Placentitis - chance of happening again?

[Kerole]

I realise this topic has been covered several times before. I did a search but couldn’t find anything on the chances of a mare having it again in the future.

My friend lost a premmie foal to placentitis yesterday despite medication and repro veterinary support. I know these things happen. She would like to breed the mare again but is understandably nervous about placentitis occurring in subsequent pregnancies.

Any breeders out there with stories about their experiences with this?

Any insights appreciated.

[MuskokaLakesConnemaras]

My one mare had placentitis during her first pregnancy. I had her foaled out at a repro facility to ensure the best care for everyone. I rebred her and she carried and foaled no issues with no return of the placentitis.

That being said, I’m hyper aware of it and keep a constant watch
Good luck!

[Cindy_s_Warmbloods]

I think it depends on why the placentitis happened in the first place. If due to a damaged or incompetent cervix I would say there would be a good chance of it happening again. However, the breeder/owner can be proactive and start her on antibiotics earlier in her pregnancy as a preventative as well.

[pete_sheerin]

The odds of placentitis recurring are about 50%. As previously stated, the cause of the placentitis will have an impact on the likelihood of it occurring again. Some people will prophylactically put these mares on antibiotics in subsequent pregnancies. If the mare was not cultured when she aborted, it is kind of a crap shoot hoping you select the correct antibiotic. No one is really sure how effective this practice is however. The key would be to attempt to determine the cause and try to treat it if possible. If it is a cervical defect, surgery may be considered. If it is poor perineal conformation it may be something as simple as a caslicks to prevent recurrence or she may need perineal body reconstruction. Poor perineal conformation can also be due to poor body condition and having the mare increase in body condition score by 1 or 2 is enough to correct it. unfortunately, there is not a black and white answer to your question.

[Kerole]

Thanks for all the responses.
Mare’s backside is a good shape and she is in perfect weight. Her cervix was examined pre breeding with no noted issues in shape, seal, or scar tissue etc. She will be examined again before re-breeding.
Mare was cultured at time of birth. Not sure whether she will be put on prophylactic abs for the reasons already stated.

She will most probably be re-bred and closely monitored. If it happens again, she will be put back under saddle to resume her ridden career so not all will be lost

[Daventry]

We had a placentitis foal last year. Mare was diagnosed with placentitis at Day 290 and we kept her on meds for the rest of the pregnancy. We were lucky that we ended up with a healthy foal.

I was worried rebreeding her last year, for fear that the same thing would happen again. This years foaling went without incident.

As Cindy’s Warmbloods mentioned, a lot will depend on why the placentitis happened in the first place. In our case, it was just the luck of the draw, and we had no further problems with her second pregnancy this year.

[Kerole]

Thanks Daventry. This mare had a perfectly usual pregnancy and birth last season. They will try her again this year and see what comes.