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Accuracy of transabdominal ultrasound in late term pregnancy

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Suebe:
my vet was here dealing with a mild colic today on one of our horses so I asked her if my mini looked bottom heavy and a bit round, she agreed she did. This is exact to my word...she squirted a little gel on her belly did not clip and took a 30 second look total, 5-10 of it was trying to get her to hold still. She says she wasn't pregnant. Can I believe her and safely put my mare (maiden) back in with her herd? What's everyone opinion on this type of diagnosis when a mare would be around 10 months along?

dcwolcott:
I don't know about others, but the internal ultrasound I would believe, but I've never had any experience with external ultrasounds, and too many times I've seen vets say not pregnant, and then a little one arrives.  Hopefully, someone here has had experience with the externals.

Suebe:
Thank you and yes if anyone has experience with this, any experience please speak up. I switched vets last year, same practice just really like their new doctor, nothing but positives to speak of. She only graduated vet school in 2015 eek lol but she's good. Do I trust her eyes? Are minis the same as large horses when doing these externals? How could a baby hide?

Chanda:
I mini baby is more likely to be seen on an external than a full-size foal.  It's the amount of tissue to go through with a horse that is the issue, just their shear size makes externals less accurate.  [I hope that makes sense.  IT's been a long day, so I'm a bit foggy.]

Rocklone:
I know someone who used a sheep scanner for mini mares, size being similar and that. They had a fair few scanned as empty go on to foal...

If the foal is as far along as 10 months a rectal palpation would "feel" the foal very clearly. Many vets won't rectal a miniature, which is their prerogative, but its mostly the best way to tell. I had Charm palped at about 7 months just to make sure it was all going okay, and the vet (a lady vet with lady hands) said she was kicked as soon as she went in so clearly everything was normal. 

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