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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
   
Location: Missouri | I weaned my filly yesterday, she is 6 months. Everything went well, mostly drama free. But, today my poor mare is MISERABLE! Her udder is enormous! She's so engorged, streaming milk and even swelling up to her flanks. She is in so much pain and having a hard time walking.
I spoke to two vets. One said milk her out and make her comfortable. The second said DO NOT milk her out, put her in a dry lot , give her bute and basically barely feed her for a couple of days.
I feel so awful... I don't mind putting the baby back with her and making this a gradual transition? Neither vet thought that was necessary, but more poor mare looks like a Jersey cow! HELP!!!
Anyone else experience this? What did you do to help?
Edited by just4fun 2014-11-14 10:03 AM
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I've never had one do that?? Do you give much grain? I have been told when a person weans to cut all grain out as that helps to produce milk. Poor girl must just be a good milker. |
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Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | Thanks for responding. I'm so worried about her!
I went ahead and put her up and gave her bute. I'll bring her some hay in the morning  As if I didn't already feel like the worst person ever for taking away her baby!
Check out how it's swelling into her flank!
Edited by just4fun 2014-11-13 6:52 PM
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Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | But don't look at all the bot eggs! lol! Sorry!!!!! |
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | maybe too much info, but I breast fed my boys and let me tell you, if you wait too long, the swelling will just about go up to your collar bone!!! It was one of the first times I left my little guy to go ride and when I got back in thinking it was perfect timing to feed him, he was alseep. And then proceeded to take the longest nap of his short life. I was so so sore. It actually makes you feel feverish. But the good news is that it is what makes you stop producing so I bet she is better by tomorrow. If you milk her, it will just make her produce more again. |
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Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | wyoming barrel racer - 2014-11-13 6:56 PM maybe too much info, but I breast fed my boys and let me tell you, if you wait too long, the swelling will just about go up to your collar bone!!! It was one of the first times I left my little guy to go ride and when I got back in thinking it was perfect timing to feed him, he was alseep. And then proceeded to take the longest nap of his short life. I was so so sore. It actually makes you feel feverish. But the good news is that it is what makes you stop producing so I bet she is better by tomorrow. If you milk her, it will just make her produce more again. I competely understsand! I bf all three of mine. Maybe that's why I feel so sorry for her! I so know the feeling of having boobs under your armpits and up to your collar bone! lol!!!
Edited by just4fun 2014-11-13 7:04 PM
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | just4fun - 2014-11-13 6:02 PM wyoming barrel racer - 2014-11-13 6:56 PM maybe too much info, but I breast fed my boys and let me tell you, if you wait too long, the swelling will just about go up to your collar bone!!! It was one of the first times I left my little guy to go ride and when I got back in thinking it was perfect timing to feed him, he was alseep. And then proceeded to take the longest nap of his short life. I was so so sore. It actually makes you feel feverish. But the good news is that it is what makes you stop producing so I bet she is better by tomorrow. If you milk her, it will just make her produce more again. I competely understsand! I bf all three of mine. Maybe that's why I feel so sorry for her! I so know the feeling of having boobs under your armpits and up to your collar bone! lol!!!
