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  Discussion on How long is too long for a heat cycle?
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Posted on Friday, Mar 15, 2002 - 10:02 am:

Hello Dr. O

I have read both of the articles that cover mare cycles and have a quick question about something I didn't see covered.

We have an 8YO maiden mare that we have been actively breeding (Live cover) every other day for 7 days. She is still acting like she is stongly in heat on the 8th day. I realize that this mare may be transitional, which causes a longer heat cycle. She had a uterine culture done last month and tested clean.

My question is, at what point should we become concerned and have her vet checked? Or should we just let nature take it's course this cycle and see when she comes out?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Posted on Sunday, Mar 17, 2002 - 9:49 am:

Hello Heidi,
Whether to call out the vet depends on your goals and resources. If the purpose is to get this mare settled as quickly as possible and the cost is of no consequence call the vet now to see what is going on. If the purpose is to get the mare settled as cheaply as possible and there is no hurry you should wait as long as there is no sign of problems and as you state, this time of year things are normal for estrus cycles to be abnormal. I suspect you, like most folks, fall somewhere in between these two extremes so you must make the judgement.
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Mar 28, 2002 - 8:50 pm:

I wanted to update you all on this mare also. She never did come fully out of heat. The vet was out today checking the mares and it turns out that this mare did apparently take on her breeding on the 7th day. She apparently had twins that were right next to each other. She's still showing heat also. The vet recommended a series of 2 shots of prostaglandin to short cycle her and bring her back into heat. He didn't feel that this pregnancy would work with the twins, and he couldn't pinch one off since they were next to each other. We will try breeding her again in about 10 days or so.

Thanks again for your earlier help.

Heidi

Posted on Thursday, Mar 28, 2002 - 10:39 pm:

That may be his decision but the fact is that allowing natural resorption to occur in these type cases statistically yields far more pregnant mares, with just ONE fetus, at day 40 than does aborting them out and starting again. And you do not lose the time. For more on this decision see, Equine Reproduction: Breeding and Foaling: Twinning and Management of Twin Embryos.
DrO
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