Oh crap oh crap oh crap
I’m calling Pearl’s baby Oyster, and now he’s up and active again.
When asked if Athena had a previa she answered, “Yes, I think so. It is what it felt like on palpation. I didn’t go into the cervix when I felt it. This might be a red bag if she starts to deliver now.”
What does she mean by a red bag?
New message from Athena’s owner, “Everything is sitting at her cervix but she hasn’t pushed anything through her cervix. The vet wants us to sit tight until her cervix relaxes a bit more. She may still have a normal delivery, so we’ll give her a chance. If it is a red bag, the placenta should be attached until she really begins to deliver.”
What the heck is a red bag?
I believe that’s when the placenta detaches and is delivered first - thus cutting off blood flow and oxygen to the foal. Potentially fatal for the foal if it is not delivered very quickly.
Here are pictures of a red bag birth compared to a normal one. “In a Red Bag birth, the placenta detaches from the mare prematurely and the oxygen supply to the baby is cut off. It is important that the mare be aided and that the baby gets out of momma very quickly. One vet told us that we have only 6 minutes after the placenta detaches until the baby dies.”
Poor Athena!
Any news? MareStare is blocked from work.
StG
Still noting on the cams. I’ve just looked in on Pacific Pinto, both Silver Creek cams, and Moka. Moka’s out of her stall and the other mares are just standing around. Athena still has her tail wrapped, so the foal is still in her. She’s eating hay and doesn’t look to be in distress.
In Athena’s Mare Stare board thread, Barbara Sikkink, Silver Creek’s owner, posted this at 2:10 a.m.:
About 20 minutes later she posted that she was headed to bed; then at 2:58:
At 3:51 a.m. Barbara posted:
Poor Barbara! Her last post on the board came at around 6:00 a.m.!
Shoot. I was just reading the Mare Stare boards to find out about Athena but, as usual, ETF beat me to it!
And thanks for the PM, ETF! At least I didn’t miss it.
I’m glad she seems okay. I wish they’d have the vet out, though.
StG
Checking the Silver Creek website, I see that Barbara Sikkink isn’t the owner; she’s the farm manager. Credentials:
Manager:
Barbara Sikkink
Breeding & Management Experience
- 8 years - veterinary techinician
- 15 years - office manager
- 20 years - horse breeding & mare / foal management
Oh, man, as if poor Barbara didn’t have enough to worry about: Googling her name, I came across a notice of foreclosure against her and a Wade Rogers. The property description sounds like it’s a personal home. Auction is scheduled for May 4th.
Huh – on another website she’s listed as a trainee judge for the American Ferret Association! And she’s bred and showed Akitas.
On MareStare there is a little dog about to have puppies! http://www.marestare.com/fcam.php?alias=mrun3
heh, heh, funny you should mention that palo - I just happened to be watching that!
and thanks for the link to the redbag foaling - it was fascinating. More drama in just a few minutes than a lot of full length movies I’ve seen!
Puppy out, mom licking madly, and a towel-sign: “BOY”. Only one puppy? Or did I click in just as the first of several was born? The Twitter entry says “She is due to have four or five puppies.”
well, i’m thinking its the first!
Human took puppy away (to dry it?) then gave it back. Took out stained newspapers and just put down fresh. Mamma dog is currently curled around puppy, licking, not popping out anything else (yet).
Wouldn’t she be bipping out all the puppies in fairly rapid order?
Okay, I just read at a dog info site that there can be two hours between pups. “If she labors for more than three hours between pups, she may be in trouble.” So all is okay, then.
Anyone know what happened to Moka? Her stall’s been empty all day.
Two puppies now! Drat, I wasn’t watching when number two arrived.
Moka’s back now – probably was turned out.