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  Discussion on When to terminate a pregnancy
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Posted on Friday, Nov 17, 2000 - 4:16 am:

A filly, which now is 1 1/2 years, is now ~7 months pregnant (because of an accidental mating). When is the best time to terminate this pregnancy? I have heard everything from 200 days and to letting her "go the distance".

Posted on Friday, Nov 17, 2000 - 2:28 pm:

Gosh, it seems a little late to terminate the foal. I wont ask why the pregnancy has gone so long. Has she been checked in foal by a veterinarian?
The last trimester, which is now where the filly is, is the time of rapid growth and greater nutritional needs. As young as this filly is her nutrition is VERY important as she is still growing along with her foal. Aside from the nutrition there are shots she should have and proper worming. And she should not be eating fescue grass. (sorry if you already know all this)
Please check out the following link so you can see how the foal is growing: https://www.jcn1.com/pixie/foals.htm
This is an interesting site and shows the rate of embryonic growth.
I am sure Dr O can answer your questions about terminating the pregnancy more specifically.
Barbara

Posted on Friday, Nov 17, 2000 - 5:06 pm:

The people who owns this filly were told to wait this long by veterinarians; but they disagree when to terminate (200-300..days).

Posted on Friday, Nov 17, 2000 - 5:57 pm:

GOSH GOSH GOSH
Yuck!
I can't imagine, basically, killing a foal at 300 days. have you looked at the link I left in my above post. PLEASE do.
Are the owners set on aborting the foal?
Whether or not the filly's foal is aborted or not, if they let the pregnancy go to such a late stage the mare's nutritional requirements or greatly increased. She needs to be on an excellent feeding program given her age and pregnancy.

Posted on Saturday, Nov 18, 2000 - 2:07 am:

Thank you for the input. Yes, I have looked at your link- great. They will probably abort the foal next week. The filly is going to start harness-racing later, so they are very careful about her nutritional requirements and overall health.

Posted on Saturday, Nov 18, 2000 - 7:36 am:

If they are determined to do this the sooner the better.
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Nov 18, 2000 - 4:22 pm:

DrO.

What would you have advised the owners to do if they had come to you at 60-90 days ?

Posted on Sunday, Nov 19, 2000 - 9:38 am:

A pregnant 11 month old filly? I would have recommended terminating the pregnancy for the mares health.
DrO
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