What could be causing abortions???? :(

[txminipinto]

I agree with everyone else, if you aren't vaccinating your mares for Rhino this would be my number one suspect. Rhino abortions are so easy to prevent. We vaccinate all of our bred mares at 5,7, and 9 months gestation and then again with all the other vaccines (including WNV but NOT Rabies) at 300 days. The worst reaction I've had with Rhino was some localized swelling at the injection site since its a large vaccine. Its totally worth it though.

I'm sorry for your losses!

 

[Charlotte]

Oh my. I am so sorry to hear of your lost foals. That is SUCH a disappointment! Finding that lifeless little body.

At least your mares were able to pass those fetuses easily.

I have to agree with the others who have posted here that this could be very suspicious for Rhino. Of course Lepto can do about the same thing too. You can have your vet do an abortion panel on each mare then do a paired serum sample a few weeks later to see if titres are going up or down. (if lepto shows up though you probably wouldn't need to do the second lab if you haven't vaccinated for it (which most of us don't).

Unfortunately there are so many things that can cause abortion it can be difficult or impossible to pin down. A number of years ago we had several terrible years of abortions and spent a fortune in testing. The culprit finally turned out to be black walnut trees. All the trees were removed and no more abortions untill last year when our power company sprayed herbicide in our pasture without telling us. We lost 2 foals. Minis can be very sensitive to enviornmental toxins...way more than big horses.

We have also had abortions occur within a time frame that was very suspicious as being vaccination related so we try not to vaccinate during pregnancy (vaccinations were for a variety of diseases...no one type of vaccination was more suspicious than another) We try to use strict management to reduce exposure.

I hope you find the answer you need and I certainly hope you never have to go through this again.

Charlotte

 

[alphahorses]

What do chickens have to do with it? I have chickens and they can also run with the horses. I had 2 mares foal normally with the same chickens. But all my mares confirmed in foal last year by US didn't have anything and I found no body's.

salmonella can cause abortions. You'd have to ask your vet if your horses can get it from your chickens or not.

http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/eiltslotus/theriogenology-5361/equine%20abortion_2.htm

 

[MindyLee]

salmonella can cause abortions. You'd have to ask your vet if your horses can get it from your chickens or not.

http://www.vetmed.ls...0abortion_2.htm

Yep this dose happen (not often) but I have seen it first hand. A friend of mine had many mares abort one yr and could'nt figure out why. I suggested the salmonella thing and she strongly disagreed that it could'nt be from her chickens because the chickens and horses have interacted for years with no problems. Well after the 5th abort, she contacted her vet who came out to her farm, and took 3 of the dead foals back with him and had some tests done. All 3 foals had signes of being infected with both the salmonella and something else from the birds. From that point on, ALL birds are in cages and pens and she has'nt had that issue again. NOT sure all that was discussed between her and the vet but was told that I was onto something and was right.

Its just something to always be cautious about, thats all. Just like coon and opposum poo, they can make your horse(s) very sick too and may even kill them.

 

[albahurst]

or the shot was given too late.

This often happens, I think. It is our experience that Rhino shots should be given at the end of 3 months (about 100 days), then again at the end of 6 months and 9 months. If one waits until 5 months, it could be too late already. I am aware the vaccine states to give at 5, 7, 9- but our equine specialist vet highly recommends the schedule of 3,6,9. Since we have started this schedule, we have had no more problems from rhino (and, yes, it was confirmed rhino).

"I am still nervous about vaccines while pregnant....."

I know how you feel- I had to ask myself, 'What do I have to lose at this point?'

 

[ohmt]

MindyLee, I have read that the type of salmonella that causes abortion in mares has been eradicated from the US? Sometimes the internet isn't always right though.

Chickens should always be confined if you have horses. I work at a lab that does salmonella tests on chickens and ALL chickens have salmonella. Not all have enough to make you sick though. Salmonella can live in manure for up to 2 years. Never buy hay that's fertilized with chicken poop and try to keep chickens away from the horses. That is what my college professors advise. It can make horses very sick and can cause death (usually only if your horse is immunocompromised). Actually, the majority of bacteria caused diarrhea is due to salmonella. And once one horse has it, all of your horses are susceptible because the horse will shed the salmonella.

Salmonellosis symptoms: lethargy, depression, off wbc count, liver problems, bloated bellies, then diarrhea can show up later.