Descriptive Study of Medication Usage and Occurrence of Disease and Injury During Gestation in Thoroughbred Broodmares.
Abstract: The study aimed to (1) describe the use of reproductive therapeutics; (2) estimate the incidence of disease and injury; and (3) describe non-reproductive medications administered during pregnancy in Thoroughbred broodmares. A prospective birth cohort was established on seven farms across the UK and Ireland. Details of dams' signalment, breeding history, reproductive management during the breeding season(s) and veterinary-attended episodes of illness or injury and medication usage during gestation were retrieved retrospectively for 275 pregnancies in 235 mares over two breeding seasons. Results are reported at pregnancy-level of mares with data available. Preoestrus medications, ovulatory agents and post-covering treatments were administered to 55% (n = 85/155, 95% Confidence interval (CI) 47-62), 64% (n = 101/157, 95% CI 57-71) and 73% (n = 109/150, 95% CI 65-79) of mares respectively. Antibiotics were utilized in 69% (n = 75/109, 95% CI 60-77) of post-covering treatments. Of mares with no visible fluid on post-covering ultrasound, 37% (n = 24/65, 95% CI 26-49) still received treatment. Thirty-four percent (n = 70/203, 95% CI 28-41) of mares suffered at least one veterinary-attended episode of disease or injury, with conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system (23%, n = 46/203, 95%CI 17-29) and placentitis (5%, n = 10/203, 95% CI 3-9) most prevalent. Forty-seven percent (n = 95/203, 95% CI 40-54) of mares received at least one non-reproductive medication during gestation, antibiotics (25%, n = 51/203, 95% CI 20-31) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (23%, n = 47/203, 95% CI 18-29) being most frequently prescribed. Post-covering treatments often included antibiotics and were sometimes given in the absence of fluid, highlighting a need to further understand therapeutic rationale. Disease occurrence and medication usage during gestation were frequent and warrant additional investigation.
Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2022-08-11 PubMed ID: 35964852DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104104Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article studies the usage of medication, and the instances of disease and injury during the gestation period, in Thoroughbred broodmares.
Research Objective
- This study aimed to give a descriptive analysis of the use of reproductive therapeutics, estimate the incidence of disease and injury, and describe the usage of non-reproductive medicines administered during the pregnancy of Thoroughbred broodmares.
Methodology
- A prospective birth cohort was established on seven farms across the UK and Ireland.
- Data from a total of 275 pregnancies from 235 mares over two breeding seasons were collected retrospectively, including the dams’ signalment, breeding history, reproductive management during the breeding seasons, and veterinary-attended episodes of illness or injury, and medication usage during gestation.
Key Findings
- The research revealed that preoestrus medications, ovulatory agents, and post-covering treatments were administered to 55%, 64%, and 73% of mares respectively with available data.
- Antibiotics were used in 69% of post-covering treatments.
- Even in the absence of visible fluid on post-covering ultrasound, 37% of mares still received treatment.
- A significant number of mares (34%) suffered from at least one veterinary-attended episode of disease or injury, with conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system (23%) and placentitis (5%) being the most common.
- Almost half of the mares (47%) received non-reproductive medication during gestation, with antibiotics (25%) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (23%) being the most frequently prescribed.
Implications
- The frequent use of antibiotics for post-covering treatments, including cases where there was an absence of fluid, suggests that there is a need to understand the rationale behind such therapeutic treatments.
- As the occurrence of disease and the use of medication during gestation are common, the study concludes that this warrants further investigation.
Cite This Article
APA
Mouncey R, Arango-Sabogal JC, de Mestre A, Verheyen K.
(2022).
Descriptive Study of Medication Usage and Occurrence of Disease and Injury During Gestation in Thoroughbred Broodmares.
J Equine Vet Sci, 118, 104104.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104104 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK, England. Electronic address: rmouncey18@rvc.ac.uk.
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK, England; Departement de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK, England.
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK, England.
MeSH Terms
- Pregnancy
- Horses
- Animals
- Female
- Pregnancy, Animal
- Prospective Studies
- Retrospective Studies
- Reproduction
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
