Descriptive study of medication usage and occurrence of disease and injury during gestation in Thoroughbred broodmares

Mouncey, Rebecca; Arango Sabogal, Juan-Carlos; De Mestre, Amanda; Verheyen, Kristien

Abstract

The study aimed to (i) describe the use of reproductive therapeutics; (ii) estimate the incidence of disease and injury; and (iii) 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 from veterinary and stud records of 275 pregnancies in 235 mares over two breeding seasons. Results are reported at pregnancy-level, with denominators reflecting the number of pregnancies for which relevant data were available.
Post-covering treatments, 69% (n=75/109, 95% Confidence interval (CI) 60-77) containing intrauterine antibiotics, were administered to 73% (n=109/150, 95%CI 65-79) of pregnant mares including 37% (n=24/65, 95%CI 26-49) of mares with no fluid visible on post-covering ultrasound examination. 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.
A notable proportion of post-covering treatments, including intrauterine antibiotics, were administered 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.

Citation

Mouncey, R., Arango Sabogal, J., De Mestre, A., & Verheyen, K. (2022). Descriptive study of medication usage and occurrence of disease and injury during gestation in Thoroughbred broodmares. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104104

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 8, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Aug 11, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Deposit Date: Oct 25, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 28, 2022
• Print ISSN: 0737-0806
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104104