Caslicks and the pregnant mare...

PapaFrita

PapaFrita

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PF was caslicked after her first foal. She was 'undone' prior to going to stud as original plan was to give her a live cover, now she's 3 mths pregnant and the vet is coming to do her again. I probably wouldn't bother if she were staying out and in no work, because she only sucks air when jumping (or bucking violently) and her vulval conformation isn't awful, by any means. The groom asked me why I was going to bother at all since she's pregnant already and I explained about infection, but can anyone give me more info, Oh, and when would be a good (safe!) time to open her up again.
Thanks
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A huge amount of the mares that come through us are stitched. It is unbeleivably common. If she has had it before, I would keep her stitched. It is better to be safe and stop any bacteria.
Our vet allows us to undo caslicks ourselves, which is handy, as we can assess each mare when coming in for the night, and decide if she is close enough to foaling to open her. Although of course, there is always a sneaky one, but as ours are monitored we can open it when the waters break.

However, I think lots of people have it undone a couple of weeks before? I can only speak of personal experience
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But what does the bacteria do? Presumably can cause mare to abort, but how/why? Infection? Also, presumably an infection would affect the mare's ability to conceive in future? Can infections be treated successfully? Some/none?
Sorry, lots of questions! Will probably bore the vet to tears on Mon!
 
It can cause infection of the placenta, if I remember rightly?? Thickening of the placenta around the cervical end, making it likely for a red bag presentation.
We have had a case of this, this year, but I don't think it was a result of sucking in air or not.
The mare bagged up a month early, vet checked her over, scanned her, bloods etc, decided she had an infection, we had her on antibiotics and closely monitored. She held on for another 2 weeks, and produced a healthy colt (although small!) with almost a red bag presentation, she just about managed to break it herself. The placenta was the most disgusting thing you've ever seen. The stud groom even said he's never seen one as bad in over 30 yrs!
We continued treating her, until she was clean, everything returned to normal, she was covered and we scanned her in foal on friday!
 
You know how you kept doing this
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on the way to Badders at the story I was telling you? Get her stitched! Should B ever have another one, she will be!
 
How could you tell she had an infection? High temp? Other signs (after hearing SN's saga I'm utterly paranoid!) How far gone was she when she became poorly? Are infections more prevalent at particular stages of pregnancy?
All this info is very interesting, BTW, thanks!
 
Yes, I remember my jaw clunking on the dashboard all the way there!! What do you think could've caused it in B? Will you have her stitched soon, just in case you decide to breed from her? I know a mare can become infertile as a result of an infection (uterine?) but are they curable or is it often too late when they're detected? What sort of symptoms should one look out for?
 
Like I say, I can only speak from personal experience, the mare had no other symptoms. She just looked like she was getting ready to foal. It just seemed a bit early. Her bag was huge! And she waxed up too. Luckily we have a daily vet round so we just got her checked straight away. He scanned the placental wall and found thickening. Her bloods were also abnormal. The antibiotics kept the infection under control long enough for the foal to develop a bit more. It was a daily worry, and every day she held on was a plus! The early stage of labour was looking worrying, as the the cervical star didn't break until it reached the vulva, which meant she was pushing her placenta through the birth canal. So she was very uncomfortable. We were prepared to break the sack, but it burst just as it appeared. Foaling was normal after that. Foal was healthy, and a complete monkey! What a fighter he was, what he lacked in size he made up for! He is still here and doing great.
Sometimes we come across thickening of the placenta when everything has been normal. And it was only spotted when we checked it over before disposal.
But thats it I'm afraid, luckily never had to deal with abortion due to placentitis.
 
Just to add, the placenta was full of slime. It was hideous. There was just lumps and lumps of grey/green stuff, and it was really heavy, can't remember how heavy though, more than 22lb.
We were amazed to get her back in foal so easily.
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Not unless it really worries you. It was pretty obvious to us that something was wrong. But we have a lot to compare it to. A huge amount of mares go 'over' but not many show such bagging up so early.
We don't check ours unless we suspect a problem. Oct 1st is the last time they're done, and they foal jan - may.
 
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