2/29/08 - False Labor

Taken 2/29/08 - During the false labor episode:

On Friday, February 29, I went out to the farm to wash Brownie up and give her a good grooming. I got her out of the pasture and began rinsing her. She started raising her tail and was acting like she was in heat. I thought it was odd behavior for a mare in foal to act like she was in heat. So, I put her in the stall when I was finished so that I could watch her for a while. Up until this point she had a few signs of impending birth, but nothing really confirmed anything. When I got her in the stall she went nuts! Everything at this moment looked like every textbook sign of the first stage of labor. She was pawing, getting down on the floor and thrashing back and forth, when she would get up she would bite her sides and she even started biting the walls. I tried calming her as much as I could, but nothing seemed to help her. I felt totally helpless. Cheryl had left for Tennessee early that morning so, by the time this all was happening it was only myself and Audrey (Cheryl's cousin & roommate) and I had Julia and Christian with me out there. She continued acting like she was in heat and even had some discharge from her vulva. (Sorry for being so descriptive.) Her udders were quite swollen and she did look relaxed in her hind end. All signs of impending birth of a foal. I called a veterinarian who had meen referred to me and he was on his way to Tallahassee for a weekend shot clinic. He was unable to come, but offered assisstance during the craziness Brownie's behavior was causing. He thought we should have a baby by 9pm, it was only 4pm at this point. I kept the barn quiet and dark to keep her as calm and relaxed as I could. I started putting bedding down in another stall that we had set up for to foal in. None of this was done yet, because we weren't sure when she was due and before this time never showed any real signs. I got the stall as ready as I could and put her in there with her beetpulp and feed for her dinner. She had really calmed down at this point. She occasionally bit her sides and pawed, but nothing like earlier. I watched her without blinking an eye until 9:30pm. Still no baby... talk about baffled. This pony had us all stumped. I was really beginning to worry at this point. I called every vet I knew of that cared for large animals and horses. They either didn't answer my pages, didn't have an emergency phone number or they didn't practice on large animals anymore and the vet that was recommended to me was in Tallahassee and wouldn't be back until Sunday but would be able to come out until Monday. You wanna talk about upset? Whoo whee... I was so worrided that the foal was breech and that Brownie was in distress. She looked more and more comfortable as time went by and occasionally would show some signs of beginning labor but stop and be right back to eating hay again. It was weird to say the least. I was able to get in contact with Tabby that owns and operates the Boney Pony Horse Rescue in Crestview, FL. She was able to provide with a referral to a different veterinarian that I didn't know practiced medicine on large animals. I would never have guessed he would have either, because his office is in Destin. He's about a block from the gulf, who would have thought that a vet with a small animal clinic, on the Gulf of Mexico, would care for large animals? I contacted his office, his receptionist was amazing. She listened quietly while I ranted about not being able to find a vet and needing one due to the circumstances. Dr. Henderson, Owner of Village Veterinary Clinic in Destin, FL, immediately got on the phone. He took down directions to the farm and was there in 45 minutes. Talk about service! I was really impressed with his personality, knowledge, professionalism and overall HIM. He palpated Brownie, brought all of her shots current (which BTW the vet that seen her on the Monday prior refused to do, because we didn't know how far along pregnant she was.) and he provided me with the peace of mind that the baby was alive, responsive and in the correct position. WHEW! What a relief. Oh yeah, he also said it woould be 24 hours to 3 weeks before she had the baby. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? 3 WEEKS??? Talk about agonizing.