Suspected cushings/Producing milk

L

Litalocket

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Hello, new to this site and really need some help!
My 23 yr old mare has produced milk for at least 12 years probably longer, i've always stripped it off her once or twice a week as otherwise she gets mastitis. But in feb this year the vet injected her teats with long lasting intibiotics in the hope the milk would dry up. 8 months later her teats are still full of milk and now has a mild infection, indicating the milk is a hormonal problem. The vet thinks she could have cushings but i'm not sure as she has no other symtoms and has had this problem a long time. Does anybody else have a milky horse??? Or got any idea's?
 
Oh blimey L! My mare occasionally comes into milk and gets mastitis but antbx clear it up straight away. We think it's linked to her remembering being put to the stallion. It can also be triggered by changes in management and lush grazing. But I didn't know it could be a side effect of Cushings.

Sorry, this is no help at all, just wanted you to know everyone is thinking of you - do hope you find a solution, poor little mare. If you do L, stick a post on about it coz sharing info and experience is one of the huge benefits of this fabulous Forum. Welcome by the way and prepare to be addicted! x
 
Hi Litalocket, my pony mare had filled teats for pretty much all her life and never had an infection from them. I occasionally drained them, but they'd just fill again so I left them well alone (on vet's advice). Sadly the little one was diagnosed with Cushings nearly 3 years ago, I lost her last year and even when she was starting to get run down and feel poorly she had no trouble from the teats. I have never heard of this being a side effect of Cushings, is your vet basing her opinion on any other factors/symptoms?
 
Hi

my old mare started doing this a few month ago. She is out on loan though so your best speaking to my friend who has her. her name on here is amarief if you want to pm her. She will probably be able to help or give you good advice
 
Hi
My mare has milk and has done for the last 7yrs, at first it was just in the summer, but now its all the time, the vet just said leave it so i do and we have had no problems, she is now 28yrs old.
 
Hi - I have a Cushings gelding and have a vague memory when reading up on the condition of reading of mares with Cushings occasionally producing milk. Have done a quick check on the net and found this on the infovet site "Occasionally, a mare's oestrous cycle will be abnormal or not occur at all. Some horses with Cushing's disease have become completely sterile. Mares may even produce milk despite not being pregnant." Hope you can resolve the problem
 
Thanks very much for all your replies! The infection seem's much better today, but will get the vet if it flares up again. Nice to hear she's not the only mare producing milk for no apparent reason, as normally when i mention it to people they've never heard of it before, even the vets seem a little confused by it! Would still love to hear if anyone else's mare has had this problem? And has it been conected to cushings disease??
 
My 7yr old produces milk all year round, but mostly in the summer when in season, this is hormonal as she has a phontom pregnancy when she was 3yrs old (before I bought her).

My vet suggested that I put her on regumate which is for hormonal imbalance. She still produces a bit of milk when on this, but not half as much and she too would get mastitis should I not remove all milk from her.

Might be worth speaking to your vet about it??
 
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