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  Discussion on Twins
Author Message
Member:
Redk

Posted on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 9:20 pm:

My paint mare, Abby had her 17 day post breeding ultrasound on Sunday and the vet found twins. The embryos are adhered to each other so pinching isn't an option. What the vet would like to try is "starving" one of the embryos. She'd like to seriously cut Abby's rations on the notion that her body will abort one of the embryos in a survival of the fittest type of move. She reports that Oklahoma State has done significant research in this method and believe it to be very successful. Have you heard of this method and what are your opinions?
Member:
Eoeo

Posted on Monday, May 24, 2004 - 11:11 pm:

Thank goodness, I haven't had this problem. However, a friend of mine did. She "starved" her mare for a few weeks and if I remember right, it worked. However, she said she would never do it again as it was too stressful for the mare and for her to watch her waste away. I will contact her in the morning to see if it did indeed end in a single pregnancy. I would think it would be more humane to pinch them both off and give the mare a lutalayse shot to bring her back in. I know sometimes that the shot doesn't work, however, a client of ours had that happen this year to one of her mares and it did bring her back in, pregnant again with twins but they were far enough apart to pinch one and the other stayed. Good Luck. EO
Member:
Rfarms

Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 2:28 am:

I'm sorry. This is crazy. Starving a mare to "try" and save a twin! Stop that! We're in the 20th + century! If you can't pinch, then lutalyse, start over & or get another VET Repro Specialist opinion! Sorry, so strong but geese, no starving please!
LR
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 7:17 am:

Whoaaaaaaa everyone! Neither pinching, starving, or lutalyse is likely to be neccessary in this case. See Equine Reproduction » Breeding and Foaling » Twinning and Management of Twin Embryos, for the proper management of this case.
DrO
Member:
Redk

Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 - 11:25 am:

Dr O - Thanks! I read the article over and over. I interpreted it to say that twinning isn't really a HUGE deal, and that the mare should sort things out on her own. I would like to play the wait and see game. I've decided that we're just going to sit on it until day 28. Hopefully at that time, she will have begun to resorb one. If both embryos are the same size and at the same stage of development at day 28, then we'll lute and try again. I thought the "starving" thing was quite a drastic move for a situation which should resolve itself anyway! Thanks for the input.
Lisa
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 8:23 am:

Actually if you read carefully, twinning is a good thing when judged by the number of mares with a single healthy 40 day embryo. On the other hand the amount of worrying that goes into this I don't think I can convince many breeders. I have gotten to where I give them until day 35 then monitor colosely in case repeated lutalyse conditions are required.
DrO
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