Managing Fescue for Horses is an Oklahoma State University publication.
Fescue is native to many regions.It is safe for your horse to eat if it is contaminated with the fungus Acremonium coenophialum.Toxicity will develop when your horse ingests this fungus, which grows and lives in contaminated fescue.The hormones that are produced in a pregnant mare are affected by the toxin produced by a fungus.Problems occur when the foal is trying to feed.There aren't a lot of treatments for fescue toxicity, and the treatments veterinarians are using are not guaranteed to work.The growth of toxic fescue is important.
The toxicity of fescue affects pregnant mares.If you think your pregnant friend is not doing well, contact her doctor.
Each case has its own severity of fescue toxicity.It can change from year to year.If a high nitrogenfertilizer is applied to the field, it will increase the severity of the toxicity.
Fescue toxicity can be caused by a fungus called Acremonium coenophialum.Prolactin is essential for milk let down in pregnant mares.Some fescue can be found without the fungus that is safe to give to your mare.
The symptoms of fescue toxicity can be identified by the vet.If there is fescue in the pasture, you can send samples to the laboratory to be tested for the presence of the fungus.
It may take further diagnostics to rule out other probable causes if you don't know what is in your pasture.Blood work can be used to evaluate your horse's organ function and blood levels.She will need a complete blood count and chemistry panel to evaluate the severity of your horse's condition.
If your horse is pregnant, she may want to palpate the fetus.She will palpate your mare to check the size and location of the foal.She may want to do a live image of your horse and foal in addition to this.Depending on your horse's condition, the vet may want to run more tests.
There is almost no treatment for fescue toxicity.Domperidone has been shown to counteract the negative effects of toxicity in horses.A seaweed product is believed to reduce the effects of toxic fescue.If you remove your pregnant horse from the suspected pasture at least one month prior to giving birth, you may be able to prevent some issues.
Prevention is the ultimate treatment since there isn't much in the way of treatment.In order to prevent fescue toxicity, you have to destroy the fields with controlled burns, mix other grasses into the field, and use specific fertilization programs.Some horse owners will replant the field with a choke plant after ridding themselves of the fescue.The plant is very aggressive and does not allow other vegetation to grow in the area and will even out compete and take over the other plants.
Your horse's recovery will be affected by the severity of the fescue toxicity.If you didn't notice that your pregnant mare was in a contaminated field, she may have a stillbirth or not be able to provide milk for her baby.If you caught the problem early on, removed her from the field, and gave her medication, the odds of her birthing a healthy foal are good.
Do you know what your horse is eating?Even if they just grazed on the natural vegetation of the area, there is no guarantee it was healthy for them.If you are new to the field and have questions, talk to your doctor.She will be happy to help you with the care of your horse.
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I have a miniature mare that is 343 days in foal, her last delivery date was 336, she is a new mare to me.We live in Valley Springs, Ca, and we are concerned about the growth of fescue grass in our area.How much would the mare need to eat to harm the foal?I am worried about her because her former owner said she is an easy keeper and she foals out easily.The foal.
I don't think Wish would need to eat a lot of Fescue grass to have a baby.I don't know if Fescue grass is growing.If she isn't foaling when expected, it's a good idea to have a vet look at her and the baby to make sure everything is okay.I hope everything goes well for her.