Proper and timely intervention can mean the difference between a live foal and a lost one. And while most equine pregnancies proceed without incident, an estimated 12.9% of mares lose their foals between 40 days of gestation and the estimated foaling date. These mares could potentially benefit from such intervention.

"In some cases, by the time a breeder or equine veterinarian recognizes the mare is showing signs of premature birth, any assistance is likely insufficient, resulting in a weak foal unlikely to survive," said Kristina Lu, VMD, Dipl. ACT, of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, in Lexington, Ky. Timing and approach is critical, and she described approaches during her presentation at the 2012 American Associations of Equine Practitioners’ Convention, held Dec 1-5 in Anaheim, Calif.

One-third of all stillbirths and deaths within 24 hours of birth are due to infections of the fetoplacental unit, she noted. Other causes of death include bacterial infections, complications during birth, congenital anomalies (e.g., contracted foals–those that are extremely upright or buckled forward at the pasterns, fetlocks, and/or knees), premature placental separation, and twins.

"What these data tell us is that if we can manage infection and inflammation in pregnant mares, we are targeting approximately one-third of the problem," Lu noted