Record Medication Use During Equine Gestation

Keeping a precise medical record for pregnant mares could help researchers better understand fetal malformations.
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Record Medication Use During Equine Gestation
Because we know very little about medication’s effects on fetal development in horses, keeping a precise medical record of pregnant mares could help contribute to scientific knowledge about fetal malformations. | Photo: iStock
You dream for 11 months about the perfect foal your mare is about to produce—one with a well-conformed body, long legs, and a fuzzy foal coat. But, in the guarantee-free game of horse breeding, remember there’s always a risk for something to go wrong. Fetal malformations, for instance, can occur in horses, but the cause often remains unknown.

A Danish researcher is hoping to get to the bottom of one possible cause: medication use. Because we know very little about medication’s effects on fetal development in horses, keeping a precise medical record of pregnant mares could help contribute to scientific knowledge about fetal malformations, said Jørgen Steen Agerholm, DVM, PhD, DVSci, a professor at the University of Copenhagen Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences Section for Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics.

However, that doesn’t mean breeders should fear using pharmaceutical drugs if their pregnant mares need them. It just means that combined efforts, through good records worldwide, can lead to better understanding when problems do occur. And if they do, informing a specialized researcher can be helpful, Agerholm said.

“Very limited knowledge exists on congenital syndromes in horses,” he said. “And worldwide, there are few experts in congenital syndromes of animals. Most cases are examined by veterinary surgeons or diagnosticians who encounter such cases sporadically and without any specific research interest in the cases

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Passionate about horses and science from the time she was riding her first Shetland Pony in Texas, Christa Lesté-Lasserre writes about scientific research that contributes to a better understanding of all equids. After undergrad studies in science, journalism, and literature, she received a master’s degree in creative writing. Now based in France, she aims to present the most fascinating aspect of equine science: the story it creates. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.

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