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  Discussion on 18 year old mare w/ cysts
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New Member:
Christel

Posted on Monday, Nov 7, 2005 - 10:14 am:

She is open now. She had a foal late May of this year and was bred on her foal heat in June, 14 day sonogram showed she was in foal. The embryo was hard to detect because of numerous cysts. By the 28th day the embryo was thought to still be there, but due to the numerous cysts was not conclusive. On next check at 40 days it was concluded she was not in foal.
I plan on having a uterine culture done on her early next breeding season to hopefully get a better grip on what is going on. Is there anything I can do (nutrition wise or other) to help her w/ these cysts?
A little more info on mare. She has been a broodmare for 13 years with 9 foals being born to her. It normally takes 2-3 trys each year to get her in foal. She is normally bred with shipped semen, this year I took her to the stallion so that fresher semen could used for the foal heat cycle- but that didn't seem to make a difference.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 8, 2005 - 7:54 am:

I don't think culture is going to be that helpful and it sounds more like you need a cytology and biopsy. For more on these points and a logical step by step evaluation of mares that don't settle see, Equine Diseases » Reproductive Diseases » Trouble Settling Mares & Stallion Infertility » Mare Infertility Diagnosis: cycles but does not settle.
DrO
New Member:
Christel

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 8, 2005 - 10:51 am:

Thank you Dr. O for your quick response. I will have my vets perform the procedures you recommended early next year.
I am one that has a tendency to think proper nutrition cures all evils, and was curious about the article that mentioned beta carotine as helping w/ fertility problems.
My horses are on constant turnout on very short but very potent grasses- blue gramma and buffaloe. But have to admit my pastures are over grazed and I feed hay and grain year round.
Do dormant grasses have beta carotine? Should I consider supplementing beta carotine? If so, what would you recommend.
I am supplementing now this mare and her foal- foal reared up on a t-post and made a nasty deep wound across her chest in late September and I am trying to get her immune system in top shape for when I wean her after the wound heals. The supplement I am giving is Vita Key Antioxidant-I am purchasing it from Smart Pak. It provides 2 mg. of carotene (beta is not mentioned- may not be same thing-?) per serving.
I have had this mare as well as all my horses on rice bran oil for the last 2 years- do you see any fertility problems from this practice?
Sorry for all the questions, it seems the more I learn the more questions I have.
Thanks so much for this site, it is so informative and convenient.
Chris
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 9, 2005 - 9:38 am:

You can roughly measure the amount of beta carotene by how green the grass is Christella and if your grass is not green I would follow the recommendations in the article on treatment for increased fertility.

Rather than picking at your feeding regimen one nutrient at a time it will be much better to reevaluate your whole program. Start with carefully reviewing Care for Horses » Nutrition » Equine Nutrition an Overview of Feeding Horses.
DrO
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