Mare Lactating - Not pregnant

[The Trooper]

I noticed that one of Bonnie's teats was swollen last night. I had a feel, looking for heat and any response to being touch (pain reaction) and was extremely surprised to see her express a jet of milk!

Bonnie has had a foal or two in the past and has been with me since last June, during that time she has never been near a stallion so cannot possible be ready to foal.

I called the on call vet last night and he asked the following questions.

Is she sore or bothered by her udder being touched - Answer was no and she (per usual) seemed to enjoy it.

Is it milk she is excreting or is it clear/clotted/bloody - Just smooth milk

Are both teats swollen - Just one

Does she live out - Yes 24/7 at this time of year

He suspects it's something she has been eating that has causes a hormone imbalance resulting in these symptoms, I'm panicking about mastitis/any o. I wasn't sure whether to post here or just go by what the vet told me and monitor and avoid stimulating any further production.

He's told me that time and fly control are the best things to do going forward so i've lathered both mares udders in summer fly cream and applied fly spray. I've also ordered a fly rug that I hope fits Bonnie as she is getting eaten alive.

I'm inclined to agree with the fact it's something to do with the grass as Belle who shares a field with Bonnie also expressed a tiny amount but she has no swelling.

Bonnie's swelling is around the size of an egg I would say and is squidgy but a harder towards the centre, again this is only affecting one half of her udder.



Have any of you any thoughts? Have you come across this yourselves?

 

[meleeka]

I’m dealing with similar, although this was both teats and very enlarged. The vet said the liquid was just a reaction to inflammation. A course of bute has brought them right down. Clover is known to cause hormonal issues in some mares too and Cushings can also cause swollen teats.

I think I’d go with your vet and wait it out. I think mine might have been bitten as one is definitely more solid than the other.

 

[HeyMich]

Yep, my mare gets this every summer. The teats are both swollen and liquid comes out if you express them. It has never (touch wood) turned in to any kind of infection/mastitis, and it eventually goes down. The vet once told me that it's due to a phytooestrogen type chemical in clover that mimmicks the natural oestrogen hormone. I guess mares that have had foals might be more susceptible...? I just keep a close eye on my mare when this happens. If the teats are hot, lumpy or red, you should call your vet again.

 

[The Trooper]

Thanks for your replies, my friend let me know that she was reacting when being touched 'there' and the swelling was very warm to the touch, she described it as quite swollen.

I left work and went to check on her and it had tripled in size and she was visibly uncomfortable being touched. I called the vet and their lovely newly qualified vet came up and had a look at her (I am over the moon with her service, attitude and knowledge!)

She has a temperature of 39.5, is in discomfort when being prodded and seemed extremely hot and a little sweaty.

Vet suspects quite a severe infection.

She administered IV AB and has provided a 5 day course of 2x daily AB powder too and I can bute at my own discretion.

Bonnie is an extremely chilled and friendly lass, she tail swished and picked her back foot up when the vet was examining her so she must be quite uncomfortable. She is to stay in tonight and rest and will be turned out tomorrow morning.

Vet is coming back Tuesday to check her again.

I'm very very relieved that I got the vet out when I did! I would hate for either of my girls to be in pain, I'm an absolute sap when it comes to them 🙄

 

[milliepops]

awww poor girl. Hope she's feeling better soon, and yes definitely made the right call there!

 

[Equi]

Oh dear. I hope the antibs kick in soon and she gets some comfort.

 

[The Trooper]

Thanks guys, fingers crossed for a quick resolution 🤞🤞

 

[The Trooper]

Top this morning, bottom last night.

The swelling has increased a little over night, hopefully it will start reducing soon. She didn't seem as reactive this morning so that's got to be a good sign.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I am glad that she is feeling a bit better, tbh I was surprised that the vet said to keep her in over night, as exercise usually helps swelling to go down. I hope that she continues to improve - they find so many ways to worry us!

 

[The Trooper]

I am glad that she is feeling a bit better, tbh I was surprised that the vet said to keep her in over night, as exercise usually helps swelling to go down. I hope that she continues to improve - they find so many ways to worry us!

I thought the same, I didn't ask why she wanted her kept in, perhaps it was so she was quiet and resting? Not sure really!

 

[AandK]

Oooh, that's quite a difference, poor girl! I hope she is feeling better soon.

My 29yo mare gets filled teats in the summer, always even size and no discomfort luckily. She has been known to drip milk too, I've had her since she was 7 but don't know if she had a foal before then. The first time I noticied it, I did get the vet out but as she was not sore or infected, he said just to keep an eye on them. I put it down to the fact there is a lot of clover in my field.

