[gigga]

here is a text and photo about live twins... of cuz you wont understandit but the haedline is "The Twins thrive and grow" click the pic to see it bigger
http://fet.is/fet/eldri_frettir/?cat..._0_a_id=266077
but their moma got sick and died soon after they where born, I dont think it was cuz she gave brith to twins, they dont say...

this was also last year but not the twins I told you about that were in the news, those twins and their mama were just fine...

[Spotted Mustang]

http://www.greenbeltvet.com/equinepregnantmare.asp

Ultrasound all mares at 14 to 16 and 35 days of pregnancy to minimize the chance of twin pregnancy. Mares are not capable of producing normal, healthy twins. Most mares pregnant with twins will lose the pregnancy at 5 to 10 months. These mares are at risk of difficult foaling, retained placenta and laminitis. Sometimes mares will continue pregnancy and deliver small and weak foals that require intensive and expensive care. Ultrasound at 14 to 16 days after breeding is useful to detect and correct twin pregnancies. In almost all cases of twins detected and treated early, the mare will go on to have a normal pregnancy and deliver a healthy foal.

I am not an expert, but what I am reading says it is possible, but very rare.

[Mutrok]

Doesn't sound like that to me. I just don't see how it would be possible.

[Spotted Mustang]

I am not exactly sure how it is possible and I am trying to find further information. Most of the information I can find is very general, such as 'check the mare to prevent twins' and similar things.

All of which is true, but not what we are looking for.

[Equine Repro]

A couple of things here. It would be highly unusual (never say never, but...) for a mare to abort a twin at 5 months and carry the other one to term. The article Spotted Mustang posted written by Bill Ley, DVM was discussing options for reducing twins and the risks associated therewith. And, all of those twin reductions were done relatively early in the pregnancy. Additionally, if you read through the article, it discusses the fact that often the second twin will be lost.

Whenever the cervix opens to expel a "twin"....it's gonna be pretty bizarre that both twins won't be lost.

And, with regards to the success of live twins being born, it happens so rarely as to be "news worthy". The risks associated with a mare carrying twins to full term are so great that it is fool hardy and irresponsible to not take appropriate action when one discovers that a mare is carrying twins.

Hope that helps!

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduciton Short Courses
http://www.equine-reproduction.com

[Mutrok]

Thanks Kathy for that info. I really didn't see how it could be possible and while I agree never say never it seems highly doubtful for it to happen.

The rarity of successful twin births is a testament to how important it is to check mares early on and resolve the issue before it becomes and ISSUE

[ClearCreeLady]

my trainer had a mare who carried twins and the vet eliminated one and teh mare gave birth to one big live healthy foal. =]
so i think that shes carriing one shell be okay.