Is there a horse pregnancy test???

[motorgypsy]

Chinook has really plumped out and doesn't seem to be that fat???? Before we pay for an ultrasound I just wondered if there was a pee test for horses???

[Abejita]

Chinook has really plumped out and doesn't seem to be that fat???? Before we pay for an ultrasound I just wondered if there was a pee test for horses???


No I dont think there is ..If she is that plump your vet should be willing just do a palp which is cheaper than a US.

[PASOFAN]

Wouldnt that be cool to have a simple pee test. someone needs to invent that one I think!!

[motorgypsy]

So far I've found two that look promising.

[Red Ryder]

There is, but you must send to the lab
http://www.equiworld.net/uk/ezine/0303/promar.htm

[Red Ryder]

Has anyone tried the human strips, they might just work.

[Carol Nelson]

Yes, I've tried them...
No, they didn't work.

The human HGg is different from the equine.

[motorgypsy]

So far I've found this one.

http://www.weefoal.com/urine_run.php

http://www.weefoal.com/urineorder.php (http://www.weefoal.com/urine_run.php)

mini horse people use it and say it is good. A bit pricey though.

The one above uses urine.

As far as human tests so far people say it depends on the test. They say the newer human tests may work because the two hormones are very very similar. I'll have to borrow one once I know for sure if she is or is not.

another but this one says it requires plasma.

Notice how similar it looks to the one using urine. Wonder if it would work with urine also???

http://www.tri-deltadiagnostics.com/pages/3/index.htm

This one uses blood and is do it yourself also
http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=1&pf_id=13669

[pprpaso3]

My mare is very plump in the belly too. I could have sworn she was in foal last year. I finally had her palpated......no baby! She had gotten in with Frosty a couple times late in October and Nov the year before so it was possible.

It would be neat to have a pee test for horses that cost about $20 to $30.00. The palpate is only $20.00 but the farm call is now $65.00!

[motorgypsy]

The mini people seem to swear by the weefoal test. They say it picks up as early as 80 days and will work all the way to delivery and will read negative for a false pregnancy and if the foal dies.

I'm going to order one and give it a try. People who use it say you can use anything reasonably clean from a paper towel to your shirt sleeve to soak up the urine from something like a hoof print depression and it will read correctly.

The blood test on the other hand which is supposed to be very easy also stops working after something like 120 days. Works from 40 to 120 days.

So it sounds like an early ultrasound to pick up twins and then the test after that to make sure the pregnancy is still viable would be an economical way to go unless you can haul the horse to the vet for additional ultrasound or palpations.

Actually one source says it's not at all hard to do a palpation yourself. Obviously you'd need the long gloves and a safe place to put the horse in case it kicks. Has anyone done a pregnancy palpation?

[SandyMM]

Palpate mare - $20
Ultrasound mare - $30

Waiting for your mare to pee on a pregnancy test strip....... priceless! ;)

[Carol Nelson]

ROFLMBO....!!!! Excellent observation, Sandy!!! :biggrin:

[Carol Nelson]

Actually one source says it's not at all hard to do a palpation yourself. Obviously you'd need the long gloves and a safe place to put the horse in case it kicks. Has anyone done a pregnancy palpation?


No, even here where we do our own AI breeding, we do not do palpations through the rectum. Only a trained veterinarian should be doing that type of examination. The rectum of a horse is very, very fragile and can easily be torn by an inexperienced examiner.

Sandy's right....haul that mare in and get a vet pregancy exam. There's no need for a farm call unless that mare absolutely cannot be transported in a trailer. Most vet checks are pretty reasonable if you take the horse to them.

[CarolU]

I want to see the pictures of Nancy out there collected a urine sample!;)

[SandyMM]

...not a chance in the world that I would palpate my mares or client mares myself....

[Carol Nelson]

I want to see the pictures of Nancy out there collected a urine sample!

Actually, I've had to collect urine for both a sample and for, um, another reason. For applying to the breeding dummy to attract the stallion into mounting. Yeah, I even have some frozen in my freezer...in the lab, of course, not in the kitchen...LOL. Now, it does take some finesse in collecting such a specimen. We devised a can on a long pole for such a reason but when I went to practice on a real live mare in heat...she turned around and gave me a look as to say, "No way am I gonna pee in that!!!" :biggrin:
So I had to resort to using my calmest mare and just hanging around waiting for her to give me a sample directly into my hand-held container. Hey...you have no idea of the stories us breeders can tell.
Best story was when we had our stallion and mare to a breeding barn and the mare was tied in the stall, and very obviously in heat and dancing around waiting for the stallion, and the barn manager handed me the can, and said,"Go collect me some urine." I took one look at that snorting, wild-eyed prancing mare and the small stall and said,"You have got to be kidding???" Actually I did manage to attempt a try but the mare wouldn't cooperate and it was a "dry" run...LOL.

