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  Discussion on Twins at 9 Months--Fingers Crossed!
Author Message
Member:
Gmwalker

Posted on Friday, Apr 18, 2003 - 10:01 pm:

I have a Hanoverian mare that we just found out is pregnant with twins by obstetrical ultrasound. She had identical twins by u/s at breeding, but had resorbed (or so we thought!) at 60 days. Now she's leaking colustrum and is absolutely huge, so we did another ultrasound to check on her. Things looked great--good fetal size, development, heart, um hearts...oops!

We're at a loss to explain how a shrivelled embryo could develop into a totally normal appearing fetus. (I have pictures from the previous ultrasound, and was present for it!) Since they were in the body of the uterus, the only thing I can think of is that there must have been triplets and were so focussed in on the twins that we missed the third baby. Now we have a real problem, though. Healthy mare, though a bit close-coupled (why, oh why, couldn't it have been one of my long-backed broodmares?) with far too many legs to hope for an easy/orderly delivery. Polling local vets, the wisdom has been to check her 3 or 4 times a day, and leave her in the paddock with the other broodmares until signs of impending labor--at that time, we will move her to the local vet hospital (a short 15 minutes away) where anesthesia/assistance is readily available should she require it. We can also offer basic support to the foals, though do not plan heroics for them (Mom will get everything but the kitchen sink to help her--she is one of my very favorites--I fell in love with her when she was a 2 year-old, and at 6, she is only relegated to broodmare status because a traumatic injury would make it painful for her to continue as my partner in the showring.)

My question--anyone else have any experience here, and any ideas? Also, any experience with nursemaid mares for second foals? I have a non-pregnant mare that bags up and has LOTS of milk every time a foal is born on the farm--even has IgG. Seems like she could "adopt." How would you approach it?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Apr 19, 2003 - 9:12 am:

Hello Gay,
The plan seems fine. We just recently published a routine for preparing foster mares, see Equine Diseases » Reproductive Diseases » Birthing Problems » Feeding and Caring for the Orphan Foal. Good Luck and keep us informed. I would love to see pictures on these two little guys nursing the mare.
DrO
New Member:
Gipetto

Posted on Saturday, Apr 19, 2003 - 9:58 am:

Hi Gay,

I had a similar situation in 1999. I had a rather petite Hanoverian mare start bagging up at nine months. We took her to the local vet school for ultrasoundand found (previously undetected) twins of equal size. Because we felt the possibility of the twins survival to be small, and because I was much more concerned with my mare's future reproductive health, we opted to abort them at the vet school.

The mare was given cloprostenol. She shaped up as she would for a normal birth over the next couple of days. The delivery was uncomplicated. The twins of course did not make it, but my mare was unharmed.

It was a very hard decision, but I do not regret it. Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck in getting through this. Will have my fingers crossed for your mare.
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