Bloody Show around vulva?

[stephanie]

Okay my friends mare is in foal due this month or next possibly.  I started to do pictures and check progress as we go.  I noticed last night she has kind of a bloody excreation on her vulva.  I don't remember this on any of our other mares, but it's been 3 years since we last foaled one out.  Should I be concerned?  I'm fixin to call the vet when they open, but thought I would check here first.
Here are her stats
Age:      21 This spring
Breed:      NC App Mare
Bred To:                Small QH Pleasure Stud
Bred:        Breeding certificate showed her exposed from Feb thru June
Palpated:    Oct -at which time the vet said by size of foal, foal's hooves, position etc she felt she was 5-6 months bred
Foal Date:     Possible Feb-Mar
Last Foal:     10 years ago no complications
Job:        Ex Show horse, now pasture life
Overall Health:   Good
Vice:       Cribber, Does not like feet being trimmed
Grain:       ½ Scoop Senior and ½ Scoop Omolene twice daily
Hay:      Off Fescue for pregnancy, on Bermuda Hay

Pictures http://www.thesanctuaryfarm.com/corky.htm
You can click on thumbnails to make picture larger if needed.

[heypony]

Give your vet a call but this far along its probably not a big deal. I have had mares do this before. It is a dark brownish red color discharge. Theres really not much a vet can do if they are going to abort. You dont know her due date? You have Feb/March, thats a big spread. I had one older mare that had to be on regumate up until 2 wks from her due date. But she was spitting out bright red clumps right after she came off her regumate (after 120 days). Put her back  on and no problems.

[stephanie]

Unfortunatly we don't know the exact bred date.  Her breeding certificate stays exposed Feb through June.  Then the owner had her palpated in October and the estimated her foal to be about 5-6 months old. We are foaling her out for our friend.  Her daughter owned the horse, but her cancer came back in July and she abandoned her whole family and her animals and refused to get treatment this time.  Her mom was able to get this mare back before she sent her to auction with the others.  They have had this mare 20+ years.

[DandilionBelle]

In my humble non-vet opinion, I would not be terribly concerned.  As always, watch her for signs of contractions (nipping at belly, incessant walking, getting up and down repeatedly, kicking out/at belly, incesant pawing, etc) and check her udder often.  Mention it the vet when they come out for her next pre-natal check-up.

[stephanie]

He's not really scheduled to come out.  I have a call into him.  I had a couple other questions too.  Just wasn't sure if Horses have a mucus plug like people do.  Being as we have no idea when this mare truely caught, we are all about watching for the signs.  I have a barn cam up, and watch her til I fall asleep and anytime I get up in the night always check the TV.  She sleeps laying down, but she's not show really any signs of being ready to foal.  She a little cranky at morning feedings but I feed at 4:00 am.  She's not moving real fast, but she's a pretty laid back horse.  She don't really fret about nothing.  Give's me a look every morning and night when I feel her teets to check for changes.  She is allowed turnout all day, then is locked up at night in a 40x40 stall with a 12x12 section bedded down for her to foal in.

[paige]

Quite likely it is just from burst blood vessels--no big deal, happens all the time.  That is assuming she is not pouring blood of course, that is a whole other deal

[stephanie]

Thanks.  Vet never did get around to calling me back, so I guess he didn't think it was any big deal either. I talked to her owner to, and she says she's seen this before.  I checked tonight and there isn't much there, maybe a little discharge at the bottom but could be dried urine.  I braided up her tail tonight and took new pictures.  Her teets look less full tonight than last, but her flank shot may have slight change.  Fogot the vulva picture.  Been a busy night.  Mom thought forsure today she was starting to show signs of foaling, but I think we have a little more time.  Not having an exact bred date makes it hard.  We had bred dates on all ours so we knew when to start watching for signs.  This one I just got to keep watching and hope she gives me a clue as to when she is ready.  The baby kicked me really hard tonight.  Was soooo cool.

[paige]

When they get close to full term, the strain of the weight will pop some vessels--that is what causes it. 

[Joie]

Test her milk. If she'll let you express milk, that is.

[stephanie]

I have been trying to milk her, but can't seem to get anything out.  I just don't think she's really bagged up enough yet.  Last night she had me slightly concerned cuz she went down rolling around, and she looked soooooo uncomfortable.  She kept shifing her weight.  She was real restless.  She finally laid down at some point, when I got up at 5 I saw her on the monitor laying down and hated I had to go out to feed cuz I knew she had a rough night.

[amurry]

I bumped a thread for you to read about my experience with my mare last spring.  I am not saying this is what is going on, but something to think about.  The thread is titled Placentitis.

[stephanie]

amurry, I took a look at it but I don't think thats whats going on here.  Thanks for the info though

Vet finally called me back this weekend and we discussed it and he says he's not concerned because it's so little, He says it's normal in some mares.  The owner also says she has also seen this before too and there hasn't been any problems.  I took more pictures tonight and boy I'm starting to see some changes.  She may have her foal this month.  If not I bet beginning of next.
http://www.thesanctuaryfarm.com/corky.htm

[Joie]

Quite a change in her bag in a week. Have you tried to express anything since her bag began to fill in?

[stephanie]

I have tried, but could not get anything.  But that could be me.  I've only been able to do it on one mare out of the 4 we've foaled out. Gosh I was watching her on the monitor last night and she layed down she pop down so hard I felt sorry for the baby.  I have a shavings with 2 bales of straw on rubber mats for her to lay down on.  You can tell she's having issues with the additional weight in her.  I wondered if she could get any joint supplements while she was pregnant or nursing.  You just can tell she's so uncomfortable.  She shifts her weight around all the time when she's standing.

Joie you have a ton of expierence how far off do you think she is? I was thinking maybe 2 - 2 1/2 weeks, maybe little longer.  Do you think she'd go even longer or could it be sooner?

I was hoping to get the stupid DVR system to hook it up to the internet already but the place I got my camera from is jerking me around.  I have no idea what additional items I need and she just keeps telling me she's waiting on her supplier to respond.   My sister is willing to watch her at night for me so I can get what little sleep I get I so NEED it lol

[Joie]

I have no idea how close she is. I've had a mare that bagged up within 24 hours of foaling, and some go slowly. That's why I like to test milk. It doesn't lie.