Mares udder issues!

[RuthP]

Slightly hard to explain but... my mare seems ever so slightly swollen in the area of belly that is just before her udder.

If that makes no sense its the bit that sort of splits to go either side of her udder, but it is belly and not udder!!

It feels quite warm and she doesn't like it being touched.

Can anyone help??

 

[AmyMay]

Sting??

 

[Silverspring]

Are her udder's filled at all? Or is it just swelling infront of the udder? Also has she had a foal in the past?

 

[RuthP]

Thanks for the replies..

AmyMay I hadn't thought of that, its swollen identically on each side and doesn't look 'sting like' but then again, there have been lots of midges around here lately.

Silverspring her udders are not filled, and yes the swelling only infront of the udders (thats such a better way of explaining it!). She's never foaled.

 

[calon]

my mare does this a lot at that time of month not to worry as long as bag ok and no mastitus

 

[Silverspring]

Hmmm...I would keep an eye on it and if the swelling gets bigger, she starts to loose any condition or it doesn't go away within a week or so I would get a vet out or at least call the vet and see what they think to the matter. Could be a bite but it could also be a hernia (sp?) as that's round about where her belly button will be and therefore the weakest point in their stomach muscles.

 

[kellyeaton]

my mare just to have this quite often i put it done to midges she hated me touching it but get some one to take her attetion away from you whilst you clean the area with a baby wipe place some udder cream on her unders and some aloe on the swollen area as long as it is clean you should have no props at all ifb the swelling gets any worse and she looks uncomfortable call the vets!

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Is there any milk leaking from the teats Ruth? Or just yucky stuff? Will she let you GENTLY (be prepared to hop back smartish) squeeze the teats to see if you can get anything out? It might be mild mastitis in which case your ned will need antibiotics.

 

[buzzles]

Is the mare in foal?
It could be just a bit of odema building up. I had a mare who got very bad mastitis last year (never had a foal) and as a result she got a lot of fluid building up around her lower abdomen and between her back legs. It went away with medication, gentle exercise and when the mastitis was treated with antibiotics but I have to watch her now as she is prone to fluid building up if the area is irritated by flies or she's not exercised every day. My mare never had sore udders or any discharge, one of her teats was just really swollen. The vet was worried it might be a tumor but turned out to chronic mastitis leading to scar tissue in the teat which interfered with the lymph glands hence the build up of odema. If you're anyway worried get the vet out, otherwise just monitor it.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

my mare got swollen there due to infected fly bite, I used warm water and very dilute hibiscrub and it cleared up a treat.

mind you Im lucky as she absolutely loves any massage round those parts, such a tart.....

 

[RuthP]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Box of frogs, theres no milk but the teats look slightly white?! I'll try to have a feel tonight and hope my head is still intact afterwards!
And no she's not pregnant, although her belly would suggest otherwise!
Thanks for all the info, think it must be mild mastitus, or maybe fly irritation, hope its not a hernia

, will keep an eye on it over the weekend and get vet on monday as not much to look at at the moment! thanks again!