Descriptive Study of Medication Usage and Occurrence of Disease and Injury During Gestation in Thoroughbred Broodmares.
Authors: Mouncey Rebecca, Arango-Sabogal Juan Carlos, de Mestre Amanda, Verheyen Kristien
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Medication and Disease in Pregnant Thoroughbred Broodmares Reproductive management in Thoroughbred broodmares relies heavily on pharmaceutical intervention, yet comprehensive data on usage patterns and their clinical context remain sparse. Researchers prospectively tracked 275 pregnancies across 235 mares on seven UK and Irish Thoroughbred studs, documenting reproductive therapeutics, disease and injury incidence, and non-reproductive medication use throughout gestation. Reproductive interventions were commonplace—55% of mares received pre-oestrus medications, 64% received ovulatory agents, and 73% received post-covering treatments, notably with antibiotics forming 69% of these post-covering regimens despite 37% of antibiotic-treated mares showing no ultrasonographic fluid on post-covering examination. During pregnancy itself, 34% of mares experienced a veterinary-attended health episode, with musculoskeletal conditions (23%) and placentitis (5%) predominating, whilst 47% received at least one non-reproductive medication, primarily antibiotics (25%) and NSAIDs (23%). These findings highlight substantial therapeutic use during gestation and expose significant gaps in clinical decision-making—particularly the prophylactic antibiotic use in post-covering management without obvious clinical justification—suggesting the need for evidence-based protocols to optimise mare and foetal health whilst minimising unnecessary antimicrobial exposure.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Antibiotic use in post-covering treatments is common but often administered without ultrasound evidence of uterine fluid, suggesting need for evidence-based protocols to justify treatment decisions and reduce unnecessary antibiotic exposure
- •Nearly one-third of pregnant mares experience disease or injury requiring veterinary care, with musculoskeletal problems being the leading concern—consider management strategies to minimize these conditions in breeding stock
- •High medication usage during gestation (47% receiving non-reproductive drugs) warrants discussion with veterinarians about necessity, timing, and potential effects on developing foetus
Key Findings
- •55-73% of Thoroughbred broodmares received reproductive medications (pre-oestrus, ovulatory agents, post-covering treatments) during breeding season
- •69% of post-covering treatments included antibiotics, with 37% of mares receiving treatment despite absence of fluid on ultrasound
- •34% of pregnant mares experienced at least one veterinary-attended disease or injury episode, with musculoskeletal conditions (23%) and placentitis (5%) most prevalent
- •47% of pregnant mares received non-reproductive medications during gestation, predominantly antibiotics (25%) and NSAIDs (23%)