maiden mare 6 weeks from due date

Question
hi, i have a 12 yr old tb maiden mare in foal- she is 6 weeks from her due date- 1 week ago she started showing very aggresive signs that she was going to abort- elogated vulva, very soft hind quarters,dripping milk like crazy & mucus discharge- she has been acting normal- eating drinking and happy. my vet immediatley started her on regumate, banamine & naxel. nothing has changed as far as her signs however it has been a week and she has not progressed. is it normal or can it be possible for a mare to do this for 6-7 weeks prior to foaling or is she most likely going to abort? i'm told 2 weeks is the earliest she can go and have a healty foal- is this true?

Answer
Hi Jennifer,
              The average gestation of a mare is from 320-340 days. I do know of mares who have foaled at 298 days and the foal did survive, although it was touch and go. Has your Vet palpated her to make sure that she is still in foal? If the Vet has not palpated her, then I would highly recommend that he does. If she has not aborted then continue the regumate until you get her to the 320 day mark. If you can get her to that mark, then she should foal safely. I would make sure that you do get an IGG run on the foal to make sure that the mare's infection did not pas to it.

Please let me know what happens.

Lisa