Clinical studies on daily low dose oxytocin in mares at term.

The research article explores the use of low dosage oxytocin injections to mares (female horses) at full term to both induce and predict labor. The treatment was found to be effective in inducing labor in mares that are ready to give birth.

Objective of the Study

• The study aimed to investigate the reliability of using daily low-dose oxytocin, administered through intravenous (IV) injection, to either induce or predict parturition (childbirth) in mares that are confirmed ready for birth using a mammary secretion calcium strip test.

Methodology

• Fifty-one near-term Haflinger mares were used for the study. All mares were administered with a single injection of 2.5 units of oxytocin between the hours of 1700 and 1900.
• Ten among these mares were used as control subjects and were given a placebo instead of oxytocin.

Findings

• The administration of oxytocin resulted in the delivery of a healthy foal within 2 hours in 95% of the mares.
• Of the treated mares, 63% gave birth in response to the first injection, 24% after the second injection, and 8% after the third.
• Only 5% of the mares gave birth during the night irrespective of the treatment.
• In contrast, 70% of the control group mares (those not given oxytocin) gave birth during the night.

Conclusion

• The study concluded that the great advantage of administering a daily low dose of oxytocin is its potential to induce delivery only in mares carrying a mature fetus and ready to give birth.
• The study obviously provides significant insights for equine breeders and veterinarians as it could streamline the management of late-term pregnancies in mares, make labor prediction more precise, and reduce the need for round-the-clock monitoring for signs of foaling. This method allows background prediction of foaling during the following night, which could help in better planning the required resources and interventions for a safer parturition.