| Author |
Message |
    
Alex Abel
Neonate
Username: Paintedhorses
Post Number: 3
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 10:41 am: | 
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My mare that is due any moment now started having a fist size swelling between her front legs. It's very soft, and feels like it has fluid in it. It's a little warm to the touch. I've seen this before on horses that got kicked and developed a hematoma at that spot. But its impossible for her to have been kicked right there. Does anyone know other reasons for a pregnant mare to develop that ? Should I be worried ?  |
Jan H
Nursing Foal
Username: Jan_h
Post Number: 18
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 11:08 am: |
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sounds like edema, such swellings are common in mares which are near foaling they will disappear after she foals I would not worry about it at all., I agree with you that once experienced for the first time they are scary to look at and seem like they would be painful to have, but they are not painful and usually does not bother the mare...only the mare owner  |
Kim k
Breeding Stock
Username: Kimk
Post Number: 261
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 11:10 am: |
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Alex, that would probabally be the milk veins filling up. When they get to the end and are due like your mare is this is very common especially if they are a good milk producer. Once the baby is born and the mare begins to nurse those will disappear and should not be a problem. My experienced mare that foaled last year got so big that you would have thought that she had breasts between the front legs--thats what it looked like. I would not be worried at this point in the game unles you saw others signs to be worried about. You might also get some squirting of "milk" soon too. Nothing to worry its natural. |
Kim k
Breeding Stock
Username: Kimk
Post Number: 262
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 11:16 am: |
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Alex, also you will could feel the vein down her stomach and barrel too that leads to the front and udder. Good sign that it is the milk veins... |
Alex Abel
Neonate
Username: Paintedhorses
Post Number: 4
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 11:41 am: |
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Thanks. Now it makes perfect sense. One thing I love about working with horses is that you never stop learning something new.
I am fairly new to the foaling part in equine repro. I used to work at a breeding farm and did lots of AI, Embryo Transfer and stallion handling . But all these mares never stayed with us to foal out. They just came to be bred. This year is my first to take care of a small herd of broodmares. I am so excited about the babies that I spend every free moment with the broodmares. My hubby has already declared me crazy  |
Jos
Board Administrator
Username: Jos
Post Number: 10440
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 03:41 pm: |
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The chances are good that it is edema, or possibly an injury she somehow sustained. Not to alarm you though, there are other possibilities, so keep your eye on it...
An abcess would be one possibility, or pigeon fever another.
So - keep an eye on it, and if it is not resolving or definitely if it is getting worse, have your vet evaluate it. |
Kim k
Breeding Stock
Username: Kimk
Post Number: 264
Registered: 04-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 04:44 pm: |
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Alex,
from info that I have read pigion fever or dryland distemper is most common to california and texas, but seen in other areas. Seen in very hot dry fall times. The horse normally runs a temp of 102-103 and the swelling is hard then softens. Affects any age or sex, but mostle seen in animals under 5, the disease is more seasonal than not and seen in the fall months, also seen swelling under the jaw along the backline, The bacteria is thought to be spread by biting insects and flies with entry through abrasions or wounds in the skin and mucous membranes--organism to cause the disease in horses it must enter through a break in the skin,primarily in the pectoral area and ventral part of the abdomen is were the swelling takes place.
Just wanted to give you a idea of what this is. My thoughts are that it is the swelling of the milk veins and general edema seeing her current state of being due, ready to foal any moment as long as she she has not had other injury or wound problems that might pose a problem for pigeon fever. Do remember that the milk can become infected and pose a abcess problem potentially, but if you leave the mares udder alone until baby begins to nurse then the swelling your seeing should resolve on its own. Watch for heat, abnormally hot to the touch and very sore as well. If these things become a problem then i would defintely contact your vet. |
