Lactating Mare

madvoice · 06-28-2006, 01:09 AM

Ok, I'm going to pick some brains here.

Pepper (hubby's mare) is her 20s, has foaled before, has aborted before. I had her paddocked with Spook until recently (the colt that is soon to be gelded) and took the risk that she may become pregnant with paddocking them together.

She has been paddocked with Spook since mid February. So, lets go on outside odds and say that she's possibly 4 months pregnant. I noticed today that her udders are swollen and when squeezed she produces a stream of milk type substance. She appears outwardly healthy, is not distressed nor does she have a 'belly'.

Can mares also lactate whilst in season? I suppose it is possible but I'm wondering if others have had this happen? I'm thinking it may be a hormonal imbalance (things like that can be quite common in older mares) or she's in the process of aborting.

As it is after business hours I will leave it until tomorrow in order to contact the vet to pick his brains on the issue.

Shannon · 06-28-2006, 01:27 AM

Madvoice, check out the thread "Could She Be Pregnant?" or something along those lines. The poster describes how the mare is "lactating" but it is not white.

I really can't help more than that!

madvoice · 06-28-2006, 01:41 AM

I've looked at that thread. Some similar aspects though I know for a fact how long she was with Spook and 4 months is generally too soon for a mare to start bagging. I'm really tipping its a hormonal thing. I'll find out more when I speak to the vet.

madvoice · 06-29-2006, 12:51 AM

Ok, I rang the vet today and he said that it is possible for a mare to lactate whilst in season and it is also possible for an older mare who has had previous foals to lactate earlier on in pregnancy.

I checked Pepper today and she's still lactating from both teats. Very white milky type substance.

She'll be going along to the vet for a check up next Wednesday (5th Jul) when Spook gets gelded. I guess I'll have to wait until then to find out for sure as he's going to give her an internal examination.

Chester · 06-29-2006, 01:30 AM

Well there is nothing else you can do really, is there?

Let us know what they say.

BestofPrincess · 06-29-2006, 01:40 AM

my mare never fully bagged up from her last foal, and her teats do get bigger while in season

madvoice · 06-29-2006, 02:01 AM

Nope, nothing more I can do until next Wednesday. Vet said as long as she appears to be healthy, not off her food and not distressed to not be concerned. We'll find out soon enough.

Chester · 06-29-2006, 02:06 AM

You know I just love cute little foalies.

Do I get to pick some names.

madvoice · 06-29-2006, 02:10 AM

yeah I've decided on one if she is in foal. CEEBEE!

Chester · 06-29-2006, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madvoice

yeah I've decided on one if she is in foal. CEEBEE!

OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

slap, slap slap

06-28-2006, 01:09 AM	#1
madvoice Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: Humpty Doo, Northern Territory, Australia Posts: 9,336 Images: 281	Lactating Mare Ok, I'm going to pick some brains here. Pepper (hubby's mare) is her 20s, has foaled before, has aborted before. I had her paddocked with Spook until recently (the colt that is soon to be gelded) and took the risk that she may become pregnant with paddocking them together. She has been paddocked with Spook since mid February. So, lets go on outside odds and say that she's possibly 4 months pregnant. I noticed today that her udders are swollen and when squeezed she produces a stream of milk type substance. She appears outwardly healthy, is not distressed nor does she have a 'belly'. Can mares also lactate whilst in season? I suppose it is possible but I'm wondering if others have had this happen? I'm thinking it may be a hormonal imbalance (things like that can be quite common in older mares) or she's in the process of aborting. As it is after business hours I will leave it until tomorrow in order to contact the vet to pick his brains on the issue. __________________ Sep 1997 - 15 Jan 2006 ~Fry Baby I'll Miss You~ I'm not a complete idiot.. Some parts are missing I was too busy admiring the inside of my eyelids when HGS hit 3 million posts..

