Regumate for dummies

[ClassyJumper]

I think I want to try regumate this year for my mare. She gets very spooky/distracted when in heat and hoping it makes the spring a little better for both of us. I have been avoiding it because of the hassle but I feel like it’s time to atleast see if it helps.

First question is does she need any sort of exam before the vet will prescribe? She is well established with a vet and utd on everything. Didn’t know if I should plan on having to bring her in or if can just order it.

When would you start her on it? I feel like her first heat can come as early as mid February.

Lastly, any tips for making administration as quick and safe as possible? I have seen mixed reviews on the dosing gun. Can I draw up syringes for a week at a time or mix with grain in small containers for the week?

[Sparrowette]

You will really need to talk this over with your vet. As a non-vet, all I can tell you is Don’t Get It On You.

[JB]

It’s Rx-only so yes, you need a vet. Ideally you’d get a good reproductive exam done to make sure there aren’t cysts or anything else weird going on

Some to squirt it on top of grain, many just syringe it in their mouth. As Sparrowette said, just don’t get it on your bare skin

I think weekly batching is fine as long as you store everything in a dark container. Assume that anything that comes in a dark bottle should be kept dark until used.

[Simkie]

Note that it can transport through standard latex gloves. Nitrile, butyl, vinyl, polyethylene or neoprene are okay.

There’s an injectible product that accomplishes the same thing that would be worth discussing with your vet.

[SonnysMom]

Most of the mares in our barn are on the injection every 2-3 weeks.
One mare didn’t do well on it so she is on Regu-mate. We wear gloves and squirt it 8n her food.
There is a generic version. I keep seeing the ads from Farm Vet for it

[TheHunterKid90]

I regumate approximately 25 mares daily for 110 days….if you’re worried about her leaving grain, get the dosage Gun. The syringes suck to try to jam down their throats.
That said, the gun can be finicky, I’ve sent 2 back and they are replaced at no charge so I assume they know their product can be not reliable at times.
I think it’s the oily texture of the Regumate and the o rings in the gun don’t mesh.
If she will gobble it up on grain, that’s your best best. Also, be aware that not every mare responds to a “standard” 10cc dose. I have one mare that gets double or she will blow through it.
Ideally you would let her have one true heat cycle and track it (through ovulation) to make sure that it’s not a transitional heat then start the Regumate by day 5 post ovulation.
Alternatively, I’m a big fan of the injectable Progesterone that is done once weekly for mares that aren’t getting it for hormone replacement because they’re pregnant. It’s 10cc (standard dose) once a week in the muscle.
$80/bottle and the bottle lasts 10 weeks.

[colorfan]

Please educate me as to why you prefer Progesterone?

I am wondering if my mare would benefit from Regumate.

[sascha]

@colorfan

Please educate me as to why you prefer Progesterone?

I am wondering if my mare would benefit from Regumate.

Regumate is (synthetic) progesterone, but it’s daily oral as opposed to weekly injectable. Injectable progesterone is, iirc, considerably cheaper than Regumate.

[LilDunFilly]

@ClassyJumper

Lastly, any tips for making administration as quick and safe as possible? I have seen mixed reviews on the dosing gun. Can I draw up syringes for a week at a time or mix with grain in small containers for the week?

I’ve had to work with both Regumate and injectable Progesterone before. Personally, I prefered the Progesterone.

Regumate was given to one broodmare who miscarried when not on it. She was out 24/7 in a field with an absolute awful bossmare. We had to have two people to give the medicine, so one could keep Bossy away while the other gave the medicate. I wore long sleeves, gloves, and safety googles when dosing Regumate via dosing gun. While the googles seem like overkill, they became required by barn staff dosing Regumate after I got it in my eye, TWICE, due to the mare spitting it out. Using the dosing gun wasn’t hard, but whoever was handling it wasn’t allowed by managment to touch ANYTHING until the bottle + gun was safely returned to the cabinet and our hands were washed. Regumate is supposed to be given at around the same time every day, so we did right after morning feeding.

At a completely different barn, I wasn’t in charge of administering the Regumate but did ride a mare who was on it for behavioral issues. Staff consistantly failed to give it at the same time. It was supposed to be given in the early-to-mid morning, and on multiple occassions Barn Staff would try to syringe it in her mouth after I’d bridled her to get ready to go ride after 2-3PM (I would not be surprised if they flat out didn’t administer it some days). Needless to say, that made touching her entire face a nightmare as the bit and bridle would have traces of it, along with anything in her stall she’d rubbed her face on. Mare also would spit half of it out since the dosing syringe didn’t go to the back of her throat.

Conversely, the Progesterone was easy. The mare who was on it didn’t like needles, but it was easy to just cover an eye and then jab it into her neck. No risk of getting it all over me or our surroundings! This route may be harder if A. Horse doesn’t tolerate shots well and/or B. You aren’t confident giving intramuscular injections.

[sorrelfilly721]

I have given it to two different mares. I drew it up in syringes and squirted it onto food. It has to be maintained below 70 degrees (if I remember correctly), so I kept the syringes in a bucket in the refrigerator. I used the amber syringes as well. You don’t want to get it on you, but I have several times and I just wash it off. No ill effects.

[RojoValentine]

My mare has been on Regumate for almost 2 years. She gets so uncomfortable and distracted when she’s in heat that it has been a lifesaver for her (and me). We started with the injections but they ended up causing her injection site to swell like a balloon so we switched to the oral stuff. She’s on it all year.
I make up 2 or 3 weeks of syringes at a time (I buy the syringes on Amazon and also use little syringe caps to avoid any leakage) and keep them covered in the barn fridge. I also provide nitrile gloves.
Mattie opens her mouth like a baby bird to take her “happy juice” before breakfast everyday. YMMV