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  Discussion on Regumate use to prevent aborting
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Posted on Friday, Feb 4, 2000 - 11:44 am:

Hi:

Just read the article on the use of regumate in preventing early abortion....I was hoping that would be my answer, but it appears it's not. My 20 year old mare was ultrasounded in foal at 14 days, but apparently lost the pregnancy sometime after that point. I know her age is against her, but wondering where to go from here. I was hoping that regumate might help her to retain the pregnancy. She has no trouble conceiving. Any suggestions? My vet said we could do a uterine biopsy and go from there, but friends are recommending regumate therapy. Anyone with similar experiences?

Thanks,
Lynn

Posted on Friday, Feb 4, 2000 - 3:00 pm:

At the age of your mare, if you haven't done biopsy and cultures, you really should. There are all kinds of bacteria that can be present that can abort the fetus. Biopsy/culture followed by regumate is probably a good idea.

Posted on Saturday, Feb 5, 2000 - 2:18 pm:

Next time you breed her, start her on the Regumate on the fifth day after ovulation (this is when the mare natuarally starts producing the progesterone) Keep her on it until you ultrasound her pregnant about day 14. Then have the vet check her progesterone level. The best thing about Regumate is that it is a synthetic progesterone, and we have tests that will measure only the natural progesterone level in her blood. That way we can have a mare on Regumate and still check her own progesterone level to see if she needs it!

It will cost you about $3.00 per day and is a whole lot cheaper than losing another baby.

Good luck!!

Posted on Saturday, Feb 5, 2000 - 7:05 pm:

Hello All,
As the article states there is no proof that Regumate will decrease the rate of early embryonic loss in mares and the question has been looked at carefully. The normal rate of early embryoninc loss in healthy mares may be as high as 15% and is higher in older mares. This is probably do to increased fetal abnormalities.

Whether you use Regumate or not it is very important that you recheck pregnant mares at around 40 days so you can make arrangements for rebreeding in neccassary.
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Mar 18, 2000 - 11:34 pm:

When you refer to the "early" embryonic loss in mares, what time frame are you referring to in the gestation period?

If regumate was used, what would be the recommended time period of use during the gestation period? If term of usage depends on different factors, what would examples of those varying factors be?

Would regumate ever be recommended for use until date of foaling?

Posted on Sunday, Mar 19, 2000 - 8:46 am:

Hello Karen,
The indications for the use of Regumate are in the article Medications: Reproductive Drugs: Progesterone and Regumate
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2000 - 1:39 pm:

GREETINGS, READ ALL INFO ON REGUMATE. I'VE HAD A MARE BRED AT A BREEDING FARM AND SHE WAS TESTED FOR VARIOUS REASONS TO HELP HER MAINTAIN A PREGNACY. SHE WAS FOUND TO HAVE VERY LOW HORMONE LEVELS. THEREFORE WAS PUT ON REGUMATE. THEY HAVE SUGGESTED THAT WE KEEP HER ON THIS DRUG FOR 145 DAYS. SHE IS 18 AND HAS FOALED SUCCESSFULLY IN THE PAST. SHE IS IN GOOD HEALTH AND VERY WELL CARED FOR. I FEEL THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING TO KEEP THIS MARE ON THIS DRUG FOR SO LONG. THE EXPENSE IS GREAT AND IF IT WILL NOT REALLY HELP,THEN I NEED TO KNOW. ALSO I DON'T WANT TO HURT THE MARE BY ANY SIDE EFFECTS. THANKS.

Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2000 - 10:38 pm:

Hello Nancy,

My daughter's horse is the one who is having the "heat cycle" founder. She is out of town until 5/17, but I have forwarded this question to her. She will respond as soon as possible, as to the effects Regumate had on her mare, the length of time she was on it, etc. I do know that she had no problems getting in foal, and carried to full term with no problems birthing. The filly was quite large and very healthy. The mare, is still having problems with founder, but I will let Desire'e (my daughter) fill you in on the details. Be patient, it may take her sometime to respond. She is not a member of The Horseman's Advisor yet, so all info has to come through me. I guess I should just sign her up! It would be much easier.

Sincerely,

Sharon

Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2000 - 7:13 am:

Hello Nancy,
The indications for the use of Regumate are in the article Medications: Reproductive Drugs:
Progesterone and Regumate
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2000 - 9:32 pm:

DrO I READ THE ARTICLE AND IT DID NOT ANSWER MY QUESTIONS. THE LONG TERMS EFFECTS WAS NOT THERE. IT DID STATE THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT IT KEPT MARES IN FOAL EXCEPT IF THEY HAD A CERTAIN DISEASE THAT THIS MARE DOES NOT HAVE. ALSO IF TREATED FOR BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS IT COULD CAUSE THEM TO BECOME INFERTILE. I'VE READ AND ARTICLE FROM TEXAS A&M THAT ADDING 5% FAT TO THE MARES DIET WILL INCREASE FERTILITY AND THAT THE MARES WILL PRODUCE BETTER FOALS AND MILK PRODUCTION. BACK TO THE ARTICLES YOU REFERED TO, THEY DO NOT STATE HOW LONG A MARE SHOULD BE SAFELY KEPT ON REGUMATE. THANKS NANCY

Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2000 - 2:52 am:

I am sorry Nancy, I thought the question in your first post was about efficacy. We do talk a lot in the article about possible bad reactions to the use of Regumate but there are no hard numbers on how much for how long. On the other hand many people use Reguamte for very long periods of time (3 to 6 months) and have not experienced trouble.
DrO
PS: Nancy it is very difficult to read posts in all caps. I know we have some members who will not respond to all cap messages.

Posted on Monday, Jun 4, 2001 - 9:51 pm:

To those interested in Regumate - there is a product on the market called HORMONIZE by Emerald Valley Botanicals. It is marketed as an herbal alternative to Regumate for mares aggressive and or moody in heat. It is said to affect the Pituitary Gland. It is also for Geldings with Cushings SynDrOme. My vet said that he has seen good results with it. I plan to begin using this product in the next few months (for a gelding). Just thought ya'all might be interested in this.

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 5, 2001 - 7:48 am:

Hello Lynn,
Hormoninase has been a frequently discussed subject on these boards, and some of the posts have not been encouraging, run a search on the term. I think I have it spelled correctly.
DrO
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