Achieving back to back pregnancies can be difficult. To have success and to do so in the most cost effective manner takes even more thoughtful planning than breeding a dry mare. It is beyond the scope (even w/ my wordiness!!) of this article cover details about subfertile, known problem or barren mares. But if anyone is interested, just ask...
IMMUNE STIMULANT Consider giving a natural immune booster daily for 2 weeks prior to foaling. These products can be costly but we consider the benefits well worth the $. The mare benefits by being able to recover more rapidly and is less susepitable to lingering infection (and thus is more ready to become pregnant again) and the foal receives help to his almost nonexistent immune system. There are many of these products. If anyone is interested in more deatils about them, make a post or PM me.
CHORION (red placenta) -- Note exactly how long it takes your mare to "clean up." (IE dispel her placenta after foaling) In general, the quicker she cleans up, the better the state of her uterus. Once out, do not allow the mare to step or otherwise mangle her placenta. Keep the placenta in a covered bucket (or it might become a dog snack!) w/ water to keep it fresh so that your vet can check to make sure it is complete. If you are a hands on type, take the chorion (red section that was attached to the uterus) and place a hose in the rent (called the 'cervical star') that the foal came through. Fill the placenta to see if it holds water. If it does, you know that there are no pieces missing. A note about placenta disposal: It never fails for our mares to foal the day the trash is collected. Then we have a wonderfully fragrant (rotting) aroma emanating from the trash for a week. We get around this by double bagging and freezing the placenta. Just put it in the trash the day it's collected -- no more bad smell. Just don't leave it in your freezer!
T/O-- Make sure that mare & foal get as much turn out as is safe. When the mare moves around, she can dispel uterine fluid that did not get out during foaling. Just be sure the foal doesn't become over tired if the mare is active. Short, multiple t/o each day w/ a young foal work great.
OXYTOCIN--it's cheap, works great, but use prudently Some farms routinely give Oxytocin for a few days post foaling as it aides in clearing uterine fluid and is responsible for "milk letdown." Oxytocin is a smooth muscle contractor-- that means it makes the mares cramp. Consider your mare's tolerance to pain and use it prudently. The last thing you need is a snarky mare kicking at her foal in response to the discomfort Oxytocin has given her. 1) never, ever give more than 1 cc at a time --studies have shown that when given at higher doses, the drug can cause such cramping that the uterus actually locks down and prohibits any fluid from escaping. For fear of sounding sexist, I've noticed that it's always male vets who prescribe higher doses; they obviously haven't felt uterine cramps!!!! 2) watch to your mare's response to her new foal nursing. If her milk is streaming out and you see a distinct line on her belly, she does not need the help exogenous Oxytocin -- her own supply is ample. 3) If you decide to give Oxytocin, give it just as you are taking the mare and baby out for T/O. The combined effect of the mare's movements with the drug give an exponential effect to aid in uterine clearance.
1ST CHECK At day 7-10 post foaling have the vet u/s and use the speculum (ladies, we know what this is!) to be sure there are no internal hematomas, that her cervix has not sustained any tears, that her uterus has been able to clear itself of foaling 'junk.' To really check her cervix, the mare must be under the influence of progesterone (IE the cervix must have some tone) and thus the mare can't be in heat. It seems far fetched, but it does happen (we've had two mares w/ torn cervixes and wasted thousands attempting to breed infertile mares b/c we did not check). It's much better to detect this before wasting time, semen, and money on a mare who cannot get pregnant. In the case of a torn cervix, sometimes mares need time to heal, sometimes they need surgery.
FOAL HEAT-- you'll have much lower chance of her carrying a foal If you are bound and determined to move up foaling date, then there is no other choice. You must perform what this heat was meant to do -- clean her up and involute the uterus. 1) Begin lavaging w/ pre warmed LRS (IE Lactated Ringer Solution, as saline is too caustic) at day 3 post foaling and continue daily until the flush back looks like Evian water. Always follow w/ Oxytocin (and t/o whenever possible). 2) If your mare is going to ovulate prior to day 9 or 10, allow her to and short cycle her to breed her on the next heat. By doing this you'll gain (only) 7-10 days on her predicted foaling date. 3) If you are breeding w/ frozen semen, don't even think about using the foal heat! You're wasting semen and money and possibly the entire season.
30 Day Heat --use it! 1) This is the most reliable heat for rebreeding w/ sucess. The mare has not yet been pulled out of condition from her foal and yet she's had "Dr Time" working to help her too. 2) The most common question I am asked is if mares begin their 30 day heat (30 D H) at 30 days post foaling? No. Mares generally 'read the book' on this cycle and usually ovulate close to 30 days post foaling. 3) Dont expect your mare to show heat during this cycle (a common reason why breeders miss this heat), she's too taken up w/ duties and demands of her new baby. 4) Have her checked via u/s at day 26-27 post foaling. That way you have time the have your cytology/ culture results and also enough time to get organized to order semen and be polite to you SO. (for ideas about the cytology/culture see preparing your amre for breding thread). Don't breed w/ out the cytology!
LAVAGE-Just a general note Although we like to be as non invasive as possible, we've found that uterine lavage helps prepare the mare for her next pregnancy immensely. Lavages stimulate uterine contractions to help clear and 'wash' the ureus. We use pre-warmed LRS 1-3 times between day 4-7 post foaling or until the return flush is clear. Young/er, healthy mares who had a normal foaling and quick "cleanup" (complete and rapid dispelling of placenta), need not undergo this treatment. However, older, polyparous mares (IE mares who've had a lot of foals) or mares w/ known uterine clearance issues, endometritis, or uterine infections benefit greatly from this "service" that they cannot do for themselves.
