Discharge?

[HeritageHollowFarm]

My mare is roughly 306 days. She's been having some red tinged discharge on her vulva the last couple days. This morning was pretty red, though her vulva was not as relaxed as I've seen it some other days. I can post photos if requested, and allowed.

Is this normal? Sign of foaling soon? Or is it a sign of trouble?

Sorry to flood the forum, just a nervous horse mom trying to make sure I'm doing it right for our girl.

 

[LostandFound]

Are we talking a drip? Or just a little crusty redness? I would say post a pic.

 

[LostandFound]

And you might as well share updated udder pics while you're at it.

 

[HeritageHollowFarm]

Are we talking a drip? Or just a little crusty redness? I would say post a pic.

Her vulva is definitely the longest/loosest I've seen it. She pulled her hind leg up to scratch and it was opening up. So I assume it's pretty loose back there. And still no bag but definitely puffing up by feel at least.

 

[LostandFound]

Hmm. I'm hoping someone else pipes in because I'm not sure. It doesn't quite look like a mucous plug to me. And it doesn't look like crusty pee. I've seen a little discharge from time to time and I'd be inclined to make sure it didn't smell rank, then ignore it.

 

[HeritageHollowFarm]

Hmm. I'm hoping someone else pipes in because I'm not sure. It doesn't quite look like a mucous plug to me. And it doesn't look like crusty pee. I've seen a little discharge from time to time and I'd be inclined to make sure it didn't smell rank, then ignore it.

No smell. No discharge today, and her ligaments in the rear seem less loose than they have been in over a week. She was acting laborish in her pasture yesterday and I brought her in, and I'm wondering if that caused her to stop labor. If they do that, will the muscles around the croup tighten up? I have been keeping our routine the same, I brush her and give a quick bag/vulva/croup check during that, then hug the belly and talk to baby to check movement. Yesterday and today she was getting a little cranky about the back end check so I was super quick about it. But she was noticably tighter around the croup.

I know, I know, I'm driving myself nuts. I just like to keep an eye, or feel, on things so I am familiar with what's normal for her and can notice any possible issues sooner rather than later. I turned her back out today, her pasture is in front of my living room so easy to keep an eye on her out there in the snow.

Attaching photos from this morning for comparison. She looks pretty red inside compared to yesterday as well.

 

[jandjcaptein]

I have noticed my mare having a little bit of red crusty around her vulva once in a while. She has a white vulva so its very easy to see. She seems fine. Does yours have a temp or any other abnormal behavior?

 

[HeritageHollowFarm]

I have noticed my mare having a little bit of red crusty around her vulva once in a while. She has a white vulva so its very easy to see. She seems fine. Does yours have a temp or any other abnormal behavior?

No temp, but she definitely has more of an attitude last night and this morning. She's usually very well mannered and she was getting sassy over her grain, and not wanting her usual routine of being brushed and checked over while eating.

 

[jandjcaptein]

Can you email pics and info to your vet? I am so lucky to be able to email my vet with any questions. I try not to bug her too much lately. My mare is at 270 days and I am watching closely. I would say keep and eye on her and make sure there is no temp and she doesn't go off feed.

 

[HeritageHollowFarm]

Can you email pics and info to your vet? I am so lucky to be able to email my vet with any questions. I try not to bug her too much lately. My mare is at 270 days and I am watching closely. I would say keep and eye on her and make sure there is no temp and she doesn't go off feed.

I texted his wife, we are all friends, but he hates texting haha. He's not a repro vet, though he has handled foalings. Most times he thinks I over worry

 

[jandjcaptein]

thats awesome...so probably everything is good! I over worry too!

 

[elizabeth.conder]

I see this on some of mine from time to time. I monitor them for temp any discomfort. If you are on Facebook you can post in the horse vet corner.

 

[HeritageHollowFarm]

No smell. No discharge today, and her ligaments in the rear seem less loose than they have been in over a week. She was acting laborish in her pasture yesterday and I brought her in, and I'm wondering if that caused her to stop labor. If they do that, will the muscles around the croup tighten up? I have been keeping our routine the same, I brush her and give a quick bag/vulva/croup check during that, then hug the belly and talk to baby to check movement. Yesterday and today she was getting a little cranky about the back end check so I was super quick about it. But she was noticably tighter around the croup.

I know, I know, I'm driving myself nuts. I just like to keep an eye, or feel, on things so I am familiar with what's normal for her and can notice any possible issues sooner rather than later. I turned her back out today, her pasture is in front of my living room so easy to keep an eye on her out there in the snow.

Attaching photos from this morning for comparison. She looks pretty red inside compared to yesterday as well.

Update, when I initially posted this she was acting early labor-y in the pasture so I brought her into her stall, and she shut down. All yesterday her croup was firmer than it had been in weeks, her vulva scrunched back up, and she slept most of last night (which would have been so nice to join her but I was up treating a goat with polio )
This morning she is loosening in the croup, vulva is long and loose again, and she finally has a crease starting between her udders but they're by no means even half full, and no colostrum coming out.


If there were an award for best at the Foaling or Fooling game, she'd be in the running for top 3 I'm sure

 

[LostandFound]

So, as the baby moves around in there it kicks. It takes up space. It makes the mare very uncomfortable. They stretch, they bite at their belly, they roll and get up more than usual. You should expect to see a lot of that for a couple months before birth.

 

[jandjcaptein]

So, as the baby moves around in there it kicks. It takes up space. It makes the mare very uncomfortable. They stretch, they bite at their belly, they roll and get up more than usual. You should expect to see a lot of that for a couple months before birth.

That is good to hear. My mare is around 275 days pregnant and is very restless at night. Makes me remember my own pregnancies. I can commiserate!

 

[LostandFound]

Yes, they get just as miserable as people, if not more. There is a tiny horse kicking them from the inside.

 

[HeritageHollowFarm]

311 days. Discharge has stopped. Vulva is staying open a tiny bit at the bottoms sometimes and opens up when she brings her leg forward to scratch so I'd say she's pretty loose back there
Belly has a definite V shape, less belly sticking out from front and back view, and baby has been very active the past 2 days. I was able to get a cute little video today as well. Still no bag.
Yesterday I clipped around her udders and onto her belly, inner legs and the crease, as she is starting to shed like crazy and I want to minimize swallowed hair when baby is rooting around to nurse. Now we just sit and wait for baby to be ready and momma to release her hostage!

 

[elizabeth.conder]

Just making sure, she has not had access to fescue right?

 

[HeritageHollowFarm]

Just making sure, she has not had access to fescue right?

Not to my knowledge. The pasture is a pasture mix not containing fescue. I'm not sure if our lawn does, but if it does it would have been a very small amount(a few nibbles) and months ago.

 

[HeritageHollowFarm]

Just making sure, she has not had access to fescue right?

I asked my husband he said the lawn should not, if it did it would be very minute amounts of creeping red. Hay fields do not contain fescue either.

I purchased her while pregnant(surprise) and I cannot say if she had it prior to me getting her, at the end of July.