Question
"EMERALD" Oct 21st
I have a mare that I got at the beginning of July. She came with a filly that was about 13-15 months old and still nursing. Mom and filly were running with a clydeX stud.(we rescued him too,and he became a gelding the next morning) They all were in poor condition. Thin, wormy and horrific feet. (mom had really bad abscesses, 3 of her heels blew out.) Anyway I got the feet and worms cleared up and gradually got them onto a healthy diet, weaned the filly. I was fairly certain mom was pregnant when I got them. the first time I had the vet out they had only been here about 12 hours so I figured I would give her time to settle in before I had preg check. I had vet out again following month(about 8 weeks ago) and she palpated her and said she could not actually feel a foal but by the feel of everything she was pregnant. She now looks great and very pregnant, has milk but is not bagged up, very uncomfortable lying down(spends allot of time down), shape totally changed about a week ago (not as round), sweats allot even though it is cool, lays on her side allot, eating very well going to the bathroom fine, but I have not been able to feel or see movement. She seems very bright eyed and happy. I am thinking she is in the final stage. Just wondering if the filly nursing a few months ago would cause her not to bag up?(she did dry up but her teats are still fairly large) Or.. if the foal she is carrying was dead would she still bag up? I have had horses my whole life but have not ever had a foaling experience. I am also wondering if the foal was dead would she still grow so huge over the past few months and would she deliver naturally or what should be done?
AnswerHi Suzie,
Your mare does indeed look as though she is in the later stages of pregnancy.
The lying down frequently could be due to the increased weight and pressure that she is feeling. The sweating though is not a normal sign during last stage of pregnancy, unless you live in a very warm climate.
If she is indeed in the last trimester of pregnancy and the vet was out only 8 weeks ago, she should have felt a foal at that time. A foal will be harder to feel upon palpation after 5 months, but then should be easily felt again at approximately 7 months.
Normally if a foal dies in utero, the mare will expel it, so that should not concern you at this point.
As for her not begging up as of yet, she may not be as far along as you think. Some mares will not bag up until the actual time of foaling and some within just a few days prior to foaling. The fact that she was still nursing an older foal should not make affect her in bagging up with this pregnancy. Not seeing foal movement could also be an indicator that she isn't as far along as you may think. Foal movement becomes quite apparent at about the 9th month.
You say that she is eating and drinking well, bright eyed and seems happy... all good signs!
Just keep an eye on her, watch for her to start bagging up and do research on signs of impending foaling and the things you should watch for concerning a rough delivery. And keep your vet's phone number on hand!
Happy foaling!
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