[gthirkleby]

Hi,

We had our throughbred mare covered by a stallion at a recognised stud in the uk. The studs Vet scanned the mare and found possible twins. This was expected as she did this before and the National Stud then removed one and we had a super filly. This time the stud Vet scanned our mare found possible twins, scanned again later and only found one. We were then told to remove our mare and confirmed she was carring only one embryo. We tried to speak to the vet but he would not speak to us. We contacted the stud who told us the job had been "sorted" and not to worry. We asumed that the vet had removed one embryo as the National Stud had done before. We were not informed otherwise. One early morning 8 months later I found both still born foals on the stable floor. We now know that new embryos move up and down the uterus until they establish themselves. We feel that the vet was negligent. At the very least he could have informed us to continue scanning as they was a doubt. To let us believe that our mare was only carring one foal was in our opinion wrong. We are new to breeding, Is there anybody to advise us what to do as the stud and the vet will not communicate. They only say that they have done the job properly. Readers comments would be appretiated.

[cassidy]

umm i would speak to a legal adviser you may be intitled to at least aother free stud

in the agreement were you guaranteed a live foal??


what was aranged when you went ahead an paid for the stud fees??

[Xiphias]

I don't know how they do it in the UK, but here in the USA if it says live foal garentee (SP?) then you would be entitled to another breeding...Cathy

[Appylvr]

Sometimes one embryo is hiding behind the other and the vet never even sees two. Just to be on the safe side you should have your mare checked later on in the pregnancy... How far was she along when he checked her?

When I had my mare done, the first preg check we did was about 18-20 days along. I did another at 45 days along to make sure the vet didn't miss one. And I think we did one more at 3 months along. I had to have her twin pregnancy pinched off the year before.

[Pistol B]

Did you have a breeding contract? If so, then you should read through it carefully to see what kind of recourse you can take, ie, free rebreeding or discounted stud fee, ect.

I have done quite a lot of work on breeding farms and with my own mares. I find that it can really pay off in the long run to have your mare checked at least two to three times. Once at about 18 days post breeding if she hasn't come into heat, if she is in foal, then have her checked again at 30 days. If she has a history of being a problem breeder, then have her checked again at 45 days, 60 days and 90 days. If the mare is known to be an easy breeder, I will usually skip the 45 and 90 day pregnancy checks.

Good luck!

[horse_luvr83]

all i can say is maybe talk to a legal advisor, as others have stated. we can help more if we know what was in the contract though if there was one!

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

My mare had this happen to her last year...I can feel your pain. My mare was a maiden in 2004(going to foal in spring of 2005) and we had caught the twins early, pinched the smaller egg, checked and there was only one egg but it had a line, checked again and there was only one egg still and the line was gone...Christmas morning(of all days!!) I went to feed my mare to find her sweaty, wild eyed, and the placenta was hanging....My dad found the foal(I had run to the house screaming and crying) and then we had to call the vet(mare didn't drop the placenta on her own after 4 hours) and the vet found the other foal.

My mare had carried 2 fillies for 8 months. And both were beautiful. It was so hard to go through seeing my mare with out the preggo belly, her off her feed...It wasn't fun.

But you were lucky that your mare was able to pass them easily with out complications. But I think your vet was negligent also. A vet should be open with his or her clients. Answering questions and everything.

Was there a contract?

[momof5]

SHAME ON THAT VET!!!!!!!!!If your vet refuses to answer your questions you need a new vet that vet is no good.he should be stoped from practicing medicine.Sounds very incompitant.

[momof5]

I am sorry for your loss.