Feeding a pregnant Mini

[leonanc]

Could someone please give e a ruff idea, on what the proper amount of feed for a pregnant mini horse? I think she is in aout her 8th or 9th month...... Thank you!

[Heather T]

Hey girl! So have we decided for sure that she's prego? I'm betting she is.

Okay - My minis get.....

• One cup of pelleted 12% feed once a day
  
• Daily Wormer
  
• Electrolytes
  
• Hay - not so much free choice, but probably a flake each
  

This is even for my pregnant minis throughout their pregnancy. The last month of pregnancy they get

• The same thing listed above
  
• Super Immune Booster
  
• Raspberry Leaves
  

I don't boost their feed until they foal. It's so easy to get a mini fat and fat isn't healthy - as we all know.

I have several mares that are nursing and all of them get 2 cups of feed - with all the supplements listed above ONE time per day. If they look fat or just maintain their weight we drop them back to one scoop. I have three that look a little hippy even with two scoops, so they'll be bumped up a little more. But the others are maintaining well with two scoops. They'll stay on two scoops until they wean their babies.

Hope this helps.

[leonanc]

Thanks bunches Heather! She is going the 23rd for another Ultrasound. I told the vet about all the movement I have been seeing, and last night she had a huge, without a doubt bulge sticiking out in her right flank area. Her Croup areas are soft as jello, so if she is not preggers something else is living in there...hehehehehee! I posted some new pics of her in the photo setion under April pics of lou (updated)

[wisteriafarms]

Hi Heather, I'm just curious what the raspberry leaves do? And do they only serve a purpose for minis, or for all sized horses?

Thanks!!

[Heather T]

Raspberry leaves help to strengthen and tone the uterus. It's beneficial before foaling to help the mare with contractions and cleaning out the placenta, after foaling it helps the uterus contract back into it's normal shape.

Alot of people give this to dogs that are whelping - it's a universal herb - good for all. We give one ounce to our mares (a large pinch) once a day for one month prior and one week after. I know Sarah at Tintagel does this also, but not sure on the amounts she uses.

The immune boosters are given to help prevent red bags. Red bags are more prominent in the minis and I have heard that they can be caused by an infection in the uterus, therefore I try to strenthen the immune system to prevent an infection - thereby preventing a red bag (hopefully). This is purely my theory and something we do. However, I feel that any boost to the immune system prior to foaling can only be a good thing for the mare and foal.

And I get all of my herbs (except ALJ) from www.glenbrookfarms.com

Hope this helps!

[bndranch]

Just a side note on red bags in horses. Placentitis is a huge contributor to red bag foalings. Placentitis is where an infection was introduced to the uterus generally by a stallion while the mare is being covered. The only way to get rid of the placentitis is to start a regiment of antibiotics (with my mare it was SMZ's, 20 per day), and many times a mare will be put on regumate to try to help the mare maintain a pregnancy until full term.
Mares with placentitis are at a greater risk for setpic foals, foaling early, dummy foals, abortion, and of course foaling a red bag in which if you miss it the foal will not make it....

[Heather T]

Brittany...we have a mare that has lost two foals due to thick bags - foal didn't get out of the sack. Someone mentioned that this was probably also placentitis....and we should put her on SMZ (gave me a schedule) - what's your spin on this?

[bndranch]

Personally I think like any anti biotic that the body can become immune to it if used too "freely". I personally would get a vet to confirm the placentitis before giving the SMZ's. However the SMZ's saved my 05 filly. She was born at 317 days with no complications and no red bag. We however did NOT put my mare on regumate. I asked my vet and she felt that it didn't have overwhelming proof that it helped in these cases and since it was so spendy we opted to just do the SMZ's which worked.
I was told I was lucky because I caught it early. Pea started bagging in March but was not due until June. Vet told me if she would hold onto this foal until may we would be clear. And Pea did just that. No red bag however she did expel the placenta VERY quickly and not only that as the filly was being born you could also see the placenta comeing out. I do have pictures if anyone is interested.