LOL I was afraid my statement would freak you out. Some of the peeps on here are all wierd about that kind of stuff. But you so understand. Yep forgot the armpit part too lol. Mine go out to pasture when we wean, far away from the house and the babies, so by the time we check on them the next day they have traveled so much they have never been swollen like your mare. I'm sure they are still a bit sore though. There is such an emotional loss when you quit feeding your baby, I was so sad. My youngest son quit on his own :( So I kind of think I know how these old mares feel |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
 
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | Let the foal nurse to give relief and go with your gut and make it gradual. Cut any grain. and feed grass hay if you have it. Keep an eye out for Mastitis since she is a great producer. |
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 The Color Specialist
Posts: 7530
Location: Washington. (The DRY side.) | I wouldn't put the baby back with her. If you feel tout HAVE to do something, milk a little out by hand. Is she just standing around feeling sorry for herself or is she getting some exercise? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| Awwwww poor girl!! I cou,d never just wean my own human babies cold turkey, I'd be miserable. Milk her out and find some way to do a cold compress. You milking her out will not make her endlessly make milk the rest of her life. So what if you do it a couple days in a row? Humans take WEEKS to diminish our own milk supply. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | I wouldn't put the foal back either. I would get her moving a bit. exercise and no grain has always worked for mine. By exercise I mean just turning her out. Mine would always walk the fence and hollar a bit the first couple days. Nothing terrible but enough to keep her legs moving. |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | I wouldn't put the foal back on her or milk her. Cut grain and give her hay and turn her out. I would bute a few days also if she is showing signs of pain. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | im with bb's that say dont put the baby back on her or milk her, thats just prolonging things.....just gonna take time....no grain and put the hay away from the water so she has to walk a bit .......it will get better in a few days
m |
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 Veteran
Posts: 253
Location: EDGE OF INSANITY | Murphy - 2014-11-14 10:10 AM
I wouldn't put the foal back on her or milk her. Cut grain and give her hay and turn her out. I would bute a few days also if she is showing signs of pain.
This. Putting the baby back on her or milking her will only tell her body to make more milk, prolonging her drying up. We always take our mares off grain when the baby is weaned-hay/pasture only. |
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Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | Bad news...she's already developed mastitis!!!
On my way to pick up Exceed and banamine, bute just isn't helping. Her whole body is just quivering in pain.
I feel so absolutely horrible.
Vet said to try to milk out the infected side (right) to get the thick, pussy junk out. I tried, but can't get more than a couple of ounces. Any tips?
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Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | here's the difference in the r/l sides
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | just4fun - 2014-11-14 10:29 AM Bad news...she's already developed mastitis!!!
On my way to pick up Exceed and banamine, bute just isn't helping. Her whole body is just quivering in pain.
I feel so absolutely horrible.
Vet said to try to milk out the infected side (right) to get the thick, pussy junk out. I tried, but can't get more than a couple of ounces. Any tips?
Is it possible to load her up and take her to the vet? Or have your vet come out? My mare would kick my face off if I tried to milk her, lol. |
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Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | Murphy - 2014-11-14 9:31 AM just4fun - 2014-11-14 10:29 AM Bad news...she's already developed mastitis!!!
On my way to pick up Exceed and banamine, bute just isn't helping. Her whole body is just quivering in pain.
I feel so absolutely horrible.
Vet said to try to milk out the infected side (right) to get the thick, pussy junk out. I tried, but can't get more than a couple of ounces. Any tips?
Is it possible to load her up and take her to the vet? Or have your vet come out? My mare would kick my face off if I tried to milk her, lol.
Yes, definitely. But, she's being patient with me and vet didn't say to bring her in... just to give the exceed and banamine and update tomorrow. |
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Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | just4fun - 2014-11-15 8:29 AM Bad news...she's already developed mastitis!!!
On my way to pick up Exceed and banamine, bute just isn't helping. Her whole body is just quivering in pain.
I feel so absolutely horrible.
Vet said to try to milk out the infected side (right) to get the thick, pussy junk out. I tried, but can't get more than a couple of ounces. Any tips?
wow..i hope she is ok
m |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| just4fun - 2014-11-14 9:33 AM
Murphy - 2014-11-14 9:31 AM just4fun - 2014-11-14 10:29 AM Bad news...she's already developed mastitis!!!
On my way to pick up Exceed and banamine, bute just isn't helping. Her whole body is just quivering in pain.
I feel so absolutely horrible.
Vet said to try to milk out the infected side (right) to get the thick, pussy junk out. I tried, but can't get more than a couple of ounces. Any tips?
Is it possible to load her up and take her to the vet? Or have your vet come out? My mare would kick my face off if I tried to milk her, lol.
Do you know how to strip the teat? (Its different from just milking) When dealing with mastitis in cows and sheep - we'll strip the side with the infection while treating.
