spaying a mare

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smellsofhorse

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Spaying or ovarianectomi(or however you spell it)

I know its more common in the us.

But also its alot easier than it used to be.
Instead of cutting into the mares flanks they can do it keyhole or in through the back end!

Any experiences?
Costs?
After care/recovery?
 
Personally I wouldnt, its far too invasive and risky for my liking. If your having problems with her temperamentally talk to your vet about the marble implant or modicate injections possibly?
 
I only have experience of a mare that had to have a hysterectomy due to uterine infection. Cost was in excess of £4000. She came back into work and has been fine since. If it is for hormonal problems have you considered getting her marbled?
 
It's an option for mares who are not for breeding and have poor vulval conformation such as a sunken anus.
 
I'm not convinced by the marble and regumate is expensive.

This is a 9 year old mare.
As id like to have a foal from her (to keep) its not the beall and end all.
Id rather have a long term solution.

Vet thinks something is going on but we will know more next week.
 
Speying is an ovariohysterectomy which is bascially the removal of the uterus and ovaries and would be a major abdominal surgery done under general anaesthesia and therefore all the associated risks of equine surgery.
An ovariectomy is removal of the ovaries only and apparently something that was done routinely in cavalry horses. I've seen some pretty gruesome equipment used to ratchet the ovaries out through an incision in the vaginal wall! But this was done in standing horses.
But if you are wanting to breed from your mare then neither of these procedures are applicable and so you are back to the decision of marble or regumate I think.
 
I meant I don't want to breed from her!
As much as it would be nice to have an offspring if hers.

I think there are far to many unwanted horses our there already.
If I wanted another I would rather go and rescue one. which is how I got her.

So ovarianectomy is just removal of the ovaries they can still show signs of being in season but don't have the pain.
Speying is total removal.

Obviously a big difference in severity of the two surguries and something to think about.
 
Haha yes that would make more sense!
I expect it might be done laparoscopically these days but guess its still a job for a specialist as not so much call for it now
 
I know its still a big op.
But feel long term it would be better.

The vet seeing her specialises in breeding and mare issues and they have a big clinic and hospital at their main branch so I know she will be in good hands.
 
I had to have my mare speyed in 2010. She had had hormonal problems for years and her behaviour became worse and worse until speying or euthanasia were the only options. Her problems appeared to be linked to her intake of plant oestrogen, particularly in things like soya, linseed etc, although we were never able to prove this. She was constantly in season, all year round, and in a lot of pain. This made her very aggressive and explosive to handle/ride.

The operation was carried out at a large equine hospital under keyhole surgery. Three small incisions were made in her flank on each side, at the back of the ribcage, thus she has three small white scars on each side. The largest is about 2 inches long, the others about half this size. She was in hospital for about 10 days (although they delayed the operation twice due to other emergencies coming in), then had to have a month's box rest with half an hour walking in hand daily (which was a complete nightmare as she became more and more unruly!) then a month's paddock rest before resuming ridden work. In reality, I then gave her about another 4 months off work as we needed to rebuild our relationship with each other! The stitches came out after 14 days, other than that there was no veterinary follow-up.

The whole thing cost just under £2000 and I was able to get it done on insurance as we were able to prove that there was a medical condition affecting her ovaries, and it wasn't just a behavioural issue.

In all honesty, although I felt guilty about putting her through it at the time, it was probably the best thing I ever did for her. She is a completely changed character, and I was recently told that she is the easiest horse on the yard to deal with!

Hope that helps, and good luck if you decide to go ahead!
 
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