Pregnant?

[Dizzy socks]

So...How can i make an educated guess as to whether my Shetland pony is pregnant?
It seems unlikely, but not impossible, as I have only had her 6 months. She will be 3 in march. She is so fluffy, that it is hard to tell, but she seems rather big underneath, but skinny on top. How much would a scan cost, and what happens with one?

Thanks

 

[Spring Feather]

The vet will probably palpate at this stage if he thinks she's pregnant.

Are you sure it's not wormy belly? Some youngsters who come from 'different' upbringings are often not wormed properly as babies and they often have wormy bellies.

Did she have heat cycles during the summer?

If you decide to wait it out then keep an eye on her teats and vulva as these will change the closer she comes to foaling time (if she is pregnant)

 

[mynutmeg]

Only way to know really is to scan or palpate - anything else is just guess work although depending on how far on you think she is you may well be able to feel the foal kicking if you stand with your hands on her belly for a while

 

[NeverSayNever]

they can just be that kind of shape i discovered...

i, and many other very experienced people, were convinced mine was in foal this summer, a scan didnt work as the abdo wallw as too thick and my vets didnt like to do a rectal as she is so small.. 2 lots of blood tests later revealed she wasnt.

 

[Bennions Field]

Ditto above - I have two both look big enough to drop anyday and definately are NOT pregnant, unless a miricle has occured not a single boy in sight other than my 17 h gelding ( I saw him done at 5 months old) and my 15.3 gelding again def gelded ! They just have big bellies and v short legs . There is the 'wee foal test' you can do on their urine - different tests for stages of pregnancy which are easy to carry out and work well (tested my andy mare to confirm ongoing pregnancy) cost around £35 18 months ago - might be worth a try if you are really worried