Hope she comes out of it and is ok!  |
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Oh so sorry! I was hoping for a better update :( |
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Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | lindsey, I don't. Can you explain? Or, I will try to google...
Side view this morning:
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Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | wyoming barrel racer - 2014-11-14 9:50 AM Oh so sorry! I was hoping for a better update :(
Me too :(
Just feel so bad for her... And, I want to do what's best!
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Expert
Posts: 2457
| poor gal!!
Ok - striping - use only your thumb and first finger (and your second finger if needed). You're going to place them as high as you can up and around the bag directly above the teat. squeeze and pull downward at the same time - pull all the way down through the teat. The best results happen if you use a lubricant of some type and squeeze with force. It will be uncomfortable and hurt. She may try to kick - BUT - you are striping the infection out of the udder so stay with it. We like to use warm water with a liberal amount of dish soap in it for lubricant ... and it will feel good splashed up and rubbed on her udder.
Be patient and careful. I'm sorry you're dealing with it but it seems like you're on top of helping her feel better! Good Luck! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2161
Location: NW. Florida | Take a 60cc syringe and cut the end with a nipple completely off. You'll need to make sure the plastic is smooth, put the plunger back in it and put the end that you just cut off around her infected teat then pull the plunger. It should suck out any liquid in that side. Hope this is clear enough to understand. |
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Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | Okay, tried the "stripping" and I think it worked okay. The stuff coming out makes me want to throw up! Yuck! I still cannot milk her though...just those few tablespoons from stripping. I did try my old breast pump. Thought I was being so smart! lol! But, it didn't help either.
Gave her the antibiotics, so now I guess we just wait and watch.
Thanks for all of the advice and kind words. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| just4fun - 2014-11-14 12:10 PM
Okay, tried the "stripping" and I think it worked okay. The stuff coming out makes me want to throw up! Yuck! I still cannot milk her though...just those few tablespoons from stripping. I did try my old breast pump. Thought I was being so smart! lol! But, it didn't help either.
Gave her the antibiotics, so now I guess we just wait and watch.
Thanks for all of the advice and kind words.
You have one heck of a good mare to let you do all that.... Good Luck  |
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Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | just4fun - 2014-11-14 1:10 PM
Okay, tried the "stripping" and I think it worked okay. The stuff coming out makes me want to throw up! Yuck! I still cannot milk her though...just those few tablespoons from stripping. I did try my old breast pump. Thought I was being so smart! lol! But, it didn't help either.
Gave her the antibiotics, so now I guess we just wait and watch.
Thanks for all of the advice and kind words.
Poor mama. But I bet you helped her a lot. She will be feeling better soon in a few days. |
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Expert
Posts: 2457
| just4fun - 2014-11-14 12:10 PM
Okay, tried the "stripping" and I think it worked okay. The stuff coming out makes me want to throw up! Yuck! I still cannot milk her though...just those few tablespoons from stripping. I did try my old breast pump. Thought I was being so smart! lol! But, it didn't help either.
Gave her the antibiotics, so now I guess we just wait and watch.
Thanks for all of the advice and kind words.
Oh yeah ... and it reeks to high heaven too - try to avoid getting it on yourself!!! Hope she's feeling better soon!! |
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | That pump post made me laugh! You really do have a sweet mare. I bet the meds will have her feeling just the thing tomorrow. Usually a day or 2 of meds and they are on the mend. |
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Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | She is doing better this morning!!!  Think we're on the right track! I gave her more banamine and went ahead and turned her out again so she'd walk/move around more. She is in a lot less pain, her muscles have relaxed, her tail isn't clamped down, and she's walking easier.
About the breast pump...it really wasn't a bad option! lol! It worked fine on the side that wasn't infected! Just an FYI, in case anyone else needs to milk their mare... 
eta: and, yes! She is very, very sweet! That's her in my avatar pic. I adore her, definitely a once-in-a-lifetime horse :)
Edited by just4fun 2014-11-15 10:44 AM
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weaning question (now mastitis)