any other "late" milkers here?

[okggo]

Mare is 348 days, bag about 1/2 "full" looking, no milk coming out at all. Zilch. She has dropped, is getting jello-like around the tail, etc. I'd KILL to have something to test milk wise. Should I worry (of course by the nature of this post you know I already am)? My other mare had liquid a good 30 days out, if not more.

This is more a plea for "tell me this is normal" more than anything....

[Renae]

There isn't any chnace that this mares could have been grazing on endophyte infested fescue, is there?

[okggo]

There isn't any chnace that this mares could have been grazing on endophyte infested fescue, is there?


Hi Renae, she was on a dry lot well before the 90 day mark. So no, unless the hay dealer lied...

[Tiki]

Many times they don't really know. I would talk to your vet, asap, about putting her on domperidone.

[pintopiaffe]

What's her normal gestation? My great old Trak mare went 354 the shortest, and up to 370. Milk came in (enough to test) about a week before foaling in all but her last. Last came very unexpectedly during a microburst (storm) her milk came in very quickly on him.

[okggo]

What's her normal gestation? My great old Trak mare went 354 the shortest, and up to 370. Milk came in (enough to test) about a week before foaling in all but her last. Last came very unexpectedly during a microburst (storm) her milk came in very quickly on him.


She is a maiden. I know the research has show there is evidence Jan/winter foalings do go longer. So I hadn't been surprised by the past 340 day mark. The no milk has me worried. I keep going back to the foaling books that say some mares wait until just before or even right AFTER they foal to develop milk, but still I'm not 100% confident her hay was not affected as I know the BO went through 2 or 3 different dealers (even though they claimed no fescue).

[Ladybug Hill]

I am not a fan of using the domperidone unless absolutely necessary. It is a great drug when needed, but your mare seems to be within the normal limits yet. I would have the vet on alert in case your mare does have a problem. You can have your hay tested I believe. Anyone information how to test your hay?

[copper bay farm]

My little maiden rescued pony mare is doing the same, of course we are not sure of her dates at all. My vet said many times a maiden will not let down until just before or after foaling. We are watching her carefully - as in my vet was betting she would foal last weekend already! She is quite soft and getting quite big. Her bag started to change about 2-1/2 weeks ago. I would say it is 1/2 to 3/4 full. She has been here since mid-November and at a KY farm before that for three weeks so I don't think fescue is a problem. Prior to that I don't have a history.

I'm with you, I'd be getting a lot more sleep and watching her snooze flat out on the cam a lot less often if I could only test some milk!

Poor pony has a very active baby though! I feel for her. It gets bouncing around and looks like someone is playing basketball in there! :D

[okggo]

Sorry Copper bay, but misery does like company. Nice to know I'm not alone. We were going to use the milk as the basis for our staying over night at the foaling facility. So I'm at work feeling helpless. Maybe our mares will foal on the same day :)

Ladybug, thanks, she is at a foaling barn with attendance and vet on notice. I'm not sure if testing the hay would help at this point since the barn owner is using a different distributer. I hope this is just her and it will come in. worry worry

My little maiden rescued pony mare is doing the same, of course we are not sure of her dates at all. My vet said many times a maiden will not let down until just before or after foaling. We are watching her carefully - as in my vet was betting she would foal last weekend already! She is quite soft and getting quite big. Her bag started to change about 2-1/2 weeks ago. I would say it is 1/2 to 3/4 full. She has been here since mid-November and at a KY farm before that for three weeks so I don't think fescue is a problem. Prior to that I don't have a history.

I'm with you, I'd be getting a lot more sleep and watching her snooze flat out on the cam a lot less often if I could only test some milk!

Poor pony has a very active baby though! I feel for her. It gets bouncing around and looks like someone is playing basketball in there! :D

[Blonde Filly]

I am not a fan of using the domperidone unless absolutely necessary. It is a great drug when needed, but your mare seems to be within the normal limits yet. I would have the vet on alert in case your mare does have a problem. You can have your hay tested I believe. Anyone information how to test your hay?

