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  Discussion on Uncomfortable maiden mare
Author Message
Member:
kamibroo

Posted on Monday, Jun 9, 2008 - 12:08 am:

I have a maiden mare that is 18 days out from her due date. Three days ago we had a 30 degree jump in temps and began high humidity. We have been at record highs (90 degrees) for the last three days and tomorrow is predicted to be even hotter (93 degrees).

The mare has been having periods of "moaning" on exhale, she is seeking out bushes to brush against (like her skin is itchy) but not being aggresive about it (so not like sweet itch type of itchy). During the heat of the day, all the veins all over her body sometimes become very visible. She is not really sweating. She is in an area (stall w/100x100 paddock) that is shaded and has breezes through it.

She has access to salt and mineral blocks (is choosing the salt), is eating fine (hay and grain), has a 40 gal water tank at all times. IF she were laying down, I would call these mild colic episodes, but she is doing this while moving around eating. As a matter of fact, I haven't seen her laying down at all. She is moving normal and not really showing any other signs of pain.

Add to this that my dog (a 6yo terrier) had a serious heat stroke event yesterday, I'm worried about if this is normal or not. I plan to wash her tomorrow to help keep her cooler. But should I be more worried?

I have another mare who is due the same day with her second foal and she does not seem to be having any problems at this point.

Is there anything that I could use in the wash to make her more comfortable with the itchy skin?

Thanks for any advice.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jun 9, 2008 - 7:18 am:

Hello kbrooks,
We cannot judge whether your mare is normal and monitoring the vital signs as described in Diseases of Horses » First Aid » Taking Temperature, Pulse, and Respiration will help you decide if things are changing for the worse. Pregnancy effects mares differently and while some breeze through it, others have difficulty and the very hot weather doesn't help.

The horses may be sweating and the breeze evaporates it and the resulting salty skin the reason for the light itching, in which case I would expect the rinses will help. In weather like this good shade and moving air are your best friends.

It is bad nutrition to offer both salt and mineral blocks as it discourages adequate trace mineral uptake. If you feel extra salt in needed in the diet consider supplementing the feed with loose trace mineral while offering a supplemental salt block. For more on this see Horse Care » Equine Nutrition, Horse Feeds, Feeding » Minerals and Electrolytes for Horses, an Overview.
DrO
Member:
dres

Posted on Monday, Jun 9, 2008 - 9:17 am:

kb, I have found to cool hose down the heat zones on my horses, where the large veins are exposed.. between the back legs/ chest/ belly then i put them in front of a fan.. This helps my horses greatly..

On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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