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Veteran
Posts: 184
 
| Well yesterday we laid to rest a beautiful baby that was way too young to die. Momma stepped on him and shattered his shoulder. In the process of trying to get off of him, she rebroke her coffin bone. The foal was 2 weeks old and I can not express how upset I am about this. How can I help her dry off? She keeps screaming for him and making it hard for the vets to work on her because of it. We had to fully sedate her to remove the foal from the stall. Her bag is just so full and hard that she is just so uncomfortable. Help me please!! |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | I have no experience, but wanted to offer prayers and heartfelt condolences. That is heartbreaking. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| I have no experience either - I am so sorry this happened.  |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | Sending prayers, comfort and support. I have no experience with a situation like this. Very sad and heartbreaking, I can't begin to imagine what you are going through. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383
Location: Sweet Home Alabama | I am so sorry. Prayers to you and momma mare |
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  Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
 
Location: ND | I'm so sorry for your loss. Letting a baby go is absolutely heartbreaking. I lost one a couple years ago & we left him with the mare until she was ready to let go & walked away from him. It was hard for me to see him laying there but it helped her. She still grieved but she was past the point of calling & looking for him when we took him away. |
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 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| So sorry, that is heartbreaking. If you could find an orphan foal that she would take that would be a win-win for your mare and the foal. Not sure if this is an option with her current injury or not.
If not, I would decrease the quality of her feed for a little bit to help with drying up. If she's on alfalfa, find a different forage. We've lost foals over the years, and your mare will get better, but it will take a few days. Does she have any other buddies that could keep her company? That might help as well.
Again, so sorry for your loss. |
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I'm so so sorry. Cut her off all grain and alfalfa can also make them milk heavier. Exercise works to get the bag loose but it sounds like hit a broken coffin bone she may need limited movement. So sorry |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 425
Location: California | Wow so sorry to hear that. Such a horrible thing to have to go through.
To help her out, would you be open to finding an orphan foal for her? |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | I'm so sorry |
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 Can You Hear Me Now?
Location: When you hit the middle of nowhere .. Keep driving | I am sorry for your loss. I lost one last year too and left her with momma for a day to let momma know she was gone. When I saw mom walk away to eat I knew she come to terms with it. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I am SO sorry! That would be so very heartbreaking - especially after waiting so long for its arrival. |
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 Pork Fat is my Favorite
Posts: 3791
Location: The Oklahoma plains. | I have no advice either but I am so sorry. It is hard enough but when the mare is screaming it keeps breaking your heart. I am not cut out for breeding. Too much heartache. I don't know how people do it. Prayers
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| How heart breaking for you and the mom. Losing a baby is so traumatic. So sorry |
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| You can milk her to relieve the pressure. Just enough to make her comfortable several times a day. Do not empty her bag. She'll limit production and eventually dry up. Will take awhile though. Your vet didn't have any helpful tips? No idea how to comfort her regarding the baby not being there.
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Oh that's heart wrenching. No advice but hugs headed your way! |
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10797
Location: Kansas | It's why I just can't deal with baby animals anymore. Too much heartbreak.
I feel so bad for you.......... |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
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Such a horrible story. I dont have any experience aside from the few things mentioned. hugs |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Awwwww this is just so sad, so sorry for the lost of a new baby. If shes at the Vets I would think they should know what to do to help her out drying up her bag. Maybe you could find a baby that lost its mom and see if your mare will accept it. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1077
| www.lastchancecorral.org |
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 Veteran
Posts: 292
Location: Northeast Nebraska | I'm so sorry. That is heartbreaking. |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | If she will let you, cold cabbage leaves pressed on her bag will help. Don't use heat. Heat makes production. Her body will regulate without nursing. Don't express any milk, that will encourage production also. Full bags hurt, but she will slowly leak enough to relieve the pressure. |
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 Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
Location: CTX | I am so sorry for your loss. That is truly heartbreaking. For you and the mom. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | My heart breaks for you and Momma, prayers sent your way. Also praying she heals quickly from her injury |
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| So sorry for your loss - prayers for you and the mare. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 705
Location: Weatherford, TX | My prayers go out to you. I'm so sorry you've had to go through this. I really admire the breeders as they can potentially go through something like this. I don't think I could handle something like this. Again...My prayers, admiration and hugs to you.
Edited by Gator Bug 2015-04-03 10:56 AM
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I would speak to your vet about progesterone to see if it is an option to give the mare, I have heard of it being used, but have no personal experience with it, but do know in humans it will dry up a mothers milk supply in no time |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| SO sorry. My heart goes out to you.
I agree with a few of the others who have suggested the possibility of locating an orphan foal in need. I know that it is hard to think about right now, after losing the foal, but it could potentially help not only the foal but your mare IF she will accept one. Only you can decide if you want to try it.
I have decided that I can never again breed a mare that I really like. I lost mine 4 years ago, leaving a beautiful baby boy. He has done very well with milk replacer and a big sister who took him for his own, but MY heart is still broken.
Hugs.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 600
Location: Oklahoma & Texas | So sorry.. heartbreaking for sure... breeding has so many risks and the rewards are great when all works out but the risks can be heartbreaking... hugs and prayers... I'd see if she'd accept another foal too - usually this time of year there are orphans that need good momma's.. might put it out there for some vets in case they get one... sounds like she's taking it pretty hard too :( |
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 Expert
Posts: 1479
Location: rabbit run | So sorry this has happened. I had a 3 legged baby 3 years ago who was perfect in every other way and it was one of the worst days of my life to put him to sleep. It is so heartbreaking...my mare just eventually dried up, but it took quite awhile. I would not milk her. Never again for me.
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Can You Hear Me Now?
Location: When you hit the middle of nowhere .. Keep driving | I know a lot of people are suggesting finding a foal but with her coffin bone broken I would say let her dry up and concentrate on healing instead of trying to nurse a foal. She will quickly enough. Also if she's on stall rest I don't like to confine a baby for weeks but that's just IMO. I think they develop better with exercise. |
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| Being that I'm the farrier, the vet and I talked it over and the mare is being placed in a bar shoe and should recover quickly. She is booked to a different stallion but I am fighting with myself about just breeding her back to PT Cash Cartel because that baby was just so gorgeous and smart. Still crying over this baby...advice? |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | ktbeasleyze - 2015-04-04 4:28 PM Being that I'm the farrier, the vet and I talked it over and the mare is being placed in a bar shoe and should recover quickly. She is booked to a different stallion but I am fighting with myself about just breeding her back to PT Cash Cartel because that baby was just so gorgeous and smart. Still crying over this baby...advice?
I say breed her back to PT Cash Cartel  |
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Had to put down a foal.... :'(