Mare lactating without pregnancy (soporous lactation). Anyone with experience?

[Mysterymare]

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My mare (estimated 12-14 yrs old) started lactating about 2-3 weeks ago.

She should not be pregnant to my knowledge, unless something out of my control happened (rare cryptorchid situation, horses getting out of a pasture, hauler being incompetent last summer and letting wrong horses out together). To my knowledge no stallions have been anywhere near her.

I had the fluid tested with calcium strips and it tested positive for some calcium (so it is a milk like secretion). She is not hot, firm or painful on palpation.

I emailed the theriogenologist at my vet school and he told me it was likely inappropriate (soporous) lactation which can happen in the spring when days get longer, mares eat green grass and get an increase in prolactin levels.

Has anyone had experience with this before? It doesn't seem super common so I am staying skeptical for now.

My mare typically has hay belly in the winter/ spring but I have now convinced myself that she is even bigger than her usually hay belly..

I am taking both of my horses into the VTH for routine stuff in a month or so and will have an abdominal ultrasound done on my mare if she continues to get any bigger or has any more mammary development.

Would love to hear people's experiences with similar weirdness!

 

[AuburnVet]

Ours would do that every year when the clover came in.

 

[Mysterymare]

Ours would do that every year when the clover came in.

Oh really? That's crazy! Mine has never done it but we just moved to WA so idk if that is playing a role. I haven't seen any clover up here though... Just normal first grass

 

[pp9]

I read this as "male lactating." Sorry, I'll leave now...

 

[Philliab]

Yup....I don't think it's all that rare. I've heard of this happening to several mares when they consume food with phytoestrogens in them (clover, soy, flax, weeds, etc.).

 

[Mysterymare]

Yup....I don't think it's all that rare. I've heard of this happening to several mares when they consume food with phytoestrogens in them (clover, soy, flax, weeds, etc.).

Ours would do that every year when the clover came in.

Would this correlate at all with overweight mares or mares with a hay belly? Also, what did the secretion look like?
Really hoping she is just lactating randomly, but I like to stay skeptical just in case.