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  Discussion on Pregnant Mare with Heaves
Author Message
New Member:
Bibababy

Posted on Thursday, Mar 17, 2005 - 11:51 pm:

I have a triple whammy on my hands! Our 21 year old mare has COPD and we found out today that she is six months pregnant from a loose stud in the neighborhood. We just purchased a farm with fescue planted in one of the pastures. My vet feels that an abortion would be the most likely solution but my husband (who loves his horse and is against abortion) is against this remedy. I am wondering if anyone has any information on breeding and foaling with mares with COPD. Also any new info on feeding fescue. We bought this place so we could turn her completely out on pasture. I have another pasture that we will be seeding in the spring but that will be too late unless I put her on the new medication available for pregnant mare on fescue. We are keeping her COPD somewhat under control by giving her dex, and venipulmun syrup, wetting her coastal hay, and feeding her hay on the ground.She has an episode of bad breathing about once a month when the weather changes, as it always does in N.C. ANY ADVICE APPRECIATED OR SIMILAR CASES. Thanks
Dayle
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Mar 18, 2005 - 7:35 am:

Hello Dayle,
I don't understand all this consternation and worry. You CAN keep your mare asymptomatic with proper management, NO dex, NO expensive Ventipulmin. I can tell by reading your post you are not managing this right: see the article associated with this forum and read it carefully, your mare can be fine with good management alone.
DrO
Member:
Paardex

Posted on Friday, Mar 18, 2005 - 2:25 pm:

Dayle we have bred with 2 mares with COPD although they were a bit younger they didn't present any additional problems when pregnant or with a foal[I mean more problems than the normal care for horses with COPD]On top of that I know a few breeders have special facilities for these kind of mares[walk in stables and special feed etc.] so it is fairly common to just use such mares for breeding. The only thing I noticed was that 1 of our own mares with COPD got 2 foals who were diagnosed with COPD later in their life, so it could perhapsbe hereditary. On top of that abortion after 6 months also is a strain on your horse. Personally I would do everything I could to avoid that. Not being able to put her on the pasture is ofcourse a problem you could do without at this moment but my experience is if you take care of her according to the articles advice there is no reason why you shouldn't have a lovely foal.
Member:
Bibababy

Posted on Saturday, Mar 19, 2005 - 1:48 am:

Thanks for the advice, Doc and Jos. We have been boarding her along with our other two horses,for the last five years. We will be moving her next week to our place and hopefully, not being in a dusty barn at feeding time will improve her condition. We have had this mare since she was four years old and never had medical problems, so I think it has a lot to do with the environment she has been in. Doc, do you think the dex or venipulum could have an adverse effect on the foal?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Mar 19, 2005 - 10:59 am:

Its not just the barn Dayle, you must also replace the hay as outlined in the article.

Dexamethasone is an abortifacent in most species. We do know horses are more resistant to this effect but it worries me when given to pregnant mares. I assume you are misspelling the Ventipulmin, which is clenbuterol. It has some pregnancy contraindications also, for more on this see Equine Medications and Nutriceuticals » Miscellaneous Drugs » Clenbuterol.
DrO
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