mares not getting in foal

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appymini

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Northern Ontario Country( where it is winter 11mon
I am looking for advice and details On what I need my vet to do.To find out why 2 mares I have had foals before but not for a few yrs now.If anyone can give me advice on what needs to be done. So I know my vet is not ripping me off or such. As he is very very expensive.And prefers not to do anything with the minis. Thanks in advance
 
That is a tough one. Especially if you veterinaian is not on your side.

It would be great to get an ultrasound and make sure they do not have any obvious infection. You could go ahead and give them antibiotics for 5-7 days and see if that helps.

As we are now in the prime breeding season in the United States, it would be a shame to miss another breeding season. With problem mares it is wonderful to know if they are not getting pregnant at all or slipping the foals at an early date. Ultrasound is an incredible tool for this purpose.
 
I agree that I would culture and ultrasound for obvious problem and if in heat treat them with antibiotic as a preventive.
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Then maybe I would put them on Regumate for 10 days and give a prostagladin shot to bring into heat and start hand breeding the 3 day and every other day after that. If they don't show a heat at 18 days have ultrasounded and check to see if pregnant or not and if in foal recheck at 50 days to see if still maintaining or aborted. They maybe regumate mares. I found that out the hard way with Princess by losing the foal early on 2 yrs in a row. No problems now.

And find a vet that likes minis. That makes a big difference on them going that extra mile. I am very fortunate that mine didn't know much 12 yrs ago but has gone WAY out of his way to find out what we need and I would definitely call him a mini expert esp after last year.
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I agree that I would culture and ultrasound for obvious problem and if in heat treat them with antibiotic as a preventive.
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Then maybe I would put them on Regumate for 10 days and give a prostagladin shot to bring into heat and start hand breeding the 3 day and every other day after that. If they don't show a heat at 18 days have ultrasounded and check to see if pregnant or not and if in foal recheck at 50 days to see if still maintaining or aborted. They maybe regumate mares. I found that out the hard way with Princess by losing the foal early on 2 yrs in a row. No problems now.

And find a vet that likes minis. That makes a big difference on them going that extra mile. I am very fortunate that mine didn't know much 12 yrs ago but has gone WAY out of his way to find out what we need and I would definitely call him a mini expert esp after last year.
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Okey my vet is still at loss what to do and how.
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I had so many cancels by him.over this.
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Anyway I need to know how much Regumate and how much prostagladin shot I need to give. The mares are 28 to 30" tall.
 
You really need to find a vet that can ultrasound them and tell you what's going on. Are they cycling regularly? Have they ever been checked to see if they have some kind of deformity to keep them from getting in foal such as a tear to the cervix or adhesions from former foaling problems? Are they developing follicles? Could they have cystic follicles? You really need to find a reproductive specialist to give you some insight as to what is actually going on with these mares.
 
You really need to find a vet that can ultrasound them and tell you what's going on. Are they cycling regularly? Have they ever been checked to see if they have some kind of deformity to keep them from getting in foal such as a tear to the cervix or adhesions from former foaling problems? Are they developing follicles? Could they have cystic follicles? You really need to find a reproductive specialist to give you some insight as to what is actually going on with these mares.
The other vet clinics are about 2 1/2 hr one way.And 2 hrs the other way. Alote of small animal clinics. But only 1 large in this area. No other vet form another office can come into his area.He is extremly expensive also. He has full control.And has had it for many many yrs.One thing I know eveyone at the clinic is doing some readying for minis.As I am the only mini breeder her.Alote of paints.
 
A few things come to mind. Were they in foal from your stallion or another? Is your stallion reproductively sound and have you gotten other mares in foal to him? Do the mares like your stallion? I have a new young stallion and the mares consider him a jerk and don't particularly like him(training to come).

It would be worth it to me to trailer into a vet that can do minis and have a reproduction exam done on the mares. Another thing I would consider is having them flushed. I prefer to flush mares rather than mess with antibiotics and cultures if there is a question. It is quick, easy, saves the three days it takes to culture and cuts down on one vet call.
 
I think the advice to find a vet is a good one.

This is what we did recently:

Our mare foaled last year but did not settle again at all last summer, which was so unlike her. Usually she would settle on the first cycle. This spring we found an equine vet who ultrasounded her to see what was going on. She had fluid. We then had a culture and biopsy done. Biopsy came back that she could most likely carry a foal full term and culture showed what bacteria (and blood) was present. The vet then flushed the mare out with antibiotics for three days. We bred the mare three weeks ago and she seems to be in foal. We will have an ultrasound on Monday to confirm this suspicion and to make sure all is going well.

We did not give oral anitibiotics for this mare.

I encourage you to find a vet you feel is competent and knowledgeable.

You will have to decide how much you are willing to spend and go from there.

