[rmb]

Hello,

I bred my mare last year and never got her ultrasounded. Now she is about 1.5 months away from the foaling date and I am still not 100% sure if she is pregnant. I know all the signs but none of them are 100%, unless I get a vet out. So, my question is this: Would a non-pregnant mare have a clearish/whitish liquid coming out of her teats when I 'milk' her? If I feel her teats, this liquid comes out in very small drops. I would assume that it is the beginning of colostrum forming and I am not going to 'waste' anymore. But, does anyone know if this is a sure sign of pregnancy? I know leaking teats does occur, but closer to the due date.

Thanks!
Rachael

[mommadoc]

we have a mare that gets so much milk that every step she takes there is 2 streams of milk that come spraying out, unless she is due any time soon I wouldn't worry about "wasting" colostrum. Colostrum doesn't come in until about a week before she is due at the earliest. Does she look bred to you? Do you have any pictures of her (recent ones)? is she getting big? It's usually pretty easy to tell when they are that far along. Is this her first foal?

[rmb]

This is not her first foal but it is her first foal with me as the owner. She has had 3-4 foals in her life, she is 13yrs. She is getting fat, lower in the belly but so is my gelding! She is a huge horse, which tells me that her pregnancy will be disguised a bit, and has a long back. I dont have any recent pictures but may take some this week to get some thoughts from other people. I just want to know!!

[Mare]

If your not gonna have the vet out just keep watching her belly,bag and her tail bone area. She will get a jello soft butt her tail bone will stick up some. Maybe you'll be able to see the baby kicking.

[Equine Repro]

Originally Posted by rmb

Hello,

I bred my mare last year and never got her ultrasounded.

Why not? Ultrasounding should be done to determine if the mare is pregnant and to insure there aren't twins. It's a false economy to not have her checked. By doing so, you know whether or not to proceed with rhino shots at 5, 7 and 9 months, as well as to prevent a tragedy should the mare be pregnant with twins.

Now she is about 1.5 months away from the foaling date and I am still not 100% sure if she is pregnant. I know all the signs but none of them are 100%, unless I get a vet out.

I would suggest getting the vet out.

So, my question is this: Would a non-pregnant mare have a clearish/whitish liquid coming out of her teats when I 'milk' her?

Yup.

If I feel her teats, this liquid comes out in very small drops. I would assume that it is the beginning of colostrum forming and I am not going to 'waste' anymore. But, does anyone know if this is a sure sign of pregnancy?

Absolutely not. And, it's an old wives tale that you'll deplete the colostrum by milking out a few drops every day. Indeed it's one of the ways I check for impending parturition. But, you should have the mare preg checked in order to be properly prepared for foaling should she be pregnant.

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
Equine Reproduction