Aborting foal at 8mths

[Totesmum]

I have been offered a broodmare, however she slipped her last foal at 8mths and hasn't had a foal since(2 seasons ago) she'd previously had 4 healthy foals.

I don't think a postmortem was done but their current vet thinks it was a Viral abortion or bad nutrition and a course or antibiotics through her next pregnancy should be all thats needed.

Has anyone experienced this? Is it worth breeding with this mare again?

I'm waiting to hear the opinion of my own vet before I take this mare on, but any advice would be appreciated

 

[S_N]

Sounds to me like she'd need a series of tests done. EIA (Coggins) bloods, EVA (Equine Viral Arteritis) bloods and CEMO (Contagious Equine Metritis Organisms - such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) Swabs (clitoral ones and endometrial ones) and also EHV (Equine Herpes Virus) bloods. You could then flag up any problems and hope to treat her and cure whatever infection she may have. If something were to come up on a clitoral swab, I know some studs that will remove them......

 

[teabiscuit]

we lost a foal at a similar age, the mare was taken away from the herd and it upset her

we don't lnow how much this had to do with the abortion, but she had a couple of years off then had 2 healthy foals afterwards

there are so many reasons for them to lose foals, yes get the tests done but just remember it could have been lost for any number of reasons, many of which are one off's.

 

[AndyPandy]

[ QUOTE ]
...but their current vet thinks it was a Viral abortion or bad nutrition and a course or antibiotics through her next pregnancy should be all thats needed

[/ QUOTE ]

Firstly, I think this is bad advice from a vet. Antibiotics are not a cure all, and will certainly not do anything to avoid VIRAL infections (antibiotics are only useful for bacterial infections) or malnutrition.

SN has provided a good list of things to have checked out, and these should be investigated if you are serious about taking this mare on and getting her to carry a pregnancy to full term. The good sign is that she's had previous successful pregnancies. A full reproductive work up, and a second veterinary opinion are in order!

 

[kerilli]

i had a mare do this, the foal was the remaining twin after one was pinched out, she carried it to 9 months then lost it.

she never had a problem again, had 3 more foals for me, no probs at all.

 

[ecs]

hi had this happen to me some years ago, first foal lost at 9 months the following pregnancy resulted in a healthy foal at term, then a 3rd pregnancy aborted again at 8 months, this time both mare and dead foal, were blood tested and Equine Herpes Virus was the cause, the other pregnant mares all carried to term, to we were lucky, i never tried to breed off this mare again, as i was informed she could be a carrier, so yes i think blood checks are imperative good luck

 

[Totesmum]

Thanks for all the input, it's very interesting to hear your opinions as I'm very new to breeding so I'd rather be making informed decisions.

 

[Fleur100]

I had a mare slip a foal at 8 months last year. She had successfully bred 1 previous foal. PM showed no viral infections and the mare is due to foal mid-April and is looking in tremendous health.