Satur Veterinary Clinic - Routine Reproductive Examinations

Routine Reproductive Examinations

Ultrasound examination per rectum in mares has enabled us to achieve vastly improved pregnancy rates. Indeed, in these days of heavily booked stallions, optimal reproductive management of the broodmare requires such examinations to take place. This examination requires the insertion of the veterinarian´s hand and arm, and a slim ultrasound probe into the mare´s rectum. You should be aware that rectal perforation as a result of this procedure is a recognised (although rare) complication and can be fatal depending on the degree of damage. At all times we take the utmost care during rectal palpation to try to avoid such complications. When necessary, we use drugs to assist in palpation and reduce the risk of tears. While it is not possible to completely eliminate the risk of rectal injury, in practice the risk is very low.

Mares can be divided into two management categories: wet (mares with a foal at foot) and dry (maiden mares or mares not carrying a foal). The accompanying information outlines the procedures likely to be carried out during the breeding season on Thoroughbred broodmares going to busy stallions, as they need to be served just prior to ovulation. Veterinary work on mares going to stallions with a small book of mares can be less intensive.

Dry mares

It is important to encourage early cycling of mares to produce a foal as early in the season as possible. The role of photoperiod (lengthening hours of daylight) has been well established in regulating the mare´s reproductive cycle. Other factors such as nutrition, body condition and climate are also important. Artificially lengthening the day starts the process of transition (to cycling) earlier than would be the case in natural light alone. The transition period requires a minimum of 60 days, so it is important that, in order to encourage mares to start cycling by 1st September, they should be receiving approximately 16 hours of light by early July. Also, exposing early foaling mares to artificial increases in daylight may help them to continue cycling after the foal is born, even if they are not to be bred early in the season.

We may also use certain drugs (e.g. Domperidone) to promote early cycling or if a mare responds poorly to other management procedures.

Recently foaled mares

Ideally, we like to examine these mares during their foal heat (approx 8-9 days after foaling). At this stage we examine the mare´s entire reproductive tract, and any problems that have occurred in association with foaling can be detected. Prompt therapy can ensure that the mare will be ready to be bred during her next heat period. Although these heats can be fertile and a mare can conceive, fertility is often significantly lower and most stallion managers prefer not to have mares served at foal heat. Cover at foal heat tends to be reserved for late foaling mares as mare owners push to get their mares in foal again rather than having a year off.

Problem mares

This group encompasses those mares that are notoriously difficult to get in foal or lose pregnancies and are often dry mares for one or more years. We offer in depth reproduction diagnostics such as hormone profiling, uterine biopsies, surgical prodecures and placental health monitoring. We can then formulate treatment plans to maximise the chance of conception and a healthy pregnancy in these mares.