Stomach Issues? -THE UPDATE WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR...pg. 7

[Pretty Pony]

I'm coming to my trusty HT family to help me out. I wasn't quite sure where to put this thread as I'm not sure if it's a health issue or perhaps breeding. I was a little hesitant to post this, anyway. Sorry this is going to be long. But I really need the help.

I've been at school for a month and was warned by the lady I board with that Lily's put on lots of weight for no reason. But I think she didn't want me worrying. Anyway, I was expecting to come home and see a fat horse. Well, Lily is big...in the stomach. She looks very pregnant, but her hips and chest are not chunky like I was expecting. Now before you scream that she is pregnant, I just wanted to know if it's possible that she is just carrying her weight that way and really is just fat. Or if maybe there are some stomach issues I should be concerned about that could cause this.

I've only had her for 6 months (today is exactly the six month mark) and I know there was no chance it was from the stud on the property. He's far enough away that he couldn't get to her and the only time she was out of her pasture was when I was with her. The stud has never gotten out. I'm going to email the old owner, but might not hear back from her for awhile. And I'm worried she's going to think I'm a terrible owner if there is zero chance Lily could be pregnant.

The property owner does have an ultrasound machine and is skilled in using it as she breeds warmbloods, but she is on new property and the barn didn't make it up in time so there is no place to ultrasound right now. Therefore, that would be a last resort. We could load her up and haul her to a friend's place and use the barn there to ultrasound if we absolutely had to. I was out with the property owner the other night and she thinks if Lily were pregnant, there is a good chance the baby would be dead.

I really don't want a foal right now. I don't have the experience or time to dedicate to another horse, let alone a foal. And I definitly don't have the knowledge to raise a foal. Mind you, if she is preggo and the foal is alive, there's not much I can do about it now except start educating myself.

Anyway, like I said, I just really want to know if there could be any other reasons for her to be so round. I'll get some pictures of her today if that helps. She is not on grain and hasn't had a single extra treat since I went back to school. They're eating what little grass is left and have access to hay and a salt block, but that's it. So it's not issues with graining too much.

And please don't burn me for not catching this earlier. She had a grass belly over the summer but never enough to make me suspect anything else. I'm already worried enough about what the former owner will think when I ask if there's any chance Lily could be a mommy. Thanks!

[Texas Paints N Arabs]

Unfortunately the only true way to know is to ultrasound or have her palpated. It could be worms, grass/hay belly, how old is she?
I know that as some horses get older they tend to carry their weight differently. Can you post old and current photos to help us understand how she is carrying her weight.

[Pretty Pony]

She is on a regular deworming schedule, so hopefully not worms. That was something I considered. She's 14 years old, and had one foal two years ago that I know of. Not sure if she's ever had any other babies. And she did come into heat over the summer.

I will have pics up in about two hours. Gotta go get some updated ones while it's not snowing right now.

[recklesshoundog]

Why would she assume the baby was dead??? (that is if there is one)

Yes some horses get big bellies and the reason the chest might not be as big is if she isn't getting worked then the muscle will shrink down. Palp or ultra sound is your best bet.

[Mav2007]

Where I board there was a horse that was around 12-14. She always looked pregnant. coming out of winter she'd look better, but still fat and in summer even with a grazing muzzle she'd look fat all the time. When they sold her, the new owners wanted a vet to check to make sure she wasn't pregnant because they couldn't believe her stomach was that big for no reason. She had no health issues, dewormed regularly and no obvious reason for this big belly other than that she was an "easy keeper."

So, maybe your horse is bred, maybe not, but either way, you're not a bad owner. You've done everything right for as long as you owned her and if she came to you bred, there's no way you could have known.

If you end up with a foal, it's not the end of the world. You can always put him/her up for sale.

[Carri]

I am not sure why that person assumes that if your mare is pregnant, the foal is not alive. What an odd assumption! I certainly hope that is not true.

Cricket had a very large belly for a while, we made sure it wasn't worms or any other underlying health issue, and our vet advised us to up her protein. We did, and she started looking much better in no time.

[Pretty Pony]

Well, I went out to see Lily and get some pics, didn't realize they are now turned out in the brush to eat that down, so it took me fifteen minutes to walk out there only to discover that the camera battery was dead. Argh! So I'll be back out later today or else tomorrow morning. But I promise I will have pics up soon.

Reckless, I didn't think about that. It makes sense.

Mav, thanks for the reassurance that I'm not doing anything wrong. Your story gives me some hope. Lily is a TB, but doesn't really look like it. I would rather her be an easy keeper than a hard keeper.