 

[The Trooper]

I've spoken to the vet again today to put my mind to rest. I have to give 1x Bute 2x per day along with AB's, cold hose and strip (milk) her udder if she allows it and isn't too uncomfortable. Vet also mentioned using a hot compress which would be tricky due to a lack of hot running water and only kettles available for hot water so I will likely just cold hose.

I'm probably panicking and over reacting when she is already being treated but I've only ever had poisoned feet to deal with (Which are mostly straight forward) so this is super intimidating for me.

Vet has said that I should notice a significant difference in around 2/3 days. She was happy to hear that she was very perky this morning when I turned out with jogging and excitable head shakes on the way to the field - Behaviours that i'd normally correct but I was glad to see her acting this way to be honest!

 

[The Trooper]

Very good improvement overnight. Significant reduction in swelling and she is not as bothered at being poked and prodded. The stripping last night must have helped, I'm not going to lie, what was coming out was vile.

This morning top, 24 hours ago bottom.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

It's good to see that there is improvement!

A hot compress will be much more effective than cold hosing, it does a completely different job and will thin the 'infected milk to allow it to come away more easily. Take hot water in a flask from home

 

[The Trooper]

Very was out yesterday, all clear and can go back to work. Really pleased it cleared up promptly!

A tip for all mare owners (I already do this), but it is important to keep the space between the udders clean as a lesion and infection can develop quickly in there, flies make the matter worse. This did not cause Bonnie's infection, but just something vet mentioned yesterday as his Donkey has had that happen recently.

 

[turkana]

Good advice, I had a mare with a simalar infection, hers flared up really quickly, the swelling spread to her tummy, although she didn't seem uncomfortable.
The vet though it was caused by a fly bite getting infected as she had a bite on one of her nipples. Since then I've kept that arean clean by wiping it with a baby wipe weekly

 

[The Trooper]

Good advice, I had a mare with a simalar infection, hers flared up really quickly, the swelling spread to her tummy, although she didn't seem uncomfortable.
The vet though it was caused by a fly bite getting infected as she had a bite on one of her nipples. Since then I've kept that arean clean by wiping it with a baby wipe weekly

I use luke warm water and a sponge, I wouldn't want to use anything else due to fears of irritation.

I get funny looks and a few comments for keeping my mares clean, people who have had mares for years and have never done it, i'd hate to see the mess in their udder.

 

[milliepops]

it depends on the mare, some of mine are squeaky clean naturally, one gets boob gunk quite quickly.

 

[The Trooper]

it depends on the mare, some of mine are squeaky clean naturally, one gets boob gunk quite quickly.

Good to know, I was of the understanding they can't clean themselves there on their own, and muck is thrown up into that area from their feet when moving so it would probably accumulate.

 

[little_critter]

My mare gets crusty stuff accumulate there. Probably a mix of dust and sweat. It doesn’t take mutch to gently pick the crusty bits off with my fingers, I probably check it over roughly once a month. If it’s particularly gunky I’ll give it a wipe with a sponge but it rarely needs it.

 

[Gloi]

Mine loved being scratched there and she'd lift her leg up and I could scratch it and pick all the gunk out while I was doing. Some days she was funny because her leg would shake like when you scratch a dog's belly.

 

[The Trooper]

Bonnie had another flare up about a month after the first one, stripping and hot compresses seemed to nip it in the bud and it didn't escalate to anywhere near as bad as the photos above.

She is still lactating though! I've no idea whether I should make an attempt to dry her up or not. Vet is up a week on Wednesday to xray my other mare's foot so may ask then.

 

[Midlifecrisis]

My old mare is still lactating but well in every respect so vet said leave as is....that’s since summer 2018.

 

[doodle]

I noticed my mare doing the same. I had fairly recently got her but had never messed about with her tears. Rang vet in panic who said to leave her in incase she foals and he came the next morning. Thought she probably wasn’t in foal after a feel but did a pregnancy tests. No foal. Milk remained the rest of her life with no issues.

 

[The Trooper]

She doesn't hold condition well at all, is there anything I can do to encourage her to dry up in the hope she doesn't start lactating again?

 

[Midlifecrisis]

I’m not aware of anything....vets are the ones to ask..

 

[The Trooper]

I’m not aware of anything....vets are the ones to ask..

I have a vet out next week to xray one of my other mare's hoofs so I may mention it then.

 

[Midlifecrisis]

I’d be interested to know what the vet thinks.

 

[The Trooper]

I’d be interested to know what the vet thinks.

If I remember to ask (and then post), i'll post in here.