Achieving back to back pregnancies can be difficult. To have success and to do so in the most cost effective manner takes even more thoughtful planning than breeding a dry mare. It is beyond the scope (even w/ my wordiness!!) of this article cover details about subfertile, known problem or barren mares. But if anyone is interested, just ask...
ReplyDeleteIMMUNE STIMULANT
Consider giving a natural immune booster daily for 2 weeks prior to foaling. These products can be costly but we consider the benefits well worth the $. The mare benefits by being able to recover more rapidly and is less susepitable to lingering infection (and thus is more ready to become pregnant again) and the foal receives help to his almost nonexistent immune system. There are many of these products. If anyone is interested in more deatils about them, make a post or PM me.
CHORION (red placenta) --
Note exactly how long it takes your mare to "clean up." (IE dispel her placenta after foaling) In general, the quicker she cleans up, the better the state of her uterus. Once out, do not allow the mare to step or otherwise mangle her placenta. Keep the placenta in a covered bucket (or it might become a dog snack!) w/ water to keep it fresh so that your vet can check to make sure it is complete. If you are a hands on type, take the chorion (red section that was attached to the uterus) and place a hose in the rent (called the 'cervical star') that the foal came through. Fill the placenta to see if it holds water. If it does, you know that there are no pieces missing.
A note about placenta disposal: It never fails for our mares to foal the day the trash is collected. Then we have a wonderfully fragrant (rotting) aroma emanating from the trash for a week. We get around this by double bagging and freezing the placenta. Just put it in the trash the day it's collected -- no more bad smell. Just don't leave it in your freezer!
T/O--
Make sure that mare & foal get as much turn out as is safe. When the mare moves around, she can dispel uterine fluid that did not get out during foaling. Just be sure the foal doesn't become over tired if the mare is active. Short, multiple t/o each day w/ a young foal work great.
OXYTOCIN--it's cheap, works great, but use prudently
Some farms routinely give Oxytocin for a few days post foaling as it aides in clearing uterine fluid and is responsible for "milk letdown." Oxytocin is a smooth muscle contractor-- that means it makes the mares cramp. Consider your mare's tolerance to pain and use it prudently. The last thing you need is a snarky mare kicking at her foal in response to the discomfort Oxytocin has given her.
1) never, ever give more than 1 cc at a time --studies have shown that when given at higher doses, the drug can cause such cramping that the uterus actually locks down and prohibits any fluid from escaping. For fear of sounding sexist, I've noticed that it's always male vets who prescribe higher doses; they obviously haven't felt uterine cramps!!!!
2) watch to your mare's response to her new foal nursing. If her milk is streaming out and you see a distinct line on her belly, she does not need the help exogenous Oxytocin -- her own supply is ample.
3) If you decide to give Oxytocin, give it just as you are taking the mare and baby out for T/O. The combined effect of the mare's movements with the drug give an exponential effect to aid in uterine clearance.
1ST CHECK
At day 7-10 post foaling have the vet u/s and use the speculum (ladies, we know what this is!) to be sure there are no internal hematomas, that her cervix has not sustained any tears, that her uterus has been able to clear itself of foaling 'junk.' To really check her cervix, the mare must be under the influence of progesterone (IE the cervix must have some tone) and thus the mare can't be in heat. It seems far fetched, but it does happen (we've had two mares w/ torn cervixes and wasted thousands attempting to breed infertile mares b/c we did not check). It's much better to detect this before wasting time, semen, and money on a mare who cannot get pregnant. In the case of a torn cervix, sometimes mares need time to heal, sometimes they need surgery.
FOAL HEAT-- you'll have much lower chance of her carrying a foal
If you are bound and determined to move up foaling date, then there is no other choice. You must perform what this heat was meant to do -- clean her up and involute the uterus.
1) Begin lavaging w/ pre warmed LRS (IE Lactated Ringer Solution, as saline is too caustic) at day 3 post foaling and continue daily until the flush back looks like Evian water. Always follow w/ Oxytocin (and t/o whenever possible).
2) If your mare is going to ovulate prior to day 9 or 10, allow her to and short cycle her to breed her on the next heat. By doing this you'll gain (only) 7-10 days on her predicted foaling date.
3) If you are breeding w/ frozen semen, don't even think about using the foal heat! You're wasting semen and money and possibly the entire season.
30 Day Heat --use it!
1) This is the most reliable heat for rebreeding w/ sucess. The mare has not yet been pulled out of condition from her foal and yet she's had "Dr Time" working to help her too.
2) The most common question I am asked is if mares begin their 30 day heat (30 D H) at 30 days post foaling? No. Mares generally 'read the book' on this cycle and usually ovulate close to 30 days post foaling.
3) Dont expect your mare to show heat during this cycle (a common reason why breeders miss this heat), she's too taken up w/ duties and demands of her new baby.
4) Have her checked via u/s at day 26-27 post foaling. That way you have time the have your cytology/ culture results and also enough time to get organized to order semen and be polite to you SO. (for ideas about the cytology/culture see preparing your amre for breding thread). Don't breed w/ out the cytology!
LAVAGE-Just a general note
Although we like to be as non invasive as possible, we've found that uterine lavage helps prepare the mare for her next pregnancy immensely. Lavages stimulate uterine contractions to help clear and 'wash' the ureus. We use pre-warmed LRS 1-3 times between day 4-7 post foaling or until the return flush is clear. Young/er, healthy mares who had a normal foaling and quick "cleanup" (complete and rapid dispelling of placenta), need not undergo this treatment. However, older, polyparous mares (IE mares who've had a lot of foals) or mares w/ known uterine clearance issues, endometritis, or uterine infections benefit greatly from this "service" that they cannot do for themselves.