4 mo filly in heat?!?

[koolkas2]

My 4.5 m.o. filly started peeing very frequently last friday, always in small quantity of a very thick urine, just like a mare in heat. She also winks a lot. Is it possible for a 4.5 m.o. to be in heat? She was weaned 2 weeks ago. She's in a stall next to her dam who is in heat too, if it helps...

I also thought of an infection. The vet was supposed to come yesterday but couldn't, so she's coming this afternoon.

When I went to feed yesterday evening I didn't see her pee in 45 minutes. From friday to sunday, she would urinate every 5 minutes or so... It could confirm the heat theory...

Ideas?

[deltawave]

I'd seriously doubt it--mares wink all the time when they pee. Did the filly get into some very rich clover or something that might be making her pee more? I'd suspect it's more an adjustment to a weaner's diet than rampant hormones. :)

[koolkas2]

She's fed free choice grass hay and beet pulp+foal supplement every evening. She was fed the same mix before weaning.

If it would only be a matter of frequent peeing, I wouldn't worry too much, but it's the thickness of her urine that worried me... it's creamy...

Vet was also surprised, but she saw a 6-7 m.o. filly dropping milk once. She said it was *possible* for her to be in heat, but not probable. ;)

She's used to see some weird or unlucky things going on on my farm :)

[deltawave]

I wasn't aware that creamy, thick urine was one of the signs of estrus. :confused: Is the filly drinking water? Maybe she's dehydrated.

[koolkas2]

She's drinking well...

Her dam's urine is definitely thicker when in heat. I'm actually searching for a better adjective! Creamy is definetely not a good one! Opaque?

[Hampton Bay]

She's drinking well...

Her dam's urine is definitely thicker when in heat. I'm actually searching for a better adjective! Creamy is definetely not a good one! Opaque?

I know what you're talking about. Opaque would be a good word. Seems to only happen when they are peeing a very small quantity which leads me to believe it's a vaginal discharge mixed with the pee.

I too would seriously doubt a 4.5-mo is capable of going into heat. I always though they didn't start until at least a year, usually more like 18 months.

[Bravestrom]

Funny you should post this today - my 5 1/2 month old filly sure acted like she is in heat - in fact even going over to the stallion's fence and definitely standing like she was in heat. I had heard that sometimes fillies go into a false heat shortly after they are weaned but had never seen it before.

[koolkas2]

Thanks for the replies!

The vet came yesterday afternoon. She brought a container to take a urine sample, but the filly peed right when we arrived and we didn't have time to take any. She too thought that her urine looked thicker. It was definitely better than last friday though, more at a time and less thick. And she stopped putting her tail away when we touch her bum. I'll be checking for improvement, and I'll try to take a sample if possible.

She's healthy otherwise, so I doubt it could be an infection. I've never heard of the false-heat after-weaning thing before, but with two fillies showing these signs, it might confirm that theory! :)