Medication for Mares

You've done so much to make sure your mare is healthy and happy, and gets pregnant at just the right time with just the right stallion. It's important to think about how you feed and manage that pregnant mare, as well as treating them for illnesses or giving vaccines. Like pregnant women, pregnant horses can be sensitive to certain things. As always, if there's a question, consult with your local veterinarian.

Very few drugs have been evaluated on the equine side to determine if they're safe for pregnant animals. We usually have more questions than answers when it comes to this topic! In pregnant mares, the cardiac output is increased, the kidneys operate differently and the way blood flow is directed all change when an animal becomes pregnant. This can significantly impact the way medications are used by the body.

Antibiotics are one class of medication that a little research has been done on. Some can cross the placenta in the pregnant mare and others don't; it's important to know what you're treating and why. and how the medication may effect the mare or the fetus. When treating placentitis, inflammation of the placenta, there are a few choices; sulfas or trimethoprim/sulfa combinations travel across the placenta without any significant side effects to the mare. Penicillin and gentamicin also pass through the placenta well.

Sedation for pregnant mares is a common question, make sure it's necessary before you give it to the animal! Most of them are not labeled for pregnant animals but they typically don't cause serious side effects. Often times they will affect the mare's blood pressure, which in turn affects the blood flow to the fetus.

There are all sorts of medications and vaccines out there, make sure you do your research and ask questions before giving them to your pregnant mares! For more information: https://thehorse.com/166841/what-medications-are-safe-for-mares/