Pregnant Mare - HELP !!

I have just purchased a paint mare in foal, this is a first for me. But she definitely needed saving. I had Vet check done & they told me she was 150 lbs underweight, had worms, blood work showed she has muscle breakdown to support foal. Poor thing is just a bag of bones. The prev owner states he fed her 1 1/2 lbs. Of grain daily and 1 flake alfalfa AM & 1 PM. I have to carefully up her feed to 4 lbs 2 x's daily & 2/3 of a bale of alfalfa & unlimited hay. How do I do this safely? How much feed can I safely give her extra at a time? Lso gave her a salt block & after a bout 15 min had to take it t away from her, she just would not stop licking it. By the way foal is due March 17th. Any & all info would be greatly appreciated. Do you believe this man rode this horse to my house 4 miles from his to show me the mare!!!!!!!!!!

Why didn't you ask your vet these questions? It is your best option for the fact we don't know her condition enough to truly judge. There won't be a problem with her having a salt block as long as she has CONSTANT water. Good luck.

I did ask him, but he was going thru it sooo fast along with all the do's & don'ts, how to tell when she's ready to foal, what to look for, what I needed, Overwhelming, for a first timer! & he was trying to answer quickly due to a call coming in for colic emergency.
Can she eat too much salt?

I have to agree with Kristy and say its very hard to determine what would be best without actually seeing the horse and her condition. The best thing I can advise is to contact your vet again, I don't care how busy they are, you are a customer too and just explain to him/her that you are unsure of what to do and need some direction. Don't feel like you can't ask them the same questions a million times. I do it all the time
When I had my first preganant mare I called and called the vet. Its important to make sure both mare & unborn are properly taken care of....... Take a notepad with you and write down everything.
Goodluck!

Dont't worry I am going thought the same thing but mine is a 8 month old paint colt. He was about 150 lbs underwieght and he had worms and bare spots. I was told that he was getting gain twice aday and 2 flakes twice aday.(YEAH RIGHT THERE IS NO WAY) This is my first time owning a horse I called a vet and he said to start him out with a pint jar which = one pound twice a day for three days and then a quart which = two pints then quart and a half twice aday untill he was up to 2 quarts aday. He also said to worm him once amonth for 4 months . I don't know what you can do with her being in foal but he said to make sure that he was getting all the hay he wants and water let her have the salt just make sure she got water at all times. Also he wanted me to get red cell it builds their blood back up from having worms that would most likely help her baby too. I hope I helped some.

Exactly. It is his JOB to direct you in this situation along with any other veterinary situation involving your horse. If he went too fast, call again. If he has to spell it out for you, ask him to. Any respectable vet would be happy to do so.

THANX TO ALL FOR YOUR ADVISE! It is greatly appreciated. I called the vet back , just as you advised, and he went over everything again, slower this time. I advised him I contacted PURINA
In regards to feed for mare& foal. & asked him about a product called OMELENE 300. He told me that would be good for her, to take her off grain, slowly of course, says it has all the nutrients,vitamins & minerals for both mom & foal. This product is designed specifically for foals in their first year and lactating mares. This can be fed to foals until they reach 700 lbs. Purina states its a controlled energy formula. I ran right to the feed store & purchased this product. Speaking with the owner of the feed store he just went on & on about what a great product it was & how he had used it himself when he rescued a Mustang who was also drastically underweight, says it puts on weight safely and in a short time.
Hope this helps someone else--I'll keep you posted on her progress. Thanx again & God Bless!

Did she foal yet??? If she did I hope everything went well

Good Luck! Like I told someone else at least someone like you come along and is trying the best to do the best to their knowledge to help heer and her unborn baby. Just make your vet listen to your question and if he doesn't get a new vet.There are so manynhorses in situtions like this that doesn't get somebody to come to their rescue!

Lightning has not foaled yet, won't be much longer, has bagged up and looks as if she will pop! Poor thing! Vet asked for breedind date so I called the previous owner , he states April 17th 2006. Vet says she is due March 18th, you minus a month and add a day. Boy, I'm learning all kinds of things, talk about a crash course!
I'll keep you posted, I pray daily that all is well for mom & foal, no problems. Got to tell ya though, I am scared to death!!!!!!!!!!