06-28-2006, 01:27 AM	#2
Shannon Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 6,683 Images: 932 Blog Entries: 62	Madvoice, check out the thread "Could She Be Pregnant?" or something along those lines. The poster describes how the mare is "lactating" but it is not white. I really can't help more than that! __________________ Member of the HGS 20 Pound Club... Start weight: 133 Goal Weight: 103 Current Weight: 115

06-28-2006, 01:41 AM	#3
madvoice Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: Humpty Doo, Northern Territory, Australia Posts: 9,336 Images: 281	I've looked at that thread. Some similar aspects though I know for a fact how long she was with Spook and 4 months is generally too soon for a mare to start bagging. I'm really tipping its a hormonal thing. I'll find out more when I speak to the vet. __________________ Sep 1997 - 15 Jan 2006 ~Fry Baby I'll Miss You~ I'm not a complete idiot.. Some parts are missing I was too busy admiring the inside of my eyelids when HGS hit 3 million posts..

06-29-2006, 12:51 AM	#4
madvoice Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: Humpty Doo, Northern Territory, Australia Posts: 9,336 Images: 281	Ok, I rang the vet today and he said that it is possible for a mare to lactate whilst in season and it is also possible for an older mare who has had previous foals to lactate earlier on in pregnancy. I checked Pepper today and she's still lactating from both teats. Very white milky type substance. She'll be going along to the vet for a check up next Wednesday (5th Jul) when Spook gets gelded. I guess I'll have to wait until then to find out for sure as he's going to give her an internal examination. __________________ Sep 1997 - 15 Jan 2006 ~Fry Baby I'll Miss You~ I'm not a complete idiot.. Some parts are missing I was too busy admiring the inside of my eyelids when HGS hit 3 million posts..

06-29-2006, 01:30 AM	#5
Chester Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: inland of the coral sea Posts: 9,533 Images: 760	Well there is nothing else you can do really, is there? Let us know what they say. __________________ Aussie Aussie Aussie OI OI OI "We're all members of the outback club, we don't back down and we don't give up" Lee Kernaghan "Good friends are worth more than money any day" Adam Brand Is it full moon time again? Did the cereal truck overturn and fruitloops got spilt?

06-29-2006, 01:40 AM	#6
BestofPrincess Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: USA MD Posts: 5,175 Images: 575 Blog Entries: 14	my mare never fully bagged up from her last foal, and her teats do get bigger while in season __________________ tjitske you never deserved to lose a foal 5/31/05 dolly we pray for you and your lost foal 7/26/05 Duct tape is the new glue

06-29-2006, 02:01 AM	#7
madvoice Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: Humpty Doo, Northern Territory, Australia Posts: 9,336 Images: 281	Nope, nothing more I can do until next Wednesday. Vet said as long as she appears to be healthy, not off her food and not distressed to not be concerned. We'll find out soon enough. __________________ Sep 1997 - 15 Jan 2006 ~Fry Baby I'll Miss You~ I'm not a complete idiot.. Some parts are missing I was too busy admiring the inside of my eyelids when HGS hit 3 million posts..

06-29-2006, 02:06 AM	#8
Chester Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: inland of the coral sea Posts: 9,533 Images: 760	You know I just love cute little foalies. Do I get to pick some names. __________________ Aussie Aussie Aussie OI OI OI "We're all members of the outback club, we don't back down and we don't give up" Lee Kernaghan "Good friends are worth more than money any day" Adam Brand Is it full moon time again? Did the cereal truck overturn and fruitloops got spilt?

06-29-2006, 02:10 AM	#9
madvoice Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: Humpty Doo, Northern Territory, Australia Posts: 9,336 Images: 281	yeah I've decided on one if she is in foal. CEEBEE! __________________ Sep 1997 - 15 Jan 2006 ~Fry Baby I'll Miss You~ I'm not a complete idiot.. Some parts are missing I was too busy admiring the inside of my eyelids when HGS hit 3 million posts..

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