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  Discussion on Mammary gland development in early pregnancy
Author Message
Member:
lindas

Posted on Saturday, Aug 2, 2008 - 12:17 am:

Hi everybody,
I have a 17 year old maiden mare that was bred around the first of May. Palpated pregnant at 30 days, was advised to re-palpate around 90 days . Today is 90 days, and due to my crazy work and vacation schedule I will probably not be able to have her palpated for at least a couple more weeks. It has been 20 years since I palpated a horse so I don't want to try it myself unless it is a dire emergency. For the past 2-3 weeks I have noticed that her teats, which had previously been like little flaps of skin have started developing and are a little tender. No huge bag development like at the end of pregnancy, just thickening glandular tissue and mild tenderness, no discharges. I grew up on a horse farm, but have never noticed this before in any of my other horses. Maybe it was present but I never noticed it. From personal experience I know this happens in women in early pregnancy, but have never read anything about mammary development in early pregnant mares.
4 questions:
1. Is early mammary gland development common in mares?
2. Could the ongoing mammary gland development over the past 2-3 weeks be interpreted as a probable successful pregnancy?
3. We have a nice fescue pasture with few weeds, but could she be getting into a plant that could cause this?
4. Since I missed the 90 days and the fetus will soon DrOp (if it has not already) is there any point in getting my vet back out to palpate (he does not have ultrasound) or should I spend the extra money to trailer her to a place that will ultrasound her? Or should I just wait until she is farther along, as we probably would not re-breed this far into the season?
Thanks,
Linda
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Aug 3, 2008 - 9:44 am:

Hello DrS
The incidence of early embryonic loss is high so a palpation after day 42 should be done if you are going to manage the pregnancy. Swollen teats are common in nonpregnant horses too and yes it has been attributed to phytoestrogens though clover is suspected more than fescue.

Though the enlarged body of the uterus may be out of reach you can palpate the "tight" uterine ligaments and terminal horns that disappear down into the abdomen.
DrO
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