Good luck-

Peggy
 
Please just remember with minis that antibiotics are not always the best thing. Too many, and you have colitis, and possibly a dead mini. My advice is the same as most others on the forum, to find a good reproductive veterinarian, even if you have to trailer several hours! There are so many possibilities, that you could play around with it for years longer, miss out on the foals you could have, and lose lots more money. Or, you could find a good vet, do the testing and ultrasounding, and get more immediate results. Also, have your stallion checked as well. Just because he was fertile doesn't mean he still is. He could also be carrying an infection, had some illness that rendered him sterile, or, even gotten kicked in a strategic spot, and rendered him sterile. There are just too many questions that need a good veterinarian's testing and asnwers! I wish you luck, answers, and new foals!
 
Please just remember with minis that antibiotics are not always the best thing. Too many, and you have colitis, and possibly a dead mini. My advice is the same as most others on the forum, to find a good reproductive veterinarian, even if you have to trailer several hours! There are so many possibilities, that you could play around with it for years longer, miss out on the foals you could have, and lose lots more money. Or, you could find a good vet, do the testing and ultrasounding, and get more immediate results. Also, have your stallion checked as well. Just because he was fertile doesn't mean he still is. He could also be carrying an infection, had some illness that rendered him sterile, or, even gotten kicked in a strategic spot, and rendered him sterile. There are just too many questions that need a good veterinarian's testing and asnwers! I wish you luck, answers, and new foals!
I know my stud is fine.He has given me miracle babies before.This why I bought these Falabellas. Because I was lucky before.I am working still on finding a good vet.And there is no other mini horse breeders around.(LOL I hate living up so North)
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And I would still have to use this vet here for emergencies though
 
We have used Regumate & protaglandan (sp) on 2 of our mares

Under the direction of our vet

approx 250# 35" mare we used 2.5 cc's of Regumate (10 days)

approx 300# 34" mare we used 3 cc's of Regumate (10 days)

Prostaglandin(sp) shot was prepared by the vet for the 250# 35" mare it was appeared a little over 1/2 cc/ml

for the 300# mare I didn't notice as she was a couple years ago.

I would check with your vet for the correct amounts for you mares as they are much smaller

our instructions give for 10 days orally then on day 11 give protaglandin shot

day of shot counts as day 1 of heat cycle (you'll know its working if your mare breaks out in a sweat in a couple hours (I forget how many hours it was I just checked her a couple hours later)

our vet said to breed every day from day 5 through day 8 after that as long as mare shows heat

(ours did)

If you use the Regumate please be careful not to get it on your hands or on your body as it is absorbed by the skin and can really upset your hormones as a women also wash your hands good before touching any possible pregnant mares you have. Our vet recommend a man does the Regumate orally

If there is any possibility you mare is in foal it will cause her to abort so be sure they are not

I would get specific instructions from your vet for your mares before going this route for sure but it has worked well for us the last 3 years with 1 mare we have does not show heat so it allows us to know when it is. with this she does.

We also only hand breed so it gives us control there

Good luck with your mares hope it works our for you.

This is just what has worked for us Please check everything with your vet
 
Good advice... and I want to add to Lori's advice about handling the oral Regumate..... if you have a history of having Breast Cancer, it is recommended that you NOT handle it if at all possible.

I have had breast cancer, and since I am the only one that will take care of the horses, I will have to use double gloves,(gloves over gloves) and be very careful.

Robin
 
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Thanks everyone for the really great advice and hints. I will get hubby to do_Or I will good gloves.I did read it on here before about the product.But good to get reminded. Esp I have my 14 yr old granddaughter for the summer.And she is around the horses
 
How frustrating for you and sounds like your vet just does not want to help or get into this. Does he do any equine reproduction stuff at all?

You need to find a vet, even if you have to haul an hour or two away and I agree- I would have the mares cultured at least. I have watched our vet work on various horses on farms and she will flush them out and put them on antibiotics for 10 days. One farm though had a problem mare that had a low grade infection that did NOT show up on the culture. She was flushed anyhow, put on the antibiotics, and that worked.

How old are the mares? How long since they have carried a foal? Have you had them all that time or did they not rebreed at the previous farm (which MAY make me suspicious as to why they were sold?) How old is the stallion?

Someone also mentioned about them liking the stallion or not or behavior things? Have you seen him actually cover them? Our neighbors had a mare that for two or three years would not get pregnant and then they found out why. When the stallion would try to breed her- she would start spinning in circles, etc.. and was just basicly a witch him... they caught her up and hand bred her and voila, next year a foal! They had another mare in another pasture that would run 'her mares' off and would not let the stud breed them- she had issues. Took her out, no more problems.

There could be many factors as to what is going on there. Are you pasture or hand breeding?

Many good suggestions here, but I would start by finding a vet that is willing to take a look and see what is going on.
 
Something else vet might need to check is the thyroid level. It is my understanding if thyroid levels are off mares don't conceive.
 
Yes, that is correct on the thyroid deficiency.
 
If there is any possibility you mare is in foal it will cause her to abort so be sure they are not

No. Regumate is used to KEEP mares in foal. What you are doing with this protocol is telling the mare she's pregnant, then stopping everything and trying to convince her body its time to try again. Giving a pregnant mare will not cause her to abort. It WILL cause HUMAN "mares" to abort.
 

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