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04-21-2012, 03:26 PM
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Equine Late Term Abortion
Reasons for late term abortion in mares: Rhinopneumonitis (EHV-1 virus). The timely use of "Pneumabort" or a similar innoculation has been shown to reduce this, BUT there has been evidence that improper storage of the vaccine at some stage may reduce it's efficacy, particularly exposure to excess heat or cold. Placentitis (inflammation of the placenta) can be caused by infection by a bacteria, fungus or virus. The origins may be external or internal. The end result is commonly the death of the foal, and subsequent abortion. Twinning, which is a cause of abortion at any stage of pregnancy, but commonly either early in pregnancy or later on, when the placenta becomes unable to provide sufficient nutrition, and one or both fetus' dies. With the advent of ultrasound, and it's use as a pregnancy diagnostic tool, it is likely that we will see a reduction in the numbers of twin foals causing abortions during late pregnancy. Umbilical torsion, whereby the fetus gets wrapped in it's own umbilical cord, most commonly a hind leg, and cut's off or severely reduces, it's oxygen/blood supply, causing it's death. Equine Viral Arteritis is a cause of late pregnancy abortions, but unlike the stallion, who can become a "shedder" of the virus in his semen, the mare when recovered from the clinical signs of the disease is usually resistant, and hence not likely to loose another foal as a result of it. Fetal deformity of course is another possibility, but unlikely as a repeat offender. Poor thing |