Mares that retain fluid

[mickey]

Does anyone have one and if so have you any tips about how you get them in foal?
This is what has happened with Becky each year. I wasn't going to try again but have changed my mind. I would love a foal from her to keep for myself as a future horse.
Tried frozen ai and covering naturally- neither has been a success.

[cadeby]

Dr Johnathan Pycock is one of the leading researchers into this problem Emily - usually occurs in older, maiden mares. Is Becky a maiden?

www.pycock.co.uk/

Lots of interesting articles re. equine breeding on his site

This article also has helpful hints to improve your chances of success :
www.kohnkesown.com/admin/prod_photos/Image/File/breedingoldermares.pdf

Helen x

[mickey]

Thanks for those- will have a good read this afternoon.
She's not a maiden- has had 1 foal 5/6 years ago, via frozen AI to a stallion who wasn't the most fertile I'm told. Foaled easily- was with her previous owner.

[jap]

What are you doing after covering?

Is she getting any oxytocin jabs? Being washed out repeatedly? This used to be Annies problem at all amongst a cervix that wouldn't open so when eric was conceived we cover once (through
scanning to get perfect timing), then we adminstered a jab of oxcytocin approx 4 hours after covering, she was then washed out within 24hours and another days worth of oxytocin jabs given (its about anotehr 2/3 jabs worth every 4 or so hours). We would also scan at the same time to see what the fluid amount was etc and keep an eye of thigns until the cervix shuts fully (which is some 1-2 days after ovulation ish).

Its a very proactive way of doing things and obvious requires lots of vet action, Annie doesn't retain fluid now although I'm not saying she's easy to get in foal as she hasn't held onto this years blob so far.
Anna

[mickey]

Last year she jabbed to bring her in, then covered alternate days, flushing out 48 hours after last covering. I think she had the oxytocin every 3 days- the more I read the more I'm thinking this isn't anywhere near often enough.
Thanks for the info Anna- going to put it all to the vet on Thursday.
So sorry to hear Annie hasn't held onto her blob

[jap]

I would say thats definatly not enough, if you aim for just the one cover when the follicle is 45+ (or as far as you dare), the uterine odema at about 2/3 (on its way down from a 5), and the follicle is starting to go soft and fuzzy along the edges (meaning its about to pop) then you have less chance of fluid being put up. You can always give an injection to make sure the follicle does go after covering too.

I would think there wouldn't be a lot of point to keep giving oxcytocin every 3 days either as once the cervix is closed its job done. Its more making sure its cleared out before the cervix does close (which is when Becky is out of season).

I'm no expert, its just whats worked with Annie and I'm getting quite nifty at reading scans now. lol

Thanks re Annie What will be will be, she's caught in foal but absorbed the last one. Funny enough, that wasn't a problem last time (keeping the blob) so hopefully the last one was "just one of those things" and this nice summer weather will bring us some good luck.

[cadeby]

Such a shame Annie has lost her embryo
Our mare Fiona has lost hers too - present on the 15 day scan, but not in evidence now.
Inca and Wilf aren't having any success either, but so far the vet is at a loss as to why.

Good luck Emily. Don't give up just yet. The more informed you can be, the better Becky's chances

[mickey]

I'm thinking of asking about taking her over to the vets so she can be scanned more frequently in the run up. She was ovuplanted when she was AIed to make sure she ovulated. At least I know she isn't as bad as one mare who got scanned last week, they'd had their own "vet" scan 24 hours previously not in foal and about to ovulate- no sign of ovulation and as soon as our vet scanned he said the mare was full of pus. Washed out litres of it! Not pleasant. When Bex has been washed out its always been a small amount of clear, stringy fluid.
Gives me some hope that you've had some success with Annie. Fingers crossed for next time. If only it were so simple as with my blooming cat- conservatory window open, tom managed to somehow get in and I now have 5 kittens to prove it!

[maggie]

I'm with Julie on this, I'd want a lot more attention than Becky's had so far. I had a mare that retained fluid and had to be washed out, she had daily attention from my vet over the course of several weeks, although it was so long ago, I can't remember the details!

Emily, try ringing Jonathan Pycock and talking to him, he's not too far from you, a genuine expert in his field and a nice guy.

word of warning.......be prepared for a heavy investment with no guarantee of an outcome, but I'd go for it.