Mare only has one teat

[Slewdledo]

She is a maiden, due to foal in a month. Thoroughbred. Any thoughts on this? We have not seen this before.

http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n227/fleetpacific/?action=view&current=IMG_5193.jpg

http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n227/fleetpacific/?action=view&current=IMG_5194.jpg

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Never seen such a thing in a horse. Cows, yes, teats/quarters can be damaged and lost. Horse are pretty tucked up though....

Is the "lump" to the right side in your photos looking like it could be "displaced" udder tissue? Do you know the history of the mare - possibly she got in a mess with fence wire or something
and it's healed over?

Hopefully, she will be a "good milker" and the one remaining side (actually two quarters) will suffice for baby to make it OK - there are a lot of mares who can produce plenty for two foals, so I would think there's hope.

Best of luck with her,

Kate

[Slewdledo]

We have had her for a little over a year and no accidents in that time. She was a 6-figure yearling (but chi-chis are not something prospective buyers look for!) - and a race winner in southern California.

I am not worried - it is what it is, and she's not going to know anything different. We were just astonished to see it! (or, I guess, NOT see it :lol:)

[Home Again Farm]

I had a mare that had two teats, but one had no outlets. The other side had a faulty sphincter, so that her milk constantly leaked. Her first and only foal was raised as a bucket baby. If the one working side had not leaked, I am very sure that she could have fed her baby sufficiently.

[KSAQHA]

Wow - that's...er...unique! The issue may be it could get really chapped, sore, and possibly crack. I have a filly that preferred one teat over the other and had that happen...the mare was a saint putting up with the filly nursing from it. It eventually healed...most likely because the filly started using the other. With only one, all I can say is Yee-OUCH!

Hope it's not a hereditary thing!?

[Dalemma]

Never seen such a thing in a horse. Cows, yes, teats/quarters can be damaged and lost. Horse are pretty tucked up though....

Is the "lump" to the right side in your photos looking like it could be "displaced" udder tissue? Do you know the history of the mare - possibly she got in a mess with fence wire or something
and it's healed over?
Kate

That is what I thought too........I even see a raised dot that might be a hint of a teat.

Dalemma

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That is what I thought too........I even see a raised dot that might be a hint of a teat.

Dalemma

Yah, me too.... though as hairy as she is, it's a little disorienting trying to look at the pics! I am AMAZED that you got pics that focused, OP - great job.

Well, when she starts to bag up good, you will know if she's just got one side, or got one normal side and one deformed - if there is mammary tissue in there, it will fill. HOPEFULLY there is some sort of outlet - heck, it may even develop to some semblance of usefulness if baby finds it :)

Best of luck with her - keep us posted!

[appaloosalady]

One of my QH mares only has one working side to her udder. She nursed 2 foals for me without any problems at all. The body seems to compensate for what it is lacking.

[stoicfish]

The picture is very odd. It makes your horse look super narrow in the backend. Do you have a picture of her that shows her whole body? Just interested as the picture (because of the wierd angle) is odd.