HANDS ON: Pseudopregnancy in the mare 01 January 2011 Premium

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01 January 2011

on 01 Jan 2011

HANDS ON: Pseudopregnancy in the mare

Liz O'Flynn explains this false pregnancy phenomenon that can occur in mares

1 January 2011

A mare may carry a false pregnancy to full term. She develops increased abdominal size, runs milk, and may even walk the box as though she is about to foal. This ‘full term’ pseudopregnancy is rare in mares but commonly seen in bitches (Photo: Stock Images)

What is pseudopregnancy?

False pregnancy or pseudopregnancy is a condition in the mare where she appears to be in foal and all her reproductive systems react accordingly even though she is not pregnant.

This mare does not come into season and her body begins to prepare for carrying and nourishing a foetus that does not exist.

During this period, valuable reproduction time is being wasted.

Could a mare go to full term with a False Pregnancy?

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