Jenna1406
Well-Known Member
My mare has swelling in front of her udder, does anyone know what this could be?
TIA
TIA
Swelling in front of mares udder???
- Thread starter Jenna1406
- Start date
Auslander
Well-Known Member
Fly bites, probably
Jenna1406
Well-Known Member
Its on both sides. One side is slightly larger than the other side and its soft.
Auslander
Well-Known Member
Thats how that area goes when it swells. I'd still think fly bites
PorkChop
Well-Known Member
Is she a bit overwieght? Sometimes you can get fat pads in front on the udder.
Jenna1406
Well-Known Member
She ran with a stallion last year. Shes not been in work for 2 years.
be positive
Well-Known Member
Her milk gland filling, often the first sign of getting prepared for foaling.
Jenna1406
Well-Known Member
I had a blood test taken from her last week to see if she was in foal but no results back as of yet (feels like the longest wait ever).
Shes been taken off the grass and is getting very small haynets now.
So was really wondering would the front swell if she was in foal or still maybe a fly bite? She has lots of veins under her belly also.
Shes been taken off the grass and is getting very small haynets now.
So was really wondering would the front swell if she was in foal or still maybe a fly bite? She has lots of veins under her belly also.
Wagtail
Horse servant
First thing I thought was she's pregnant. Very often the veins swell in front of the udder before the udder itself. What does her udder look like? And her vulva. Is it more relaxed looking than usual?
Wagtail
Horse servant
Last thing you want to do if she's pregnant. She needs the grass.
Jenna1406
Well-Known Member
the udder looks the same really but I might take a picture of it tonight and then again in a few days to see the difference. I havent look at the Vulva properly but will look tonight and take a picture again.
I was told to take her off the grass in case the foal got too big for her to foal properly :/
be positive
Well-Known Member
The foal will be the size it is if she is imminent, she needs the grass to produce milk and to be moving about not stuck in eating hay, if she is a maiden they often don't bag up until late, the veins under the tummy definitely sound as if she is getting prepared, do you have any dates to give you a guideline?
Jenna1406
Well-Known Member
She ran with the stallion from June to end of September. So she could have another 6 weeks really if she is in foal.
be positive
Well-Known Member
Or it could be a matter of days, if she was running with him there is every chance she is in foal and unless someone was monitoring her closely and scanning was done then due date will be guesswork, I would be keeping a close eye on any changes in her and being prepared for a new arrival.
Auslander
Well-Known Member
Oh! Now had you said that in your OP, I might have answered differently!
TBmum
Well-Known Member
My mare had this exact thing on and off from about april, low and behold I'm now the proud owner of a surprise 1 month old colt!
Has she put on weight anywhere other than her belly?
Has she put on weight anywhere other than her belly?
ihatework
Well-Known Member
Possibly a vital piece of missing info!!
Jenna1406
Well-Known Member
Well I spoke to the vets last night as I had her blood tested to double check and it came back as negative 
BUT the vet said, if she is going to drop any day now, it could be a false negative as the hormone levels drop just before due date. So, i have no idea what to do with her. If she is just fat then I need to get her to loose weight (shes retired), might have to do a little bit of lunging or long reining to help this.
She has had the swelling for a month or so but it got bigger when we took her in for a while to keep an eye on her so I have no idea whats happening now. I will keep checking her in the morning before work and someone is checking her during the day then im out in the yard at nights anyway.
Was hoping that the vet would say its a NO.
BUT the vet said, if she is going to drop any day now, it could be a false negative as the hormone levels drop just before due date. So, i have no idea what to do with her. If she is just fat then I need to get her to loose weight (shes retired), might have to do a little bit of lunging or long reining to help this.She has had the swelling for a month or so but it got bigger when we took her in for a while to keep an eye on her so I have no idea whats happening now. I will keep checking her in the morning before work and someone is checking her during the day then im out in the yard at nights anyway.
Was hoping that the vet would say its a NO.
crabbymare
Well-Known Member
can you get a photo of her udder that includes the swollen part in front of it so that people can have a better idea of exactly what you are looking at? also is there much clover in her field at the moment?
Jenna1406
Well-Known Member
I will get a photo when I go home. I was meant to get one last night but got distracted riding my other horse. I havent noticed any clover but it might be that I just wasnt looking. What would clover do?
crabbymare
Well-Known Member
with some mares the phytoestrogens in it can sometimes cause them to look as if they are bagging up to foal. but its safer since she has been running with a stallion to assume she could be preparing for a late foal and watching the progress
Wagtail
Horse servant
Well I spoke to the vets last night as I had her blood tested to double check and it came back as negative
She has had the swelling for a month or so but it got bigger when we took her in for a while to keep an eye on her so I have no idea whats happening now. I will keep checking her in the morning before work and someone is checking her during the day then im out in the yard at nights anyway.
Was hoping that the vet would say its a NO.
It would really help if you could post some photographs for us. Pregnancy weight does not look the same as normal overweight. Also if you could post some pictures of her udder and vulva, people might be able to advise you better. Have you seen any movement of her belly?
faerie666
Well-Known Member
How about getting the vet to come and have a feel inside her, then you'll know for sure?
Jenna1406
Well-Known Member
Thanks for this. didnt know that - every days a school day.
I will def take pictures tonight but the vet was 90% sure she wasnt in foal. I havent seen any movements but someone said you dont always see movements.
The vet is out a week friday to check OH retired mare as she came down with laminitis, if im still not happy, I will ask them to check properly.
Chewmill
New User
My mare is 340 days so very close. She has swellings in front of udder but udder is by no means full. (So different to my previous mare who had 3 foals) This is her first foal, I thought she would have bagged up more than she has by now, especially with the veins swollen in front.
Marigold4
Well-Known Member
I have a pony in her 20s with swellings in front of her teats, one side slightly bigger than the other like this. I have shown this to the vet several times, and they are a bit at a loss. They say it can be a sign of Cushings - they could be fat pads. Could your mare have Cushings?? Mine has tested x3 negative for Cushings though so we are still none the wiser. She's had them for at least 2 years, don't change size and painless.
Shilasdair
Patting her thylacine
Holy thread resurrection, Batman!
be positive
Well-Known Member
The OP never came back to let us know what it was, guessing if it had been in foal they may have announced its arrival by now
Ani2013
Active Member
Brilliant!
Chewmill
New User
No she’s not got Cushing, these only came up 3-4 weeks ago just as her udder started changing. It’s just that they seem to be getting bigger than her actual udder. She should be due to foal very soon. I know that it’s the milk veins but not seen it before with my other mares.