Robin's Pregnancy Thread MAIDEN :) *Filly! 1-7-13* *New Photos #831*

[phoebeq]

Thanks guys

I already have a Black Betty (my dane/mastiff), so I thought Betty White was cute, lol. She is a Silkie, Kristi

Robin is fluffy, fluffy. No change in her udder yet. I am going to be watching her closely as we approach day 300/November 12th/My BIRTHDAY, as SIL says that placentitis can speed up development of the fetus and therefore lead to an earlier birth.

 

[AnnaC]

That's interesting Katy as I understood that placentitis was an infection that caused the placenta to harden or to become partially separated thereby depriving the foal of some of its essential nutriments, leading to either an early abortion or a week, compromised foal if the pregnancy does manage to go to term. Treatment, after culture of any discharge plus a u-sound, is to put the mare on anti-biotics for the rest of the pregnancy to try to 'cure' the infection and to reduce inflamation, together with something like regumate to try to keep the pregnancy going as long as possible for the (hopefully) foal's benefit.

I know that Robin had some discharge a while ago and that she started to develop an udder, both of which can be signs of placentitis, but I dont think that Robin can have been suffering from placentitis - perhaps she just had a minor infection for some reason - as your vet did not suggest continuing with the anti-b's and both she and your SIL are happy with Robin's progress now.

I was really interested to learn another aspect/possibility of placentitis from your SIL "can speed up the development of the fetus". We are all here to learn so it is great to have another way of looking at what can be a problem with some mares.

I expect Robin is getting fluffy - my lot are well on the way towards getting dressed in their winter Yak fancy dress LOL!! And 300 days and your Birthday will be a great reason for a double celebration!!

Oh and keep the pictures coming.

 

[phoebeq]

I'm not sure...maybe it wasn't placentitis, who knows? All I know is that she is doing well and hasn't been on antibiotics for a few weeks now

Thanks for the info!

 

[phoebeq]

Here are a couple of photos of Fiona from yesterday...love this big girl!

 

[lexischase]

The first shot is absolutely incredible... Love your work!

 

[AnnaC]

Fabulous shots of a very beautiful girl! There is something very special about those wonderful biggies with their feathery legs isn't there!

 

[phoebeq]

Thank you, ladies

I will try to get some of Robin soon

 

[countrymini]

So talented

 

[Jade10]

I just love your Fiona, and the background is amazing too!

 

[phoebeq]

Thanks! I wish that i had more time to ride Fiona, but with the 2.5 year old, it makes it difficult to get out there and work with her

Anyway, I let Michael feed Robin this evening...it was cute. Here are pics

 

[chandab]

Cute pics, looks like she needs a slightly bigger feed pan.

 

[phoebeq]

LOL, yeah...I have one just outside of the backyard...laziness +ADD =it hasn't happened yet LOL.

 

[Wings]

Love those Fiona pics

 

[AnnaC]

What cute pictures - she's such a sweetie isn't she, bless her.

 

[phoebeq]

Thanks! And yes, she is a sweetie

Love her!

 

[AnnaC]

Katy, just been reading back through about 10 pages of posts (!!) to refresh my mind re Robin's progress and I think we need to re-organise her programme if, as it appears, she is not going to get to 300 days until around mid November?

How big is the 'night' enclosure that you have been using? As you are happy to have her with your other horses, could you turn her out with them during the day and have her back in the smaller enclosure at nights? This would give her the most important exercise that mares need on the run up to foaling. Also her feed - that is a very large feed in your recent pictures, how often does she get this? We dont want her to put on any more weight than she has now - she looks good right now - if she has all this time to go before she foals. On the other hand she does still need to have all her vitamins and vitamins. Do you feed hay to your others during the day - if not then perhaps she could just run with them during the day and have her hay at nghts plus a smaller more concentrated amount of feed morning and evening? If your others share hay during the day then you could just reduce the amount Robin has at nights a little.

Just trying to reorganise things a little to get your sweet girl to the "right place at the right time" now that the goal posts have moved. Plenty of exercise is the most important thing, plus her vitamins and minerals for both the well being of her and the foal. She needs to stay 'well covered' but doesn't need to be obese and she has another two months of just eating to go through yet before she foals (approx). Eating without regular and prolonged exercise will not help her or the foal especially at foaling time. She's looking perfect at the moment for her stage of pregnancy, we just need to keep her on track for the next couple of months.

 

[phoebeq]

You know, Anna, you are very correct. I hadn't realized it until you posted this. She was getting two big handfuls of alfalfa mini cubes and about a half a feed bucket of Chaffhaye. I am not giving her any grass hay anymore, simply because I can't guarantee that it doesn't have fescue in it. It isn't as much as it looks like because the Chaffhaye fluffs up, but I was still probably giving her a little too much. I backed her down a little, so we are good to go now

As far as letting her out, I may start doing that...I just need to keep an eye on her because she knows how to get under the fence into Fiona's pasture with the round bale in it. So, if she decides that she wants to, she can get in there and gorge herself on hay, lol. But, I am going to go and let her out now for some exercise

 

[AnnaC]

Perhaps you could divide her feed into three, doing one late night when you check on her - to go all day without anything to nibble at between feeds will not be good for her - does she get anything else to nibble at if you cant give her your hay?

Could you have a look at your fence next to Fiona's paddock and add something to it or maybe run a strand of electic down it, so Robin can get out for some regular exercise. Sorry but not easy to make suggestions without knowing someone's exact set up, so I'm just throwing out ideas that might not be possible!

 

[phoebeq]

I will look into that, thanks

 

[phoebeq]

Had Robin's tootsies done this AM

Her front left has a tendency to flare out really badly...but that is all taken care of now. She was a very good girl.

As far as the pregnancy, nothing new to report. She is fluffy, has a depressing lack of a bag, and is a beach ball