I agree 100%! I am not a fan of domperidone until after the mare foals and it will bring it on quickly if need by. If you do, do dom. you will end up needing plasma...most of the time when you do the domeperidone they loose or don't produce the colustrum. I've never used until after foaling on one mare that did not have a large bag after foaling and she was a dairy cow after 2 days on the stuff...she did have her colustrum but not a large bag of milk when I did the domperidone after foaling. I have another mare that once she foaled within the hour her bag grew until she was looking miserable they were so big and full of milk. Plus this time of year, going close to a year is very common plus the maiden factor on top of the. Good luck!;)

This is what I posted on another thread of what to look for;
I gave up using the chem stripes years ago. You can tell by the milk it's self once your train your self to it. Once the milk turns, white it is usually not that night but the next night they will foal. Also if the milk does not turn white, white but is sticky and you have your fingers stick together..it is that night!! Now there are some mares that will do none of this and foal anyway, so always look for the belly dropping and the tail relaxing as well. We did have one mare with no bag at all foaled in the field in the day time at 325 days, but I believe the mare slipped or something went wrong..she had zero signs of foaling that AM and the filly was dead plus was 25 day earlier than this mare usually foaled.

[okggo]

Bridget, you were 100% dead on with my mare Delilah. I called you the night before, you had me describe the milk and said, nope it will be tomorrow, and sure thing, it was.

I just miss having the "milk" indicator this far along.

[ljshorses]

I agree with the many others that I wouldn't necessarily worry, but it may be a good idea to talk to your vet so you could have the domperidone on hand if you need it. I had a mare with Fescue poisoning one year (was in the hay, she was older and the only mare affected by it). She did not get a bag at all and was put on the domperidone when she showed all the other signs of impending birth. I think it was a life saver in her case.

I also have a pony mare that never gets milk until right before foaling, drives me crazy every year. She always has great milk once the baby is born though. She also always goes a bit "late" or past the ave time of 340 days. If your vet is like mine and you end up not using it you can sell it back to them. It is a bit pricey. Best wishes and please keep us posted.

[Hillside H Ranch]

I *think* that with a maiden mare and being early in the season that you might be well within the normal range. I've definitely seen maiden mares not bag up until just before, or even right after foaling. I would be nervous too, but if she is being closely monitored try to relax. You can use the domperidone after foaling; if it is a fescue problem whoever is in attendance needs to be very aware of the possiblity of a red bag delivery.
FWIW hay can be tested; I send my to the University of Oregon, but I'm sure there are other places to send it as well. It probably isn't worth it now because it has been my experience that the test results can take a couple of weeks to come back.
Also, it sounds like there has been at least some udder development? If so, I would worry less about fescue, as usually those mares have, literally no development.

[Clear Blue]

Maidens make it so much more stressful!

My mare is only at day 328. She has a bag - but no milk. Her bum is like a bowl of jello. She has also gotten ridiculously "compliant".

HRH - I agree that early in the year mares seem to take their time. I have already lost a bunch of sleep on this one - so if she goes late on me.....aargh!

Copper Bay -are you going to the meeting next weekend?

Okggo - for all of us on mare stare - misery definately loves company. Please keep us updated.

[JoZ]

I had a maiden mare who had no milk NOR a real bag until she was in labor! She was in labor from about 3 pm till midnight (started out just looking crampy but I knew her so well I knew "this was it") and I watched her bag develop, it was amazing. Right before her water broke she had bright white milk squirting. I told my vet about it and she said it's not that unusual. I was flipping out!!

[Hillside H Ranch]

Maidens make it so much more stressful!

My mare is only at day 328. She has a bag - but no milk. Her bum is like a bowl of jello. She has also gotten ridiculously "compliant".

HRH - I agree that early in the year mares seem to take their time. I have already lost a bunch of sleep on this one - so if she goes late on me.....aargh!

