Serum calcium and magnesium concentrations and the use of a calcium-magnesium-borogluconate solution in the treatment of Friesian mares with retained placenta.

The research article investigates the impact of serum calcium and magnesium levels on Friesian mares with retained placenta, and compares treatment effectiveness utilizing oxytocin in combination with a calcium-magnesium-borogluconate solution versus oxytocin alone.

Objective

• The aim of this study was twofold; firstly, to compare the serum calcium and magnesium concentration between mares with and without retained placenta (RP), and secondly, to assess the effectiveness of a treatment approach combining oxytocin with a Ca-Mg-borogluconate solution as opposed to oxytocin on its own. RP is defined in this study as the inability to expel all or part of the fetal membranes up to 3 hours after foal delivery.

Methodology

• Blood samples from Friesian mares, both with and without RP (90 and 65 respectively), were procured within 12 hours of foaling.
• These samples were then analyzed for Serum Ca and Mg concentration by employing atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
• In total, 112 instances of RP, from 101 different Friesian mares, were treated either with oxytocin dissolved in saline solution or oxytocin dissolved in a Ca-Mg-borogluconate solution.
• A ‘positive response’ to treatment is characterized by the complete expulsion of the placenta within 2 hours after the treatment solution infusion.

Findings

• The research data revealed that mares having RP were observed to have notably lower serum calcium levels within 12 hours of foaling in comparison to mares without RP.
• There was, however, no observable difference in the serum magnesium concentration in mares with or without RP.
• The effectiveness of treatment was higher in the group of mares being administered oxytocin dissolved in a Ca-Mg-borogluconate solution as indicated by a positive response of 64%, as compared to a 44% positive response rate in the group treated with oxytocin in saline solution.

Conclusion

• This study provides evidence that lower serum calcium is associated with RP in Friesian mares.
• In addition, the results suggest that RP treatment using oxytocin combined with a Ca-Mg-borogluconate solution appears to be more effective than oxytocin infusions by themselves.