[motorgypsy]

:v:Don't you guys know that Chinook is clicker trained to pee on command??? NOT. :biggrin:I do hope I don't have to use my shirt sleeve as some mini owners have had to do.:rolleyes: But my living room window faces the mare pasture which is about ten feet away so hopefully I'll see her peeing and can run out and get a sample without too much trouble. It will be interesting. She may not be too far along for the blood test but I think I'll try the pee test first. If she tests positive we'll get the vet in for an ultrasound.

We have no vet close enough to haul to here and a barn call is about $60. I'd rather know for sure she's pregnant from the test also because too many people I know got negative ultrasounds and ended up with a baby anyway. That can get pretty expensive three or four times in a pregnancy. Our friend who breeds minis says no one locally can do an ultrasound on mini mares so the test is really helpful. It's also good toward the end of the due time to be sure the mare is still carrying a viable foal.

Just one more tool in our arsenal to get a live healthy baby and mom.

Regarding the palpation - I'm sure you would need training before doing this but wondered if any of you had been taught. There are horse reproduction clinics locally that teach all sorts of helpful techniques but I haven't taken one so don't know all the skills you learn.

Couldn't you just put the mare in stall with mats and contour it so the pee would drain into a container? We have a three adjoining stall setup so they will pee in one of them. We used to have to collect from our cat who had renal failure and we put one sheet of newspaper in her litter pan. It didn't soak it all up so we could get a sample to get checked that way. Some people just use an empty litter pan but our girl didn't like that at all.

[motorgypsy]

One more source of two different tests.

http://www.marewatch.com/

[Carol Nelson]

Couldn't you just put the mare in stall with mats and contour it so the pee would drain into a container?

Actually it just seemed easier to stand there and wait for her to pee...I used my mini stallion as a teaser...LOL. :biggrin:

[CarolU]

That might work for a mare in heat, but a pregnant mare probably won't pee for a stallion...more like try to clobber him!

Nancy, they do teach non-vets how to do those things. There are many stallion stations that are run by non-vets and they do everything from collecting to ultrasouding. Some have vets that come out, but others do it all.

I was told to collect specimens with the can on a stick. I would suggest rubbing the mare all over with it first until she's OK with it before trying it, otherwise she'll just move away or kick at it.

[motorgypsy]

I don't think the can on a stick would go over well with Chinook. Maybe we'll take them on a nice long leisurely ride - and take a ziploc and paper towel with us;)

[PASOFAN]

Have to chuckle reading the posts, yep a pic of you waiting for her to pee is hilarious! Also if you see her peeing and run out to her wont she run away seing you charging at her w/a pee stick?hhhmmm

ROFL...

[Monty]

Sigh - just do the ultrasound - then you will know for sure ! Yes - costs money - bu tthen you know if the mare needs TLC because she is PG - or less feed because she is just fat ! ;)

[Carol Nelson]

I was told to collect specimens with the can on a stick. I would suggest rubbing the mare all over with it first until she's OK with it before trying it, otherwise she'll just move away or kick at it.


Hehehe...now I don't feel so stupid...and I thought that was just our own idea....;)

[motorgypsy]

Monty the pregnancy test is very definitive. Yes it sounds funny but I feel quite confidant that I can get a sample. Ultra sounds and palpation have been wrong. We'll do one IF she is pregnant. If she's pregnant an ultrasound is essential to eliminate the possibility of twins and just check on thing in general. Pregnancy is dangerous. We know this.

[tinomino]

I have done palpations on mares before. It's not too hard but I would have someone who has done it before teach you. You also have to pay attention and make sure you don't go into the wrong place. Don't laugh a girl in my breeding class at college actually did. Luckily the foal was just fine. It's hard to feel the baby sometimes and they have to be pretty far along to really feel the baby. I've done everything from palpation to ultra sound but that's the wonder of college you get to do alot of cool things.

[motorgypsy]

That is really funny:v:

[PattiB]

My sister worked at the racetrack and they used a pee stick and cup all the time. I used one to collect mare in heat pee too, froze it and used it for the breeding dummy. I used a real hussy of a mare, she was easy to collect.

[Carol Nelson]

For those of you seeking to save and freeze pee for use on your breeding dummy, here's a neat tip. Collect your specimen any way you see fit...LOL...and it can even have some dirt in it, it doesn't need to be pristine. Draw up 3 cc in a syringe and put the cap on. Put the syringes cap side down in a small freezer proof container, pop in your freezer, and voila...you are set for next breeding season. When the time comes, just pull out a syringe or two...leave in the sun for a few minutes, and spray the contents over your dummy when thawed. Mess free, hands free. Keeps for over a year. :biggrin:

Oh and I got 24 3 cc syringes out of one collection...I only use two at a time. :)

[motorgypsy]

that "eau de hussy mare" must be some seriously powerful stuff:biggrin: