Although it is possible for a mare to deliver the occasional set of healthy twin foals, the risk of losing all three horses is high. | Photo: Photos.com

Veterinarians discuss methods for detecting and reducing twins

Twins are a novelty, especially the equine variety, and while we’ve all heard heartwarming stories about special cases in which both foals survived, the truth is less than one in 100 twin pregnancies results in such a fortunate outcome. Why the miserable odds? Simply, the mare’s uterus is not designed to support two pregnancies simultaneously, says Juan Samper, DVM, PhD, an equine reproduction specialist and associate dean of clinical affairs at the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, in St. Kitts, West Indies.

This is why conscientious horse breeders try to avoid this situation altogether, and it is also one of several reasons why veterinarians should examine mares 14 days after breeding, says Ahmed Tibary, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT, professor of theriogenology in Washington State University’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

We visited with Samper and Tibary to understand why twin pregnancies occur, why they’re dangerous, and how early detection and intervention can help you avoid a two-for-one which could prove dangerous or even deadly