should i be worried...

[ldlp111]

Noticed she's looking alittle bigger than normal, they aren't sore as she lets me give her a good scratch and I can prod area with no reaction from her. I'm talking about the sort of pouches not her nipples.

I'm not sure if it's just because she's fatter than normal

Thanks for any help

 

[millthyme]

Hmmmm could be down to the heat, my mare gets abot like that in the summer.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Just keep an eye on her in case she's brewing mastitis.

 

[ldlp111]

what other signs would I need to look out for?

I'm guessing it would be painful to touch?

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Untreated mastitis will eventually make the mare feel ill. Initial signs are swollen udder and teat/s. It will be tight and hot and painful to touch. Depending on your mare's tolerance levels she could try to kick your lights out if you gently explore the area! Even more fun is if it is mastitis and the vets tell you to "milk" the gunge out of the teat. My rescued mare had a very bad untreated case of it when she arrived and no-one but no-one was going to volunteer to "milk" her! It took 2 back to back doses of antibiotic to clear it up. But some mares can start producing milk because they are moved to a new field, have a new companion, handsome gelding next door, etc. Same rescued mare was sent about 10 mins away for backing and - bang!- went down with mastitis again. It was suggested that she may have thought she was going to the stallion as she'd had many foals. Antibiotics cleared it up.

 

[ldlp111]

Well she loves her belly rubs and happily lets me rub teats as they get sweaty inbetween, so if she changes to not wanting any rubs then will get vet.

I think they've gone down abit now and she's still enjoying belly rubs often almost walks over top of me to get one