Copper Bay -are you going to the meeting next weekend?

Okggo - for all of us on mare stare - misery definately loves company. Please keep us updated.

LOL, I'm watching a maiden on the camera as I type this. She was waxed up for the first time this morning (day 323) and I know it could be tonight or a week from tonight. Her udder isn't big and she just has slightly sticky, clear yellow fluid, but she is restless tonight. Who knows!

[Sugarbrook]

Oh gosh. How many times I look at the mare due to foal and think OMG. No bag. What do I do?? Well, as I have found out, most of those mares will bag up. Most of mine that do that trick end up bagging a few days before they deliver. Like, WOW, she was checked yesterday am and pm, and nothing, but this am we see a lot of progress, and the next day she is like WOW WOW. A BAG. BIG. Happens. I dont worry anymore. Worst case, we are totally prepared to deal with "no milk". Dont want to, but can. Most likely all will be well, and its just me getting ahead of what the mare has planned.

[copper bay farm]

Copper Bay -are you going to the meeting next weekend?

No, no meeting for me :( - even if this mare foals tonight I can't leave my non-horsie husband at home with a newborn foal in the middle of winter. I was hoping she wasn't quite this far along and I could sneak out to Lexington, but there is no way I can do that. Bummer! Hugh has been after me for weeks to come, but this is my daughter's pony and so requires extra pampering! :D

[Clear Blue]

If my mare foals tonight I could go. I don't think that will happen. I envision a few weeks of torture from this diva.

At least I am not the only one with this excuse......

[Windswept Stable]

No, no meeting for me :( - even if this mare foals tonight I can't leave my non-horsie husband at home with a newborn foal in the middle of winter. I was hoping she wasn't quite this far along and I could sneak out to Lexington, but there is no way I can do that. Bummer! Hugh has been after me for weeks to come, but this is my daughter's pony and so requires extra pampering! :D

How long is the meeting? if its just a day trip--make sure the mare has hay and water in her stall and go to your meeting. The mare will take care of the foal and won't miss you at all! Really. Now, if it's a weekend trip and hubby is non-horsie-- that's another story as I am sure he would not want to deal with turnout and doing the stall with a baby/mare.

[copper bay farm]

How long is the meeting? if its just a day trip--make sure the mare has hay and water in her stall and go to your meeting. The mare will take care of the foal and won't miss you at all! Really. Now, if it's a weekend trip and hubby is non-horsie-- that's another story as I am sure he would not want to deal with turnout and doing the stall with a baby/mare.

It is the 3-Day AHS annual meeting in Lexington which involves either an 11-hour drive one way or a plane trip - unfortunately too much of a distance.

Not to mention we have no foal yet. She was restless last night though, down sleeping a lot but constantly looking at her belly, getting up and switching sides, which of course meant I was up a lot, restless and watching. ;)

[Windswept Stable]

It is the 3-Day AHS annual meeting in Lexington which involves either an 11-hour drive one way or a plane trip - unfortunately too much of a distance.

Not to mention we have no foal yet. She was restless last night though, down sleeping a lot but constantly looking at her belly, getting up and switching sides, which of course meant I was up a lot, restless and watching. ;)

I would stay home too!! ;-) Hope you soon get your foal? Daughter's pony you say? what is the breeding of the mare & sire? Love ponies!

[copper bay farm]

I would stay home too!! ;-) Hope you soon get your foal? Daughter's pony you say? what is the breeding of the mare & sire? Love ponies!

