C, no harm - no foul
K~2 - thanks for the site, it's very informative.
I've since learned that Ventipulmin is given to a mare it her fetus is hyperactive, some vets recommend strong antiobiotics such as excenel or gentocin in situations where the seperation is the result of an infection, another suggestion was for Pentoxyphylline .
"Jane" is hanging in there, still 4 months to go but the vet says the foal has a chance to make it to term and that's all I need to hear. Cross your fingers and thanks again.

[madelyn]

I use Vitamin C injectible. Here it's easier to give shots than pills. Really good for snots in babies, too.

Also, I have a couple of mares that have had a bit of founder in the past and they get shots of B-12.

[westover]

Dear Mood Swings

I have a feeling the horse gods will shine down on your mare! Call it a hunch!!!

[Mood Swings]

WESTOVER - much obliged for your prediction
"Jane" was just ultrasounded again today. There is evident thickening of the placenta (1.09 cm - 1.4cm compared to the normal .07), however she has not had any disharge for 2wks which is most encouraging. She will have to remain on the double dose of regumate for the duration of her pregnancy (just a tad expensive) and she is once again on antibiotics and Pentoxifylline . The vet is optimistic

[Intrinsic Worth]

Something else that will cause placental detachment is (and I don't think your mare has this) leptospirosis. Pin Oak had 3 mares come down with fevers (the first lepto sign) for a few days and then they started to have placental detachment. All 3 delivered early (about 2 weeks) and one mare (the dam of Changeintheweather) foundered. She later died. All 3 foals were small and I don't know if they ever raced.

[Mood Swings]

Losing the battle