Late on a Sunday evening, a very pregnant mare presented to Loomis Basin for emergency evaluation and treatment of a severe colic episode. Infinite, a former Standardbred racehorse turned broodmare, was 355 days in foal (which in the average mare is considered “overdue” though gestation length can vary considerably). She was treated medically with IV fluids and pain medication for her colic symptoms but her pain and systemic stability continued to deteriorate. Based on ultrasound, the fetus began showing signs of distress as well. Colic surgery was determined to be the only way to attempt saving the mare; however, surgery on a very pregnant mare has greatly increased risks as well as increased costs. For these reasons, her owners decided that surgical treatment was not an option for her. Unfortunately, the humane choice was to euthanize the mare.

Trinity with Dr. Fielding:

Trinity on oxygen:

Much deliberation went into what to do with the fetus. In horses, it is very difficult to save a foal that is taken early from the mare, either by C-section or induction. These babies undergo crucial development in the final days before birth and usually do not fare well even a few days “premature”. Because this mare was so far along and was starting to “bag up” (indicating that delivery was not too far off), we decided to try rescuing the foal. The baby was taken by C-section before the mare was put to sleep. Preparations were made to resuscitate the foal once it was surgically delivered. The strong little filly began breathing on her own immediately, but still required immediate oxygen therapy and cardiovascular support. Over the next week, all of her body systems required support to get them functioning on their own: she was fed through a feeding tube, received medications to ensure proper kidney function, and remained on oxygen therapy, received antibiotics and plasma to protect from infection that can occur with an immature immune system.

The autopsy of her mother showed that she had a large enterolith (intestinal stone) that was completely obstructing her colon with the possibility of causing it to rupture; immediate surgical removal would have been the only way to save the mare but that would have greatly increased the risk to the foal.

Enterolith from Infinite:

We are proud to report that this sweet little filly has learned to drink milk from a pan and is now maintaining all of her own needs with properly functioning organ systems! She will be raised as an orphan, but she has such a strong will to live that she will do her mother’s legacy proud! We are excited to watch and see the exciting things that she will do in her lifetime, knowing that we all had an integral part in giving her that life!

Cassandra and Grace with Trinity: