Potential problems can develop in mares in January since most mares are in late pregnancy at that point of the year. One of the things that can develop in late pregnancy and can cause a problem is an excessively long umbilical cord. These long cords can cause the fetus to die if they get twisted or wrapped around the fetus's body. Now it is normal for some twisting to occur in the umbilical cord and all abortions should not be blamed on this. However, Dr. Sara Lyle from LSU indicates if the cord is dilated and swollen with blood clots, and evidence of bleeding is present, then this may be the cause of the problem. Also, excessively short umbilical cords can also be a problem because they can rupture during delivery preventing the fetus from getting oxygen.

Fetal abnormalities are also a problem in advanced pregnancy. These can be as mild as a leg contracted to more severe abnormalities such as scoliosis of the spine. A major problem is a condition in which the abdomen of the fetus does not close and all the internal organs are outside the body of the fetus. This can cause a major problem with delivery of the dead fetus. Another problem that can develop is called hydrops in which an abnormal amount of fluid builds up around the fetus and causes excessive abdominal enlargement. Dr. Lyle indicates some of these mares can accumulate up to 50 gallons of fluid around the fetus that can develop slowly or rapidly. Obviously this can cause severe problems and aborting the pregnancy to save the mare is usually recommended. However, these mares are still susceptible to founder and uterine problems. Join us next time as we continue to look at other problems of late-term mares.