I have a thoroughbred mare who is normally a relatively easy keeper. However, once she gets in foal (I mean, literally within 10 days to two weeks of conception), she baloons into obesity. She stays that way through her entire pregnancy. This mare gets NOTHING to eat except hay and grass - an currently no grass even, now that it's covered under a foot of snow here in Northern Ohio. She gets no grain at all.
I have also noticed that this mare urinates a great deal - at least, her stall always seems wetter than the other horses' stalls. Do mares get gestational diabetes? And if so, how does one treat it? She has been checked repeatedly for thyroid problems (we were SURE she had a thyroid problem - the vet called her appearance "classic" for hypothyroid), yet her levels always come back normal, or even a little high. So it does not appear to be a thyroid problem. It specifically appears to be related to pregnancy, because within a week or two of foaling, she's back to normal, and stays that way until she's in foal again.
This mare is 15 in 2001, and is in foal with number 3. She is 6 months along. I want to be sure that she gets the nutritian she needs once she gets into the last trimester, but I am concerned with her weight. She also has a history of heaves, although she's been totally aysmptomatic at my farm (without a lot of trees - the presumed allergic culpret for her) for nearly three years now.
Any ideas or input would be appreciated. If this is normal, that's fine too; but I don't want to assume it's normal and overlook something. Thanks in advance.
Jos
Posted on Tuesday, January 09, 2001 - 06:48 pm:
I wouldn't consider this "normal" but I don't think I'd be too alarmed about it either. In fact, I would be quite pleased to have some mares like this! J
I imagine that as your vet has ruled out any possibility of Hypothyroidism, he probably contemplated any other tests at the same time, so that suggests that he does not think it to be an issue to be concerned about either.
If the foals are all normal size at term, then that indicates that they are getting sufficient in-utero nutrition via the dam. About my only concern with the hay-only diet would be to either have the hay analysed to make sure that sufficient trace mineral are available in it and/or make sure the mare has access to a mineral block.
Good luck.
sid
Posted on Tuesday, January 09, 2001 - 07:21 pm:
Thanks for your input. She has a 50 pound Harvest salt/mineral block in her stall. I usually supplement my mares with Buckeye Grow & Win in their last trimester, and have for previous pregnancies with this mare as well (although I used slightly less than recommended). The foals have all been fine and healthy, normal sized.
Am I correct in assuming that even if the mare is obese, that in the last three months, she still needs the extra nutrients and minerals that the Grow & Win provides? I have not been comfortable cutting this out totally - but as she's not due till June, and there will be plenty of good grass by then, maybe the Grow & Win is not as crucial as I have thought? I don't want to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire!
And yes, you're right - it's nice to have easy keepers like this. Her daughter is also an easy keeper (although not as obese as her mother), so I'm happy to have them at the dinner table, ha, ha.
Jos
Posted on Thursday, January 11, 2001 - 03:49 pm:
I am not sure what is in the "Grow and Win" as we do not have that brand of feed here in Canada, so I cannot comment on it specifically.
If your mare is still in good flesh during the last trimester, then it is likely that additional protein is not required. You should make sure that she has access to the minerals though, as I mentioned above.
It should be borne in mind that overweight mares are more prone to foaling problems.
I have 13.1 hh mare with heaves. She accidently pregnant. Her heaves have not bothered through the late part of last summer, and all winter but within the last couple months her heaves worse. She wheezes and has laboured breathing. she is about a month pregant. If her heaves remain like this would she be okay to carry the foal to term. She eats only the best hay and is outside most of the time. What else can i do to make it easier for her?
Hi, I don't know if it will help or not, but my 19 year old gelding started having "heavey" type of breathing a year ago. I was talked out of an allergy test due to expense. I was told that it was not copd and we tried all sorts of things. This spring his breathing is a lot worse and they were saying copd for sure. I had the allergy test and low and behold............He is allergic to Brome, Timothy, corn, beets and a bunch of other things. Knowing this and making changes his breathing is a lot better. I hope this helps you with you mare and shows that what we are doing isn't always the best thing without the right knowledge. Good luck Sandy
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