Pregnant or not

[PJT]

I need some advice, I bought a pony for my daughter. Th pony is 39" tall. She is 4 1/2 years old. She is either near foaling or is having flase pregnancy. She has some milk in the udder, mammary gland swollen and has been showing these signs for about 3 weeks. Any hints

[ros]

You've waited 3 WEEKS before asking US?

Yes, get a vet's opinion straight away. It's a long time for a mare to be showing milk - that doesn't usually happen until foaling is imminent. There could well be a problem of some description.

[Wally]

How long have you had the mare? Could she have just had a foal taken from her? Could this be the reamains of lactation?

Usually are mare will bag up a month or so before foaling. Wax like droplets will appear in the ends of the ducts very near to foaling.

The only sure way to know what is going on is to get the vet to do an internal.

[ros]

Mmm, didn't think of that. You'd imagine the previous owners would have mentioned it, or did the pony come from a sale so her history isn't available?

Wally - do mares tend to get mastitis, or is it mainly sheep/cows? I can't say I've ever heard of a case personally, but if there's any abnormal swelling there may be some infection. Also, how long does it usually take a mare to dry off after weaning? Our cows always dried up quite quickly.

[Wally]

Yes, they can get mastitis but it is usually accompanied with fever and general unwellness.

We tend to dry our cows off gradually, if she has had a foal taken suddenly it may well present a swollen udder for a while.