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  Discussion on Detecting pregnancy via cervical observation & palpation
Author Message
Member:
cspanhel

Posted on Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 - 7:32 pm:

I read the article on Heat Detection, Ovulation Prediction, and Timing Insemination. I am very interested in learning to detect pregnancy (or its absence) by cervical observation/palpation, but am concerned about the statement in the article regarding possibility of causing infections/EEDs.

My question is: if one follows standard procedures with respect to cleanliness, HOW LIKELY is it one would cause infections and EEDs by palpating/observing the cervix post breeding.

Though I still have a lot to learn, I have done cervical palpations and used disposable speculums. I clean the perineal area, pat it dry, use non-spermicidal lubricant, tail wrap, use sterile sleeves and never touch the disposable speculum with anything but the sleeve (or if I do, i start over with a new one).

I would like to save myself the cost of an ultrasound if the mare is not pregnant, thus my interest...if the mare is/appears to be pregnant, i still will do ultrasound for twin detection.

A related issue: I need to practice quite a bit more.....all the mares I have to practice on are going to be bred here shortly (by me), and I will need to palpate the cervix prior to breeding...again to avoid having to run to the vet every other day for ultrasounds. Is it possible to over palpate? again, assuming I maintain the strict cleanliness standards, or at last as clean as possible in a dusty barn.

I know that mares in breeding facilities are 'worked on' almost daily, but that is usually ultrasound, not cervical palpation....

This year, I'm trying to do as much of my own breeding work as possible..but I'm worried about 'screwing' things up. Especially, since I'm still learning. I took a course to get started...I will be doing my first AIs next week.

Thanks. cynthia
Member:
eoeo

Posted on Sunday, Apr 22, 2007 - 8:49 am:

If I were you, I would stay out of the mare unless you are going to do rectal palpations for pregnancy. I absolutely would not go into the mare otherwise because of contamination factors. Plus, you are putting foreign material in there, no matter how "clean" your procedure might be and the mare's system will have to deal with the extra you put in there. How expensive is it to ultrasound for a follicle as opposed to treating a mare for infection? Weigh your odds. EO
Member:
cspanhel

Posted on Sunday, Apr 22, 2007 - 9:26 am:

Thanks for the input--this is also my worry. re ultrasounds: it is very rare in my experience to do only one ultrasound prior to breeding--sometimes, there have been as many as 4, plus trailering, gas, time, waiting because the vet is always running late during breeding season, etc. It is very burdensome with 7 mares...and outside of stallion collection fees, ultrasounds have been my biggest breeding expense, and often they are inconclusive or have to be repeated. Thus, my interest in reducing the number of them...

cynthia
Member:
freshman

Posted on Sunday, Apr 22, 2007 - 7:00 pm:

Check with your breed association about DIY AI--some require it to be done by a vet. Also check with the stallion and the breeding contract that you have with the owners, since many specify that AI must be done by a veterinarian. Basically, they are busy and don't have time to waste on DIY-ers that require repeated shipments, extensions to the next year, or refunded stud fees.

Your biggest expenditure may have been ultrasounds and palpations in prior breeding seasons, but repeated AI shipping and collection fees are expensive, too. I'm not sure that doing your own repro work will save money in the end.
Member:
cspanhel

Posted on Sunday, Apr 22, 2007 - 8:13 pm:

i have my own stallion and i am now collecting him myself. for the mares that i send to outside stallions, i have the vet do all the repro work. if i need to ship semen to an outside mare, i have the vet take care of that also. i have spent over $10K in two years on repro vets, and the results have been very poor. this is my main motivation for DIY. i don't have to be very good to achieve the same results + DIY means I can repeatedly breed my 'problem' mares...my budget didn't permit that when using vets to do everything. there are no breed association or state laws prohibiting DIY where i'm located.

having said all of this, it is still a scary proposition! but onward.

thanks for your response...i'm hungry to hear all opinions. cynthia
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Apr 23, 2007 - 7:30 am:

If done cleanly and carefully the problems with infection and early embryonic loss small but while a good way to detect heat a poor way to detect pregnancy. It will miss twins and no particular finding differentiates pregnancy from non-pregnant diestrus.
DrO
Member:
cspanhel

Posted on Monday, Apr 23, 2007 - 9:27 am:

Dr. O, what prompted my original post was the following (from the article on horseadvice.com, " Heat Detection, Ovulation Prediction, and Timing Insemination.."


" ...The cervix goes through dramatic changes when the mare goes into heat. By failing to detect these changes from days 16 to 21 post breeding you can get a pretty accurate idea if a mare is pregnant."

My interest in this technique is only post breeding...when I know the breeding date...If I think a mare is preg, I still take her in for ultrasound for twins.

Thank you so much for your advice! cynthia
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 - 6:58 am:

That is a problem with relative terms, Cynthia. The question is whether pretty accurate is acceptable. This would be most useful if you are using shipped semen and do not have a stallion to tease with for the reappearance of heat and really should be the last resort as a method for pregnancy detection. And though "pretty accurate" is a pretty accurate description it is important to understand the limitations of the process and for many situations pretty accurate will not be good enough.
DrO
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