Mare shutdown after abortion?

[AJ]

Found a fetus in the corral with 12 mares and gestation periods ranging 3 to 7 weeks. Since it was small, could not detect which mare may have lost it. The fetus was about 1-1 1/4 inches in diameter (fetus in curled fetal shape) and was wondering if someone knows how many weeks it may have been. This was 3 weeks ago, and so far no mare has come forward with the "Lets try it again" signs. I think that after a certain length of pregnancy a mares system will go into "pregnancy" mode and stay there even after aborting. How long might this period be?

 

[rabbitsfizz]

I have never had, nor known, a mare continue with a pregnancy when it has terminated, altho I suppose it is possible. How seriously are you suggesting this to these ladies?? My oldest mare terminated around four months- reabsorbed, so not absolutely sure when. This was around Christmas but she returned in season normally in the spring. It was also obvious she was not in foal.

 

[Miniv]

AJ,

Two possibilities to throw out.....one is that it could have been a TWIN???

Another, if the mare has an infection in her uterous she may not cycle properly. The latter possibility will show itself eventually.

Let's hope it was the first..........

MA

 

[Littleum]

After 45 days, there's been a certain amount of development in the uterus, and if the mare aborts, it takes the body a while (several months) to clear everything and return to normal.

Can't remember the exact specifics of it. I'm sure if you google it you'll get the exact whys and hows.

 

[Minimor]

The mares we've had that have absorbed/aborted between 3 & 7 weeks have all come back into heat within 3 weeks. It's always been my understanding that the mares that don't come back into heat after aborting are **usuaully** those that are further along (3-4 months or later) at time of abortion.

For the size you describe I'd say this fetus you found would be somewhere around the 40 day mark.