Many reproductive losses occur in the very early stages of pregnancy, but veterinarians emphasize that losses late in gestation can happen as well. A Louisiana State University (LSU) reproduction specialist recently described how practitioners can monitor pregnant mares to minimize such losses, particularly those mares difficult to get in foal in the first place.

“Considering the time and expense that goes into establishing pregnancy in subfertile mares, careful monitoring during the latter part of gestation is essential to identify any problems and institute multimodal therapy to successfully deliver a healthy foal,” explained Sara Lyle, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT, from LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine, in her presentation at the 2012 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 1-5 in Anaheim, Calif.

Mares dubbed “subfertile” can include those with a history of ascending placentitis, which is infection of the placenta that generally starts in the vagina and works its way up via the cervix. Such infections are the most common complication veterinarians detect late in gestation, occurring in as many as one-third of mares losing pregnancies in the last trimester. The most common cause of placentitis is bacterial infection, picked up in the environment.

“Signs of placentitis include discharge from the vulva, early udder development, prenatal lactation, premature delivery, and stillbirth,” said Lyle

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