Carri, I will look into the protein. The lady thinks the foal could be dead because our weather changed so quick and it's quite cold now, and she turned Lily out with the two year olds into a bigger pasture and Lily got beat up trying to establish a pecking order. So that could be a problem if the kicks were aimed just right.

I'm not trying to let myself think in any which direction until after I know what's going on. Not allowing myself to consider pregnancy or health issues and just telling myself she's just fat right now. But it makes me apprehensive to go back to school tomorrow night without knowing for sure what's happening. Ugh, I love my girl so incredibly much, but sometimes I think she's gonna age me prematurely.

[Slim Pikkens]

You worry too much over what the previous owner will think of you. When I sold my Arab, all went well for two years then he started to lose weight. (old timer). His new owner called and we had many good discussions as to how we could resolve his weight issue. That I respect.

[Pretty Pony]

Slim, thank you for the vote of confidence. I've just waited so long for a horse and I just want to do everything right by Lily and the people in her past. I know she knows her horse is well loved, but I still worry about what she thinks. Guess I need to get out of that mind frame, though. So again, thanks for that.

[Pretty Pony]

Okay, here we go. I finally got the pics I wanted! I'm posting in chronological order for ya. Now these aren't all of them, so if you need different angles from different times, let me know.

Lily the day I tried her out/bought her and the day after back in April:





Lily over the summer:







Lily on the left in comparision with a three year old mare.


Lily about two months ago:



Lily today (she was in a fight, so is missing hair in spots):









Lily from the back:



I took another pic about two minutes after the first and her stomach shifted:

[qtrhorse1993]

she looks pregnant and i doubt that foal is dead.get and ultrasound or even a palp...she looks to be around 9 months....i would lay bets that she is in foal...congrats for a 2 for 1 !!

[step n starstruck]

At this stage I would palpate.

[Horselady44]

I totally agree...she def looks preggers I would get a ultrasound at the very lease to be sure. But, ya IMO she looks preggers

[AlbertaGirl]

If it shifted, it's probably not dead , and she sure looks pregnant to me! Sorry this happened to your riding horse, but a foal is probably a better option than some serious medical condition, right?!

[kesty6]

She looks pregnant to me too. This is in no way your fault... She was pregnant when you bought her. Get her ultrasounded. I'm betting the baby is alive and healthy.
Looks like you are going to have a new baby in your future!

[Pretty Pony]

Okay, even my dad who hasn't been around a horse since his early teens said I need to get her checked just from looking at pictures. So between him and everyone on here, I'm definitly going to do that. I'm calling the lady I board with bright and early tomorrow morning to get numbers for the vets she uses and to see if she is going to ultrasound herself or if we are getting someone else. Thank goodness she at least breeds and knows how to handle this type of situation.

So I will keep everyone posted as I learn what's happening. I just couldn't believe how big she got in a month. I wasn't expecting to come home to this.

AlbertaGirl, I will definitly take a foal over a serious medical condition. I didn't ride her this weekend at all, just in case. And you know what, it's not like I was going to compete with her or anything, she's just there for my sanity, love, friendship, the works, so I really don't mind if I can't ride her for awhile. She's still my sweet girl no matter what.

Gosh, I've never had a pregnancy scare myself but I imagine this must be what it feels like...hoping there is no baby because it would be so much less complicated, but at the same time some little part of my heart is hoping there is. Still trying not to let myself think in either direction right now, though. I'm not setting myself up for disappointment either way.

Next time I'm getting a gelding. So much less complicated.

[AlbertaGirl]

Originally Posted by Pretty Pony

Next time I'm getting a gelding. So much less complicated.

Seriously, if she is in fact bred, it wasn't your fault, and she sure did "expand" VERY rapidly ! She sounds like she's in great hands, and I'm sure you'll continue to take great care of her . Good luck, and keep us updated

[Horselady44]

Good Luck! Im sure you will be happy either way...but Im leaning more to the side that she is preggers by looking at those pictures!
Hope everything turns out for the best(which Im sure it will) Keep us updated

[kaykay]

When a foal dies in utero the mare aborts it almost immediately. If she didnt it would poison her and she would be very sick.

She certainly looks in foal to me for sure.

Be sure shes not getting fescue hay

[horselady]

She looks in foal to me too, and get a place ready or that foal and mom in case it is a winter baby, meaning heat lamps, straw, and such.
and horses have been having babies or a long time, just the raising of them is what humans need to figure out. do not stress or imagine things. just get a book and learn what needs to be done.
and please get a vet out to check her.I you put your hand on the hollow behind her rub cage, than with the other hand tap her belly near her belly button, perhaps baby will kick near your hands.