Horse Abortions

[midnight star stables]

I heard some "Big Horse" friends of my mom talking about horse abortions - ex. colt bred his dam or ex. stallion got out with some mares etc.. I was just wondering if this is true? Can a vet administer some type of drug to terminate an unwanted pregnancy?

I kind of thought that it would be a good idea for when accidents happen. OH!

Sorry if it is a silly question!

 

[Mona]

Yes, there is a shot that can be administered to do this, but it should be done VERY early...as soon as possible after the "accident". I believe it is Lutalyse that is used, but not 100% sure on that.

 

[willowoodstables]

Yes Desiree there is a shot the vet can give. You can actually give it at anytime, it just means the later into a mare's preg the harder it is on her. My vet calls it a "Hot Shot". It is also given to force a mare into season within a day or two of the shot.

Kim

 

[Boinky]

foals can also be "pinched"...where the vet goes in rectally (like palpating) and will pinch the cord which will of course cause the foal to die and be aborted. They often do this in situations of twins. they will pinch one foal so the other can grow and thrive naturally since twinning is very difficult in horses and usually results in one or both foals dead if they even make it to full term.

 

[MiLo Minis]

foals can also be "pinched"...where the vet goes in rectally (like palpating) and will pinch the cord which will of course cause the foal to die and be aborted. They often do this in situations of twins. they will pinch one foal so the other can grow and thrive naturally since twinning is very difficult in horses and usually results in one or both foals dead if they even make it to full term.

Pinching quite often leads to the loss of both foals as well even though only one is pinched but it is at least a possibility. It is really hard to do in a Miniature though.

I have heard of instances where a hot shot was given so late in pregnancy that the mare went into such hard labour to get rid of the fetus she involuted or expelled her uterus along with it.

I would say you are better off to prevent the pregnancy in the first place.

 

[Karin - NaKar Miniatures]

Lutylse should be administered within the first 100 days for terminating a pregancy. In most cases, if given after 100 days, it will not terminate the pregancy. Of course, if overdosed, I guess it could happen.

I have had to do this maybe 2 - 3 times in the 13 years of having minis. I have always administered as soon as possible. I do know of instances where people have purchased mares that were bred to a stallion they did not care for and gave the mare lutylse to terminate the pregancy. Again the mares were only about 30 to 60 days in foal.

 

[Miniv]

Yes, we've never done it, but I believe it is Lutalyse. And it should only be given during the first trimester. From what I've been told, even if given in the first trimester of pregnancy, the physical side affects are very unpleasant for the mare. They include shakes, heavy sweating, and occasionally colicky symptoms.

 

[Minimor]

There is lutalyse and there is also something else, another drug that does the same thing but is supposed to be more effective, but now I can't think what it's called

I had checked into that one a couple years ago, but then the mare came into heat and it wasn't needed.

If you give it within 35 days it only takes 1 dose to cause the mare to abort. After 35 days you have to give 2 or more doses, and after 100 days it's ineffective--that is the info I was given by my vet.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Only ever had it done within 30 days and both times it was successful with no "labour" involved.

I cannot think of one reason why you would abort a mare late in her pregnancy.

Sometimes, "stuff" happens and it is not always possible to merely prevent the pregnancy (as some of us know to our personal cost

) so that is a very trite thing to say!!

I would think we are all as careful as we can be but accidents occur.

Better to put it right pretty sharply, than to hang around moralising.

 

[midnight star stables]

Wow, I had no idea that there were so many options for those uh-ohh moments! Good to have a reference for sure!