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  Discussion on Is she pregnant?
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Posted on Monday, Apr 12, 1999 - 6:33 am:

Hello Julie,
I think the concept of a "false pregnancy" is not well defined in horses and when people use the term I am never sure what they mean. If you are referring to your mare bagging up, you may be having a real pregnancy. On the other hand a lot of mares when they get into a positive energy balance, like happens in the spring, add a little fat and fluid to the bag.

Loss of the fetus after day 40 will result in a mare not returning to estrus for a several months due to hormaonal events which could be called a false pregnancy. These mare usually return to heat aorund day 200 post breeding unless this has thrown them into the anestral times of the year.
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 21, 1999 - 3:23 pm:

Howdy

I have a Appy Mare that is due sometime on or about April 30. She is a Maiden Mare and I'm a little worried , as she has not started to bag up.
Is this normal for Maiden Mares or should I consider looking for a surrogate mare..
I' hoping and praying that Mother Nature takes its course, but am also worried about the new born as well.

Thanks All.
Terry

Posted on Thursday, Apr 22, 1999 - 2:30 am:

Guess what. Have a different vet check her again. My friend opted to have her mare palped at 2 months instead of an ultrasound and her mare that "is not pregnant" per the first vet miscarried due to rhino a lovely jet black purebred Arab colt. She is currently taking the vet to court.

Posted on Thursday, Apr 22, 1999 - 9:57 am:

She is diffently Pregnant, You can accutally feel and see the foal move. My question was " I was a little concerened that she has not bagged up as of yet. The foal is due between 7 to 11 days..
Thanks Terry

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 16, 2002 - 9:05 pm:

I had a mare that we bred and checked her with the stud and she never showed signs of being in however around 40 days we had her on vacation and she showed some signs of being in heat although they were not near as strong as usuall. When we got home we had her palpated at around 50 days and the vet said he did not think she was and that it was almost impossible for her to hide the foal at this time of pregnancy so we took her to another stud and she wants nothing to do with him and has not come back into heat. Is it possible he missed diagnosed this pregnancy? I have read it is hard to palpate and be sure unless you do alot of them. I have had this mare a long time and even think she looks to be more filled out even at this early date which is around 70 days now. We brought her home and just intend to wait and see.

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 17, 2002 - 8:25 am:

Hello,

I'm not Dr. O, but I've been in this situation before. The best way to find out if your mare is pregnant is to have an ultrasound done. The main reason would be to check for twins, since most mares can't carry twins to term. Twins can also put the mare's life at risk.

Right now you shouldn't be able to see anything in the mare, the fetus at 70 days is very small, about an 2 - 3 inches long with a sack about the size of a football.

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 17, 2002 - 8:42 am:

Tamela,
Most of your questions are answered in the article on Reproduction: Pregnancy Diagnosis and Equine Diseases: Reproductive Diseases: Problems Keeping Mares Pregnant: Early Embryonic Loss & Abortion, including why mares who lose a foal after day 40 do not come back into heat. If there is doubt about the last assessment why not have a second opinion?
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 24, 2002 - 10:16 pm:

We have chose not to have the mare checked again and just wait and see. We took her to another stud and she never came in or was even interested. I am betting that the vet is wrong this time as I have been told even the best vets have a hard time telling sometimes.

Tam

Posted on Thursday, Jul 25, 2002 - 7:46 am:

It is true Tamela. Sometimes you reach in there and you just cannot locate the uterus. Usually the mare is not cooperating and straining makes it difficult to palpate or there is a lot of air in the rectum distending the wall and making it difficult to manipulate. Also I have had cases where the bowel is on top of the uterus or behind the bladder. You have to learn to say, I don't know today, lets recheck her tomorrow.
DrO
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