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Discussion on Progesterone

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Roger L. Burley
Member
Username: lloyd

Post Number: 28
Registered: 2-2007

Posted on Thursday, Jun 25, 2009 - 4:33 pm:

I have two mares in foal. One is 45 days and the vet had me put her on regumate for 45 days. The other one was checked in foal at day 18. She said every thing looked perfect, however insisted on taking a blood test. This is her recommendation> "Willow's progesterone came back as 14.8. The normal value for a pregnant mare is 15.9. She is close to normal, but I think it is a gamble not to supplement her with Regumate"

Everything I'm reading on this site says this recommendation makes no sense or at least there is no good evidence that it is relevant.

Please help me.

Thanks Roger

Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro

Post Number: 23290
Registered: 1-1997

Posted on Friday, Jun 26, 2009 - 9:26 am:

You do not need any help Roger, you have it exactly right: there is no evidence that "low" serum progesterone levels is a common cause of early embryonic loss in otherwise healthy mares. And in fact just the opposite: what has been considered very low levels (2 ng/ml) perfectly compatible with good fecundity.

This is not the same as saying progesterone is not necessary for support of the embryo and early fetus but this is all explained in the articles you have read. I think it is more likely that no one has critically looked at what are normal levels of progesterone and what is required for good health of the pregnancy. For more on this see Treatments and Medications for Horses » Reproductive Drugs » Regumate and Progesterone.
DrO

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