Breeding: We offer reproductive ultrasounds, uterine culture, artificial insemination, hormonal manipulation of ovulation, and confirmation of pregnancy via blood sample or ultrasound. At the home of Dr's Bushard and Hanrahan there is a facility where mares and stallions can be stabled when they are in need of extensive monitoring and treatments for reproductive purposes. This allows our Doctors to have full access to the horse and not interfere with your schedule. Facilities are also available for semen collection and evaluation as well as for routine foaling. Closed circuit TV to the Bushard residence allows for continuous observation when needed.
Pregnant Mare Care: Once your mare is pregnant there are some steps that need to be taken to ensure a healthy and full term pregnancy. Proper vaccination and appropriate health should be achieved prior to pregnancy. During pregnancy at months 5, 7, and 9 the mare should be vaccinated for Equine Herpes Virus to prevent abortions and all vaccinations should be boostered during the 9th month to ensure adequate protection of the foal. It is important to maintain light exercise during pregnancy to prevent your mare from becoming too fat. Obese mares are more likely to have a difficult foaling. You also need to provide adequate nutrition for growth and development of the fetus.
Newborn foal exam: Once your little foal arrives it is very important to have him, and mom, examined by a veterinarian in the first 24 hours of life. During this exam, the veterinarian will evaluate the dam to make sure she has passed the entire placenta and that she didn't hurt herself during the delivery. We will also observe nursing to make sure the dam is accepting the foal and producing milk properly. The foal will also get a thorough examination to look for any birth defects, evaluate and dip the navel, make sure he's nursing properly and is able to produce normal stool, and check his legs and joints for any abnormalities. We usually also draw a small blood sample to check immunoglobulin levels which tells us if your foal received sufficient colostrum from the mare.
