Weaning? How big is to big (edema or engorged)? UPDATED w/photos

arnine40 · 11-02-2009, 12:34 PM

Took my filly off her mare last night. Both are doing well it seems emotionally, but I am a little concerned about how much swelling my mare has in front of her bag. The bag really doesn't seem to be that big but she does have swelling on her left side in front of her bag. I'm on my way to work so I can't get photo's right now, maybe later. PHOTOS added today

Thanks

and now one of her funny face

Anne Peterson · 11-02-2009, 12:37 PM

well don't give her any grain or rich hay.

arnine40 · 11-02-2009, 07:41 PM

Thanks Anne.

The other side is swollen now too. Will a hosing with cool water help?

all4him · 11-02-2009, 07:44 PM

OK - This might be TOTALLY wrong since I've never dealt with a nursing mare and weaning but I breastfed 4 kids so.....

I'd go ahead and do the cold hose - it most likely will feel comfortable for her. Do people milk mama a little bit to relieve the pressure but not enough to stimulate more milk? When you wean a horse, is it cold turkey?? LOL - I know cabbage leaves in a bra work to decrease milk production - too bad you can't strap on some cabbage leaves to her!!

I hope it all works well!

CayceV · 11-02-2009, 07:47 PM

Agreed with everyone else - no grain and definitely cold hose her. Do not express any milk as that will trigger her body to produce more.

arnine40 · 11-02-2009, 07:49 PM

all4him, you are too funny. I told my hubby about the cabbage leaves and the look I got from him was priceless.. LOL!!! I'm not sure about the milking that's why I'm here asking. Cold turkey seems to be what most do if I read thru things correctly.

all4him · 11-02-2009, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CayceV

Agreed with everyone else - no grain and definitely cold hose her. Do not express any milk as that will trigger her body to produce more.

See, in breastfeeding, when weaning, expressing just enough to stop engorgement is OK - because it's not enough to make you make more - and it decreases the risk of mastitis. I'm totally not in the know with horses, though - even if one WOULD milk a mare.

CayceV · 11-03-2009, 07:31 AM

When I first started breeding horses I was told by no uncertain terms do NOT express any milk if you're trying to dry up the supply.

So, I never have and they do dry up at a decent pace if you take them off grain and do the cold hosing.

all4him · 11-03-2009, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnine40

all4him, you are too funny. I told my hubby about the cabbage leaves and the look I got from him was priceless.. LOL!!! I'm not sure about the milking that's why I'm here asking. Cold turkey seems to be what most do if I read thru things correctly.

LOL about the cabbage leaves and your hubby's response.

all4him · 11-03-2009, 08:28 AM

Just a former nursing mama thinking this through....

How often does a foal nurse around the time they're weaned? If it's just once or twice a day for a short time, cold turkey would be fine but if they're nursing a lot, that would cause more problems for mom, I would think. When my daughter weaned, we were nursing 3X a day but SHE went cold turkey one day and I had a bit of a time shutting down production (hence the cabbage leaves). But when my son weaned, he was down to just once a day for a very short time so it was nothing to wean him.

It's interesting to see the differences between the species.

11-02-2009, 12:34 PM	#1
arnine40 Full Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 89 Images: 3	Weaning? How big is to big (edema or engorged)? UPDATED w/photos Took my filly off her mare last night. Both are doing well it seems emotionally, but I am a little concerned about how much swelling my mare has in front of her bag. The bag really doesn't seem to be that big but she does have swelling on her left side in front of her bag. I'm on my way to work so I can't get photo's right now, maybe later. PHOTOS added today Thanks and now one of her funny face Last edited by arnine40; 11-03-2009 at 01:36 PM.

11-02-2009, 12:37 PM	#2
Anne Peterson Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ky Posts: 786 Images: 47	well don't give her any grain or rich hay. __________________ ******........TAKE A LOOK........***** http://www.horseclicks.com/horses/rbjnfj/ Cow girls don't cry.....SO STOP CRYING!

11-02-2009, 07:47 PM	#5
CayceV Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 791 Images: 135	Agreed with everyone else - no grain and definitely cold hose her. Do not express any milk as that will trigger her body to produce more. __________________ Equine Sport Therapist www.eternityminiatures.com

11-03-2009, 07:31 AM	#8
CayceV Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 791 Images: 135	When I first started breeding horses I was told by no uncertain terms do NOT express any milk if you're trying to dry up the supply. So, I never have and they do dry up at a decent pace if you take them off grain and do the cold hosing. __________________ Equine Sport Therapist www.eternityminiatures.com

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11-02-2009, 07:41 PM	#3
arnine40 Full Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 89 Images: 3	Thanks Anne. The other side is swollen now too. Will a hosing with cool water help?

11-02-2009, 07:44 PM	#4
all4him Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: East Coast Posts: 340	OK - This might be TOTALLY wrong since I've never dealt with a nursing mare and weaning but I breastfed 4 kids so..... I'd go ahead and do the cold hose - it most likely will feel comfortable for her. Do people milk mama a little bit to relieve the pressure but not enough to stimulate more milk? When you wean a horse, is it cold turkey?? LOL - I know cabbage leaves in a bra work to decrease milk production - too bad you can't strap on some cabbage leaves to her!! I hope it all works well!

11-02-2009, 07:49 PM	#6
arnine40 Full Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 89 Images: 3	all4him, you are too funny. I told my hubby about the cabbage leaves and the look I got from him was priceless.. LOL!!! I'm not sure about the milking that's why I'm here asking. Cold turkey seems to be what most do if I read thru things correctly.

11-03-2009, 08:28 AM	#10
all4him Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: East Coast Posts: 340	Just a former nursing mama thinking this through.... How often does a foal nurse around the time they're weaned? If it's just once or twice a day for a short time, cold turkey would be fine but if they're nursing a lot, that would cause more problems for mom, I would think. When my daughter weaned, we were nursing 3X a day but SHE went cold turkey one day and I had a bit of a time shutting down production (hence the cabbage leaves). But when my son weaned, he was down to just once a day for a very short time so it was nothing to wean him. It's interesting to see the differences between the species.