Pregnant Mares and Insulin Resistance

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HEIRO is used in broodmares to assist in getting in foal or helps to avoid pregnant mare laminitis or abortion.pony-mare-nuzzling-foal

1.  Broodmares having problems getting in foal or with being pregnant, but getting laminitis or aborting due to Equine Insulin Resistance is a growing problem.

2.  Many of these mares with chronic inflamed uterine tissues are directly due to Insulin problems – high Insulin not only inflames the feet, but also the reproductive tract.  This problem is also seen in women with Insulin Resistance problems.box-repeated-infertility

3.  Many of these mares have chronic uterine infections due to high Insulin.  While attempting to get in foal, antibiotics are needed over and over again due to heavy mucus created by inflamed tissue in the uterus.

4.  Insulin normally elevates during pregnancy.  This is part of the developing process in horses.  If the mare is already at a high Insulin level to start with then the Insulin surge in pregnancy puts the Insulin level super high and they cannot get in foal, fall off the cliff into Laminitis or abort.  The HEIRO program can help mares because it provides the right feeding program and the right supplement to keep Insulin from super high levels.

 A.  “Mares with metabolic syndrome, any metabolic abnormalities and endocrinopathies existing before pregnancy is established will probably be exacerbated.”  Dr. Morresey, Rood and Riddle Equine, AAEP 2012 Proceedings.

B.  “Hyperinsulinemia increased Pancreatic B-Cell Sensitivity to glucose and increased resistance to action of Insulin occurs in all broodmares.”  Dr. Foxden, Eq Vet Journal, 1984.
bluestarClick here – Does my horse have Horse Diabetes?

C.  Obesity/Insulin Resistance damages mares’ eggs making pregnancy tougher.
bluestar Click here to see the Colorado State Veterinary Study, 2017, Effects of Obesity on Mares’ Follicles and Oocytes.

5.  Routine Farrier care is crucial in these mares to discover any foot issues early.  The Farrier can report any evidence of early laminitis such as hoof growth abnormality, white line disease, and foot pain.  Trims should be scheduled every 4-6 weeks after pronounced in foal and every 4 weeks at 6 months in foal mark.

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bourika-on-heiro-while-pregnant6.  Mares with pre-existing Equine Insulin Resistance need special diets to ensure the right amount of nutrients from Day 1 of the pregnancy.  Like other Insulin Resistance horses, the right snacks, farrier care, turn out, hay, grain, and supplements are needed.  The ration balancers listed in the HEIRO Program under Best Diet will be fed throughout the pregnancy.  In early stages, these, along with HEIRO, will be given and as the foal develops, increasing amounts of ration balancer will be given along with senior feeds.  It will be a combo of both to meet increased needs.  Large amounts of sweet feeds and carbs have shown in several studies to create huge Insulin spikes in the mares and bone/muscle defects in the foals.

box-mareswithir-hurt-foals A.  “Maternal obesity can severely impact offspring when they grow up.  Having an obese mother may be worse than having nutrient restrictions.”  Dr. McCormick, The Equine Chronicle, 2012.

 B.  “In early pregnancy, many people are feeding too many calories and the mare is fat, but the actual diet is short of vitamins/minerals.  That is when ration balancer pellets are ideal.”  “Having the mare on a ration balancer supplement is critical during early gestation if you want to give her foal the best chance of being healthy and strong.”  Dr. Cubitt, The Equine Chronicle, 2012.

 box-poormareprogramsC.  “The foals can become Insulin Resistant if their mares are fed high-starch diets late in pregnancy.”  Dr. George, Dom. Anim Endocrin., 2009.

D.  Pregnant mares on high-starch diet in last trimester have a more increased Insulin response to the high-starch feeding than non-pregnant mares.  At 7 months pregnant, Insulin levels of broodmares are higher than non-pregnant.  Dr. George, AMJ Vet Res., 2011.

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On Heiro After Foaling:
Roh bint Bourika and her foal Rocking Rohlastra
from Sojourn Arabians, Pulaski, TN.

7.  Milk to the Rescue!

Insulin levels were lower in early lactation than in late pregnancy.  Foaling and milk production helps naturally lower Insulin.  Dr. Hoffman, Jour. Am Sci, 2003.

Dr. Reilly Note:  The mares are kept on HEIRO during lactation.  Of interest, Vitamin E is shown to pass in milk and to increase foal’s blood levels of Vitamin E in studies.  HEIRO is high in Vitamin E.

8.  Laminitis in the brood mare negatively effects the foal.

A.  Mare’s pregnancy time is shorter, so the foal has less time to develop.
B.  Foal born has less weight, so weaker.
C.  Placenta weight (nutrition source of foal) is lower so less nutrients getting to them.

Conclusion: “Laminitis creates vascular changes in the placenta of mares resulting in shorter gestation and lower birth weight.”  Click here to see Dr. Pazinato’s article in Theriogenology Journal, on Histomorphometry of the placental vasculature and microcotledons in Thoroughbred mares with chronic laminitis.

9.  Avoid vaccine reactions in these Insulin Resistant Mares.  See How: bluestarGo to  our Vaccine Section for further information.

Dr. Reilly:
Please send a 3 month container of HEIRO for my mustang mare, Amber.  It has really helped a lot.  She has not had a laminitic episode for about two years, since she has been on this.  She did fine with her pregnancy, and is still nursing her now 9 month old colt without any problems.

MustangMareMotherOnHerio

This is Amber and the baby, one day after he was born…you can see she’s in great shape, and has remained so.  Thank you for a great product and the useful information you continue to share.

Cherrelyn – Colorado, July 2014

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10.  Milk to the Rescue!

Insulin levels were lower in early lactation than in late pregnancy.  Foaling and milk production helps naturally lower Insulin.  Dr. Hoffman, Jour. Am Sci, 2003.

Dr. Reilly Note:  The mares are kept on HEIRO during lactation.  Of interest, Vitamin E is shown to pass in milk and to increase foal’s blood levels of Vitamin E in studies.  HEIRO is high in Vitamin E.blueribbonClick here to see 26 ways HEIRO is the Best Choice and why the winner over other products.

11. Mares that are obese/IR cause bone abnormality in Foals.

a. Obese mares with IR going into pregnancy have higher IR/higher insulin/higher leptin.
b. Foals from obese mares become IR!
c. Foals from obese mares have more bone abnormality like osteochondrosis.
bluestar Click Here to see Dr. Robles, Natural Institute of Health ,2018 article Maternal Obesity increases Insulin Resistance.

Proper diet and exercise is essential for horse health. This product is a supplement to help maintain horse health.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.