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  Discussion on Pregnacy check at 110 days post ov.
Author Message
Member:
Oscarvv

Posted on Thursday, Aug 19, 2004 - 6:39 pm:

DrO
I was thrilled to find the info on pregnancy checking and am curious about: "Around day 90 the uterus falls deep into the abdomen and is not readily palpable."
My mare was confirmed in foal at 18 days, and 40 days. She has been on Regumate due to not the best uterine tone.
My vet palpated her today (110 days) and said he didn't think she was in foal. She is a "strainer" w/a large barrel. My vet would like to scan her. Is u/s useful at this stage or is palpation the best way to go?
Thanks so much.
~Barbara
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 20, 2004 - 6:20 am:

She should only scan if she is feeling something and uncertain if it is the uterus. The trick to an accurate pregnancy diagnosis on these horses is to find the ovaries and palpate the tight ovarian ligament and follow the uterus down until you cannot follow it anymore. You cannot feel the "pregnancy" but the most common reason for the above findings is a pregnant mare.
DrO
Member:
Oscarvv

Posted on Friday, Aug 20, 2004 - 11:15 am:

Thanks DrO,
I will talk to my vet tomorrow when he is out. Hopefully he'll have better luck palpating this mare. I will ask him his reason for wanting to scan.
~B

Member:
Deggert

Posted on Friday, Aug 20, 2004 - 12:48 pm:

Barbara
Hi, my mare last year actually had 2 negative u/s
at 18 and 25 days. I used my other vet because he is closer and a little less $. Well, we did not re-breed because it was August. (thank goodness we did not prostin her) Anyway, my deep gut feeling is that she was pregnant. At about 120 days my other vet was out to do some routine stuff and I asked her to check her. She palpated, and my mare is like yours, she strains and has a deep abdomen (huge). She said "I can't feel her uterus it is pulled to far forward and I think she is in foal, but to be sure we should u/s." WE did and there he was, it was pretty cool since everyone thought I was just having wishful thinking. I think she did the u/s particularly since she had 2 negatives and this was not a routine re-check. good luck!
Member:
Lisamg

Posted on Thursday, Aug 26, 2004 - 5:31 pm:

Debbie;

I read your post will great interest ... sounds just like what is happening at our farm right now. We have a leased mare who is very "stout" through the middle. My vet checked her in foal at 30 days (palpation) and came out for her 90 day check. He says she's open now. Once again, like you it's August .... so we'll not be doing any re-breeding..... do you think I should have him re-check her? I like you, still feel she might be pregnant as she's so serine and happy when she's normally VERY aggressive and moody.

Lisa
Member:
Deggert

Posted on Thursday, Aug 26, 2004 - 5:56 pm:

Lisa
My mare's pregnancy was missed pretty early and as I said we checked her again U/S at 25 days and still nothing. He saw a little spot but it was too small he said. I think that little spot was the baby. Anyway, Dr O would probably know better if a baby could be missed at 90 days. That is why my other vet u/s her as she was far along enough that her uterus was way down in her belly. But to be absolutely sure we did. If you think she is pregnant I would get a second opinion or if your vet will "humor" you with an ultrasound to be sure. Like I said, 2 negative ultrasounds but she was pregnant. As we all know, anything is possible with horses! Good luck , I hope she is
Member:
Lisamg

Posted on Friday, Aug 27, 2004 - 11:15 am:

Debbie;

I just talked to my vet. He said he could feel the whole uterus .... and it was empty. The stallion we used is in his early twenties....it's possible his chomosomes aren't so good anymore I suppose. I guess I'll give him another try next spring. If the same thing happens though, I think it's time to look for a new stallion. Thanks for the info ... but it looks like I was just wishful thinking.

Lisa
Member:
Deggert

Posted on Friday, Aug 27, 2004 - 3:44 pm:

So sorry Lisa, this same mare was in foal at 30 days the year before and at 65 days I had her checked again. The vet did palpate her but as I said she is a strainer. She was perfectly in foal he said, within 7 days she lost it. I know it could have been genetically imperfect and she carried the next year with no regumate, so possibly palpation was the problem. I am not blaming its just the breaks sometime. At the breeding farm I use they will not palpate or u/s her without a little sedation to relax her for risk of tearing etc. Good luck next year.
Member:
Lisamg

Posted on Friday, Aug 27, 2004 - 5:33 pm:

Debbie;

Thanks. I'm still very dissapointed though. Our mare is very easy to palpate and is relaxed and very cooperative for the vet. Before we bred her she had a positive culture so had to have some treatments before breeding. An antibiotic wash was used by the vet on several visits and he was impressed the mare tolerated it without any sedatives. She's a good girl. I guess we are very lucky. That's exactly why I wanted a foal out of her. (well, that and her conformation and althletic/aggressive personality). She is a American Saddlebred mare which was bred to an Arabian stallion for a 1/2 arabian to be used in distance racing. I have two Arab/Saddlebred crosses and just love them. Next spring was far enough away ..... now spring 2006 sounds like forever. Ok, enough whining .... Thanks for the conversation. I at least have hope things might go better next year.

Lisa

Member:
Deggert

Posted on Friday, Aug 27, 2004 - 6:13 pm:

Lisa
We have Arabians too, who did you breed her to? My mare tolerates all the palps and such she just squeezes all the blood out of their arms! My mare is a LeFire daughter and her rambunctious foal is by Alada Baskin 1, I have his full sibling who is my 3yr old colt. I may not get any more babies out of her which is a shame only because of the founder, even though its a supporting leg founder and not really a metabolic problem. But she is 17 now- she's been by trail horse, mountain horse, show horse and dressage. Pretty cool mare and her babies are very nice, we like the stock/hunter type with lots of substance.
Photo of baby at 30 days- gotta love em
Java 05/28/04 colt at 30 days
Member:
Oscarvv

Posted on Saturday, Aug 28, 2004 - 7:56 am:

Thank you for your experiences.
I had the mare checked again and she is definitely not in foal.
I plan on an early start next year.
Lovely foal Debbie.
-B
Member:
Lisamg

Posted on Saturday, Aug 28, 2004 - 2:25 pm:

Barbara;

So Sorry. Can definitley sympathize. I guess we're both in the same "boat".

Debbie:

Very pretty foal. Are you trying to make me more miserable? (just kidding ) We bred our mare to a local stallion (owned by a good friend of mine, his name is Zarmaro, who you probably never heard of.) However, around here he has quite a reputation for siring 100 mile horses. He is not very typey, mostly polish bloodlines, but throws some very athletic babies. Many 1/2 Arab babbies as well, mosty with Throughbred mares, I believe we will be the first Saddlebred cross. I chose him because of his history, personality (a real gentleman), and his good bone...not necesarrily for his bloodlines or his own performance record which was cut short due to injury. Most of the popular Arab stallions I have seen have too light of bone for what I do (endurance racing). Beauty is as beauty does. I truly beleive that. I have purebreds too but prefer the cross. I guess I like the little extra flash the saddlebred gives...well, also the excellent shoulders and length of stride ... did I mention they ride like cadillacs? Well enough on that, Love your foal. Take good care of him.

Lisa
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