What is this? (pictures)

[Leeana]

This is one of my 21 year old shetland broodmares, she had a foal June 1st that unfortunately died on Wensday morning (he had several health issues in his short life span..joint ill, pneumonia ext). I got home from work that evening (dad called me at work that morning to let me know of the colts passing) and noticed that Cherokee's bag was swollen as well as her back legs and an area was swollen/dropped under her belly leading back to her bag. Vet out and he diagnosed her with mastitis and gave us 12cc 2x day of Naxcel for 5 day and 3 days of gentamicin as well as bute. She seemed to have "sucked up" a lot in the hip the past couple days, the swollen in her lower hocks on the back legs has diminished and she is as perky as she has always been. But the area under her belly that is dropped has me worried - I've got pictures below from today. She has always been sort of a "thinner" mare and she is UTD on worming ext...I feed Strategy, beet pulp and alfalfa/orchard grass mix hay. Im not looking for feeding advice and she has always been in a paddock by herself with her colt so its not an issue of the other broodmares taking her grain/hay - I'm familiar with this mares breeding and the line is semi known for being "harder keepers", and the fact that she is 21 years old, she came from the wauk a way dispersal.

Anyway, I would like opinions on this and any information you could provide...the area is sort of mushy/slightly hard...a good word to describe it would be "full".

She is open for 2011, because her 2010 colt had such a rough time from the start.

Her manure is another thing - the past couple days it almost kind of looks like soaked beet pulp shreds (I have pictures I can post of her manure if anyone would want that for reference).....im not sure if that is normal for the antibiotics she is on.....

Thank you - I really appreciate any and all advice....Leeana

 

[Becky]

I've had a few mares do that over the years. Ventral edema. I was concerned enough with one mare that I had a vet out from one of the local equine hospitals and he wasn't sure of the cause. Drew blood on her. Bloodwork came back basically normal with electrolytes a little off.

I had another do it and I asked my regular vet about it. He just said electrolytes can get out of whack sometimes and they will do that. He acted like it was no big deal, but generally when I see one do that now, I give them electrolytes for a few days.

 

[disneyhorse]

It is edema. It will feel like playdoh if you squish it. This is fairly common in broodmares, even ones close to foaling. It is fluid that collects in the lowest spot of the horse.

Some light exercise will help the fluid move out of the area, too...

 

[Frankie]

I am so very sorry for the loss of your colt. I hope the mare is doing better and continues to do so.

 

[dgrminis]

We only have had one mare with something like that several years ago and my vet said it was just an edema... On her it appeared a month after she foaled and like in your situation the foal had a VERY rough start and it continued for 2 months before we finally lost the foal....

I am sorry to hear that Cherokee lost her colt -- I think she is a lovely mare and I hope she gets to feeling better soon...

 

[rubyviewminis]

I always get such good information from you all. My mare did that but not to the extent of your pictures the month before she foaled. It did go away after a couple of weeks.

I am so sorry you lost your foal. Hope your little mare is feeling better soon. Maybe start her on the probiotics as soon as her antibiotics are finished will help with the manure, but you probably know that. I have seen antibiotics do what you describe with her manure before.

 

[AnnaC]

Yes it's edema - excess fluid. Can you put the mare somewhere she can get plenty of walking exercise - exercise will get rid of it - has she been standing around a lot recently with her ill baby?

So sorry she (and you) lost her foal, hope she feels better soon.

Anna

 

[Leeana]

Update - She is MUCH better today...swelling gone over night and she is more confortable on her back legs. Thank you for all of the support

 

[dgrminis]

I'm very glad to hear she is doing better