Dream - Bad news and opinions sought

C

Chambon

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Dream is very very poorly.

She foaled in the early hours of Sunday morning, she needed assistance, I called the vet but couldn't wait for him to arrive so I helped the foal out. At no time did I touch her, only the foals legs, and I had surgical gloves on. The vet (not my usual vet but another one from the same practise) arrived within 5 minutes of the foal being out. I filled him in on all the details and I proceeded to treat the foal's stump, looked up and he was pulling the afterbirth out of Dream's backend. I said hold on, I'll get some string to tie it up until she cleanses... He said, don't worry, I've got it, and pulled it right out.

He then felt inside her to check that she wasn't torn (which he said she wasn't). So, all well and good I thought.

Yesterday morning my usual vet came out to check them over again and jab the foal. Everything was ok.

This morning everything seemed ok.

I put them out at lunchtime and noticed that Dream was squatting and trying to wee a lot. I went over to investigate and she had thick smelly custard pouring out from her back end.

I brought them in and called my vet immediately and he was there within 20 minutes. Dream is running a temperature and has a uterine infection. I flushed her with antibiotics and is coming back in the morning to wash her out again.

He has stressed that it is potentially very serious and could result in either laminitis/founder or TSS, which could be fatal.

I have never heard of this happening before so quickly after foaling and I am out of my mind with worry, she's a very poorly girl.

The one thought that won't go away, is that that vet shouldn't have pulled the afterbirth out? I always just tie it up and wait for them to cleanse.

Any opinions/thoughts most welcome.
 
I know nothing about foaling so cannot help you with your query - but just want to say that I hope Dream will be ok. She is in good hands and you are obviously a very caring owner. Keep us posted on how she's doing.
 
OMG!! I am so sorry but I have to totally agree with you on this one; the vet should not have pulled the afterbirth out! What shockingly bad form. Right now you shouldn't have to worry about what caused it though, just try to get her better and hope that she recovers.

Tia x
 
no idea about foaling im afraid
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but I really hope she is ok,

keep us posted xx

edited to correct spelling mistake
 
Sounds very worrying. I too would doubt the vets actions, we also just leave it to sort itself out. Did you ask your vet about the other vets actions?
Have no experience with anything like this, maybe give Tia/Henryhorn/SallyF a pm if they dont reply soon.
 
Oh no!! Poor Dream and her little one
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I can't offer any advice but will be sending as many positive vibes as I can muster to you and keeping fingers toes and hooves tightly crossed xx

Big hugs to all of you
 
I have never known a horse vet pull the afterbirth away, was he a cattle vet. My vet is often the voice of doom and gloom, I think a lot are. I think I would rather know what the worst case might be rather than a "don't worry" and then things get worse. I also believe in facing up to the worst that can happen and making plans for it in the hope that by planning I won't actually have to do it.

Look at a replacement milk source in case the foal needs another supply if the mare gets worse.. Find out now about the foal adoption schemes.

I am not trying to scare you and am sure that becouse you are on top of things everything will be fine. Just knowing what to do if it isn't seems to stop things happening. Keep talking to your vet and deal with why thid happend when she is better.
 
Oh no. I am so sorry to hear about Dream. Sending you huge hugs.

I know of a mare this happened too, sadly there was no happy outcome. Praying that there is a positive ending for Dream.

please feel free to PM if you wish to talk about anything.

xxx
 
OMG, im in tears right now. I canNOT imagine what you are going through right now
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The vet should not have pulled the afterbirth out, and should have let nature take its course.

I have EVERYTHING crossed for you and Dream and foalie.
((((((((((((((GOOD VIBES))))))))))))))))))) coming your way!!!!
 
Oh no, how horrible for you.

I agree, I do not think the vet should have pulled the afterbirth out. But like Tia has said, what is important at the moment is that Dream gets better quickly.

Poor baby!
 
I went through this with Muppet's mum, it took her 12 hours to cleanse and the vet told me to watch out for infection. She foaled on the Friday night and she had the thick pus on the Monday morning. She was flushed out 3 times with antibiotics and given oral antibiotics and made a full recovery with no laminitis or other ill effects - Muppet was ok too. The vet did warn me to watch out for symptoms of laminitis.

Fingers crossed that Dream makes as good a recovery as Cocoa. Thinking of youxx
 
I have no advice for you I'm afraid, but I do so hope that she pulls through. My opinion however is that the vet should probably have left well alone and allowed the afterbirth to pass naturally.

Sending you all the positive vibes I can muster

Bethxxx
 
Sh*t! I hope everything works out! I have to agree with you that the vet shouldn't have pulled the afterbirth out, the only time a vet should intervene is if the mare hasn't cleansed after 12 hours (I think its 12), I have only ever had a vet intervene once in over 100 foals, thats because when we were watching the mare cleanse we saw a tiny piece go back in! When one of my mares had a real problem foaling last year, the foal had one of its legs folded back and I had to intervene whilst the vet was on the way, he didn't take the afterbirth out, he came back out in the morning after she had dropped the afterbirth to flush her out and put antibiotic in. Then I gave her a couple more days of antibiotic flushes he left me (as I am an AI Tech so he is happy for me to do this sort of thing). Good Luck I have my fingers crossed for you!

I also think you should report the vet that did this!
 
We would never pull one out, have always been told its a no no. Tying up and poss some oxytocin usually does the trick. But you just need to concentrate on mare and foal. Ring foaling bank so you are covered for worst case senario, Joanna Varden is a tower of strength and make sure a own vet stays on the case continuity is so important. All our thoughts with you.
 
So very sorry to hear about this, my thoughts are with you and your mare and foal.

The vet should not have pulled out the afterbirth at all, the mares should be cleansing themselves without any interference. If there had been any trouble after a while she could have been given an injection of oxytocin to start contractions again to help the rest of the afterbirth come out. If he pulled it without it being ready to come itself then he could have potentially caused damage internally which is possibly where the infection has started. Sorry to sound like the bearer of bad news....
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Here is a good article on it Retained Placenta
 
Never had a foal, only calves. We would never pull the cleansing out. We always wait until the cow cleanses naturally. If she's not cleansed within 4 days (they can take that long!) she's usually given a course of antibiotics and a drug to help contract the uterus and expel the cleansing.

Never mind infection, she could've haemorrhaged having the afterbirth removed like that. Poor Dream. What's done is done sadly, but I hope and pray that she can pull through this infection.
 
Sorry this is awful hope she is o.k
Never never pull the afterbirth out if it hasnt come out of its own accord after a couple of hrs then an oxytocin jab or even two if it persistant should do it.
I have seen a vet do this once when a mare lost a premature foal a month early (not my mare or vet i hasten to add) mare got laminitis but did recover.
A friend of mine has just lost a mare with laminitis after aborting at 9 months .
They used oxytocin again and again plus flushing but to no avail and eventually had to manually remove part of it.
Is this vet a horse vet or cow because if he is a horse vet he should know better.
At some point you will have to take it up with them as i would be livid.
I really hope she will ok.
 
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