Jos, I need your opinion: My 16 year old wonderful broodmare has had 13 healthy foals foals!! She has a 2 1/2 mos old filly at her side who is still nursing a large percentage of the time. Mare has multiple uterine cysts but by following your recommendations re the Oxytocin protocol in a previous thread, she got pregnant on one dose of frozen semen !!! I know I am either real lucky or you are a great Equine Reproductive Specialist!! Now at 30 days PG she has been diagnosed with EPM, I talked to vet toxicologist at Univ of KY and reproductive as well as EPM specialists and have started her on Marquis. She has had 4 days now. Is there any hope she might carry baby to term? Has anyone had experience with something like this? She is definitely neurologic but still eating and can lie down and get up , no problem. The foal has no apparent problems.
Jos Posted From: 66.248.79.100
Posted on Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - 01:14 am:
Congratulations on your luck in getting your mare pregnant!
I regret that I cannot give you much of an answer on this, as I have been fortunate enough (for me!) not to have run into much EPM in the broodmare.
According to a question answered on an AAEP site: "a study involving the use of Marquis in pregnant mares [shows] there is clinical evidence that this agent is safe for pregnant mares". It should however be noted that the Bayer profile for Marquis on their web site at this location cautions: "the safe use of Marquis (ponazuril) in horses used for breeding purposes, during pregnancy, or in lactating mares, has not been evaluated". I would add that I personally have concerns with the adding of any unecessary drug, vaccine or chemical to the early pregnant mare during at least the first 45 days of pregnancy, as that is the period when organogenesis is occuring. I do however certainly stand to be corrected in the event that the above research that suggests that Marquis is safe for pregnant mares included treatment during that time period.
I would encourage you to talk to the experts at U-Ky, who will certainly be able to give you a far better answer than I!
And when they do - please post what they say here!!!
I discussed my mare's case with the U of KY vet pharmacologist who advised me to treat the mare with Marquis, they have treated over 20 pregnant mares and have had no problems attributed to the Marquis. I completed the first 28 days and she showed significant improvement and continued to nurse a very healthy large filly. On their recommendation, I gave her a second round of Marquis hoping for more improvement. Unfortunately in the last few weeks her condition has worsened. I weaned the filly this week at 4 months and 2 weeks of age. I am hoping the stress of the weaning does not worsen her neuro status. Now they are saying to give her Navigator after 150 days of pregnancy - it has some pretty scary side effects. A recent ultrasound show she is still in foal but now I am just hoping to save my wonderful mare. Just an update on an awful situation. This disease is terrible.
twhgait Posted From: 69.23.219.90
Posted on Monday, October 25, 2004 - 10:30 pm:
Hi Julie, Just wanted to drop my best wishes in to you and your mare.
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