Well this pony mare was rescued from a sale in KY by a wonderful lady I know who buys, rehabs and places over a hundred ponies a year from the sales. She named her "Yours Truly" and told me she only sees one or two a year with the temperament this mare has, so we bought her for my daughter with the intent I would continue to school her while she takes lessons on her instructor's ponies until they are ready for each other. I was suspicious she might be in foal and had her checked, and of course she was. No idea of breeding on either her or the sire so this is "Truly" a mystery foal. She could have been bred to anything so we have no idea what to expect in the foal. :winkgrin:

She's an unusual color - chestnut body with chocolate brown and silvery legs, and a thick mane and tail that has blond, silver and dark hair running through it. I want to post a better pic for the color gurus once she sheds out in the spring and I can see what she really looks like. We think she might have some Kentucky Mountain Horse blood in her. Here is a pic - although the coloring on her legs/mane/tail doesn't show up really well.

http://www.copperbayfarm.com/images/YoursTruly/yourstruly007.jpg

She's a really cute mover, so it will be fun to get her back under saddle after the foal and see how she does. I was dying to put her through the jumping chute to see what she could do over some little jumps, but didn't want to stress her while she was in foal.

[Sugarbrook]

She's real cute!!!!!!

[Clear Blue]

I agree what a cutie. My mare is a solid 16.3h maiden - half of what is making me nervous is her size.

Today I had to officially bow out of this weekend:(. Now it is gauranteed that my mare will hold for another few weeks.

I think we need a webcast (hint, hint). We can have duelling monitors. Foal cam vs webcam.

[Clear Blue]

Forget what the udder looks like. At day 333 - my mare foaled w/o ever getting any milk until after she foaled. We thawed out some colostrum and gave to the filly just in case.

Whew, glad I didn't go to the meeting:winkgrin:.

Okggo and Copper Bay - any foals yet?

[copper bay farm]

Oh I am so jealous! I was up watching the pony until 3am this morning - she was getting up and down, walking around, looking at her belly - the whole nine yards, then she went down and just slept. Maybe tonight... no milk yet but her bag is full and warm and her shape looks different. I hope so or I will never hear the end of it from the AHS office, although quite a few people had travel troubles yesterday on the way out yesterday with all of the storms and flight delays.

Congrats on your filly!

[okggo]

Hi! I just wanted to thank all the voices of reason NOT to put on the meds for possible fescue!! She is 354 days today, started getting milk two days ago and is now waxed, full bag, and milk galore!!! :) YIPPEE! What a load off our backs about that and I'm so glad I waited and didn't start jamming meds down her throat on the 5% odds she had fescue.

PHEW, wish us luck!

[copper bay farm]

Good luck okggo! Pony mare is still holding on, but bag is very, very full so I feel pretty confident that she will have milk when needed. I am so tired of watching a very fat little red mare sleep and eat, sleep and eat. :)

[Windswept Stable]

Good luck okggo! Pony mare is still holding on, but bag is very, very full so I feel pretty confident that she will have milk when needed. I am so tired of watching a very fat little red mare sleep and eat, sleep and eat. :)

copper bay-- do you have chemetrics? it is really a GREAT tool. predicts the night with great reliability so you dont have to lose so much sleep.

[copper bay farm]

copper bay-- do you have chemetrics? it is really a GREAT tool. predicts the night with great reliability so you dont have to lose so much sleep.

Oh yes, I have 2 boxes, but she has not dropped any milk yet - vet said as a maiden it may not come in until during or just after foaling - not very helpful for predicting purposes at that point. :) I have a camera I can watch from my computer, so I set my alarm for every hour and wake up, look at the laptop on the night stand, see what she's up to and roll over and go back to sleep if she's not doing anything suspicious.

Sooner or later.....

[Windswept Stable]

Oh yes, I have 2 boxes, but she has not dropped any milk yet - vet said as a maiden it may not come in until during or just after foaling - not very helpful for predicting purposes at that point. :) I have a camera I can watch from my computer, so I set my alarm for every hour and wake up, look at the laptop on the night stand, see what she's up to and roll over and go back to sleep if she's not doing anything suspicious.

Sooner or later.....

I am starting to feel bad for you.. You can NOT be very rested!! Poor you!
Can you try to get a few drops out???
My 6 pony mares were good to me last season-- I only missed 1 --she tricked me. The others all were easy to predict and foaled by daylight!
Good luck!! keep us posted.