Powered by Google

Sorry, something went wrong and the translator is not available.

Sorry, something went wrong with the translation request.

loading Translating

 
Reproduction in Obese Horses
Published: December 13, 2010

I have talked about equine metabolic syndrome and equine Cushing's disease in horses and today I am going to talk about reproduction in mares affected with these conditions. If you have a mare that has equine metabolic syndrome or Cushing's disease, there is some evidence these horses may be less fertile than other horses. First of all, it's really not a good idea for these mares to carry a foal anyway because they are susceptible to laminitis and founder, and the added weight of a foal will not help.

Also, it has been shown that older horses have a persistent low-grade inflammation caused by production of some inflammatory mediators and increased body fat may be a contributor as fatty tissue increases production of the inflammatory chemicals. Although it is not known what effect these chemicals have on fertility, many of these overweight horses tend to cycle throughout the winter whereas healthy horses stop cycling from October to February. Also, the cycles on these overweight mares can be abnormal as the interval between cycles is much greater. The hormone progesterone is elevated longer in these horses and this fact, coupled with the decreased immunity in horses with Cushing's disease, makes them more susceptible to infections. Since uterine infections are a major cause of infertility in mares, these mares in general are less fertile. So if you have an older mare that you would like to breed that is overweight and has equine metabolic syndrome or Cushing's disease, it is important to address these problems before considering breeding.

The content of this site is owned by Veterinary Information Network (VIN®), and its reproduction and distribution may only be done with VIN®'s express permission.

The information contained here is for general purposes only and is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk.

Links to non-VIN websites do not imply a recommendation or endorsement by VIN® of the views or content contained within those sites.

Top
Page Title
SAID=27