Posted 2016-12-13 8:54 AM Subject: Broodmare with huge belly
Elite Veteran
Posts: 897 Location: East Tennessee
I have a mare that is only 5 months along and she looks like she could go into labor at anytime. She even has edema. This is her 2nd pregnancy and she is only 9. I sent a pic to my vet ans she said it could be Hydrop. So I have read up on it and I am a total wreck now. Im trying to get an appointment for an ultrasound today. Can anyone give some other reasons for her to be so large? Also I'd like some advice if it is Hydrop from anyone that has had experience with it.
Posted 2016-12-13 9:02 AM Subject: RE: Broodmare with huge belly
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 374 Location: Drumright,OK
Twins? It happened to me. What I thought was one big foal,turned out to be two! She was huge. We even ultra sound to check to be sure she was in foal but missed it. Shocked the vet who I brought my mare and her foals in.
Posted 2016-12-13 9:04 AM Subject: RE: Broodmare with huge belly
Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
This could be as simple as a smaller mare that just doesnot have anywhere for the foal to go but down. I have a neighbor who has several mares that look like this. Made me wonder if my mare was bred. His are just shorter type mares. Just like in a little petite person; that baby is all out in front.
Posted 2016-12-16 9:52 PM Subject: RE: Broodmare with huge belly
sparky16 - 2016-12-13 8:54 AM
I have a mare that is only 5 months along and she looks like she could go into labor at anytime. She even has edema. This is her 2nd pregnancy and she is only 9. I sent a pic to my vet ans she said it could be Hydrop. So I have read up on it and I am a total wreck now. Im trying to get an appointment for an ultrasound today. Can anyone give some other reasons for her to be so large? Also I'd like some advice if it is Hydrop from anyone that has had experience with it.
I am with your vet due to belly drop due probably to gallons of fluids and
foal not doing any drinking or other activities due to it being in serious
trouble of some kind.
Over the years I have seen 2 cases with friends mares.
One mare had a dumb vet and wanted to play savior by draining fluids
and antibiotics and all kinds of expensive treatments. Mare exploded
inside when ligament and muscles that are supposed to keep baby in
position apparently tore loose. Lost mare and baby and ended up with
huge vet bill.
*******************************************************
The other mare .. her vet was active and on target and aborted the mare
while flooding her with IV fluids to prevent dehydration and shock treatment
with epinephrine ...... had to use oxytocin and physical calf pullers and
a short piece of hose to drain fluids since mares muscles were stretched
and she had no signal to give birth etc etc .... vet did it in an inside wash
rack ... so gallons of fluids had a place to go ...
Vet said mare probably damaged her self on a previous birth and this one
got slung over in the wrong position like trying to get in a hammock ...
more IV and some antibiotics incase all the activity infected the mare
internally. Vet did a casslick and said to never breed the mare again.
Mare got all right and was turned into a gentle family // guest riding
horse ...
If there is ANY CHANCE MARE HAS HYDROPS get her aborted as soon as
possible and follow the vets advice above on never breeding her again.
After being involved with these two hydrop cases ... I am gun shy and
walk around my mares a 100 times thinking bad thoughts .... but so
far never had a problem ....
Posted 2016-12-16 11:25 PM Subject: RE: Broodmare with huge belly
My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159 Location: Arkansas
sparky16 - 2016-12-13 8:54 AM
I have a mare that is only 5 months along and she looks like she could go into labor at anytime. She even has edema. This is her 2nd pregnancy and she is only 9. I sent a pic to my vet ans she said it could be Hydrop. So I have read up on it and I am a total wreck now. Im trying to get an appointment for an ultrasound today. Can anyone give some other reasons for her to be so large? Also I'd like some advice if it is Hydrop from anyone that has had experience with it.
Did you find out anything for sure yet? I sure hope it isn't Hydrop (never heard of that, but I know NOTHING about breeding/bred mares) and is something simple and not dangerous.
Posted 2016-12-19 7:44 AM Subject: RE: Broodmare with huge belly
Elite Veteran
Posts: 897 Location: East Tennessee
Had 2 vets examine her. Both her and the baby seem to be doing just fine. They suggested to worm her for encysted small strongyles as them coming out of the stomach lining could have caused the edema. So she got a dose of Quest and is happily out with the other broodies. We go for a follow up in 3-4 weeks just to make sure everything is still ok.
Broodmare with huge belly
