Question for Mare Owners

[harleydales]

Old girl Jenny is still with us, very nearly into her 42nd year! She's holding her own this winter and is even managing the hard frosty weather on zerobute. She's eating enough to fuel a Grand National racehorse though, so clearly isn't using her feed efficiently. She's happy in herself and still tries to do a dance for her tea.

Question is this -
I've noticed a change in her girlie bits. The external part looks normal in size, shape and colour, but it is slightly open at the bottom, and the next sort of layer of girlie stuff is visible. She's not in season and it is there all the time. What I can see looks healthy and pink. She gets upset about being faffed with so I couldn't investigate in much more depth.
There was also a drop of dark coloured fluid just at the edge - this could just be strong pee as it has been so cold and she hasn't been drinking as much as usual. I haven't seen her pee but her dung is normal.
There is a bit of a whiff to her, but she was having problems with weeing onto the fillet string of her rug and it was staining her legs - now changed to leg straps and that has sorted that problem out. I couldn't tell if the smell was the wee or the bits.
She's never had a foal as far as I know, certainly not for the last 15 years.

Jenny is very shy and grumpy, so in depth exams are very difficult unless there are 2 people there, one to hold her steady - she doesn't like being tied either and she's still very difficult to catch. I'll catch her again with Mike to hold her and see what's happening.

Wondering about cystitis, urine infection, womb infection??

Any thoughts? I haven't had much to do with mares, but haven't seen anything like this in sheep, cows, pigs or dogs!

Thanks

[cadeby]

I know a little about pyometra (womb infection) as our old Percheron mare Cadeby has suffered from this.

As mares get older, and particularly if they have had several foals, the physical conformation of the uterus changes such that they may suffer from impaired uterine clearance. ie. they cannot cleanse themselves of the normal uterine fluids that occur during each cycle. These fluids can become infected and cause a smelly discharge, although this is normally composed of pus and not the dark coloured fluid you have described?

Alternatively, or additionally, the vulva may become more open and saggy due to age-related changes in the horses muscle structure allowing dirt and bacteria to enter and cause an infection via an external route.

Pyometra can cause weight loss, depression and oedema around the flanks/abdomen, but it is rare for mares to show signs of systemic illness. (Other species; humans, dogs etc.. would drop down dead from such an infection but horses generally seem to be able to cope with it).
Vets often decide to leave well alone in non-breeding mares as the problem can keep re-occurring even after repeated uterine flushing.

Cadeby has recently been flushed-out and has had her vulva stapled so that none of the internal pink bits are visible. She seems perkier and is slowly gaining weight.
If you are concerned, it would be worth getting your vet out to make a diagnosis. Pyometra is diagnosed by rectal examination and/or ultrasound so "grumpy Jenny" would maybe need a bit of sedation?

Sorry - don't know anything about cystitis.

Azoturia causes the urine to appear dark brown, but it doesn't sound as if she has any other symptoms of that.

Unfortunately, age-related kidney problems could also cause dark urine so I think Jenny may need a quick veterinary MOT to put your mind at rest

[Debbie]

The only time I encountered a urinary infection in a filly, she didn't show any signs until suddenly off her feed one morning. Running a high temp when checked. Summoned first vet who gave us a song n dance about the poor girl having a tilted uterus and there was naught he could do. Didn't even attempt to bring down her fever.

Second older vet was summoned who promptly laughed, said she had a urinary infection. Showed us the crystals that we could feel along her vulva. It felt almost like when someone spills table sugar on a table top. Very tiny, but certainly there. A round of ABs and she cleared up on her own within days.

I know what a pain it is, especially given her age and how stressy she gets over being caught. You might skip the self exam and just get the vet out to do it all proper the once to put your mind at ease.

[dollylanedales]

My old girl, Vicky, has girly bits the same as Jenny's. She is in her 32nd year. No discharge, and it does not seem to bother her, so I have not had the vet to look. To be honest, I did not intend letting her go through the winter, but she totters on. Very thin, and only eating whats in a bucket, eats plenty, but does not gain weight. Am a bit worried about this cold weather, but put a fleecy rug under her rug the other day to try and keep her warm, as she lives out.

[harleydales]

I was the same with Jenny Mair, she was 'booked' to be PTS at the beginning of Novemeber, but then I was ill so she got a repreive and has seemed happy since so is still here.

I think I'll get the vet to have a look, just to be sure she's OK.