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Regumate

Many of us have heard of the drug and we know its a drug used on mares during the breeding season - but WHAT is it for....

Regumate contains a synthetic progestagen called Altrenogest... the naturally occurring form of this hormone is progesterone which is secreted by the corpus luteum of the ovary and the placenta. Progesterone prepares the uterus for implantation of the fertilised ovum (egg), it helps maintain the pregnancy and promotes development of the mammory glands.

It is used in some mares to prevent miscarriage or early foaling, however it is NOT a cure all that some claim it to be, it can only help in cases where the mare is not producing enough of her own progesterone for the pregnancy to continue. To find out if the mare is not producing enough of her own progesterone your vet will have to carry out tests.

Regumate has also been given to assist in keeping the cervix more tightly closed in mares with an incompetent cervix or impending abortion as a result of placentitis.

In horses, just like in humans progesterone can also be used to control the cycle;
It is used often in performance mares who's behaviour changes for the worse when in heat, or mares that need to be brought into season at a certain time, or to synchronise ovulation in mares.

Once a mare is started on Regumate oestrus (cycling) stops usually within 1 to 3 days.
Once you STOP giving a mare regumate, oestrus usually starts within 5 days (in 90% of mares).
Mares usually (60% of cases) ovulate between days 11 and 14 following end of treatment.

Something to think about:
It has been suggested that use of Regumate in the pregnant mare may actually suppress endogenous secretion of progestins (her natural progesterone), thereby creating a dependency for supplementation in the mare. Could we in fact be creating Regumate addicts by the use of the drug in the mare?

Dosage

It is given orally each day and is a light yellow, oily solution.
Dosage is worked out based on the mares weight (1ml Regumate Equine per 50kg body weight) and must be prescribed by a vet.

Warnings

The only warnings for administration to horses is that it should not be given to mares with endometritis and should never be given to males.
Adverse reactions such as uterine infections have been recorded and that is because progestins suppress uterine immune response something that is indicated on the package insert of Regumate.

HOWEVER
There are some very important warnings for the user...

Women who are pregnant, or suspected of being pregnant, should not handle this product.
Women of childbearing age should handle this product with extreme care.
The product should not be handled by persons with known or suspected progesterone-dependent tumours or thrombo-embolic disorders.

Direct contact with the skin should be avoided.
Personal protective clothing (gloves and overalls) must be worn when handling the product.
Porous gloves may let this product pass through. Absorption may be even higher when the area is covered by an occlusive material, such as latex or rubber gloves (these gloves let the Regumate in and then hold it against the skin - it moves through the skin easier then back out through the glove).
Accidental spillage on the skin should be washed off immediately with soap and water. Wash hands after treatment and before meals.

In case of accidental contact with the eye, rinse abundantly with water. Seek medical attention.

Effects of overexposure:

Repeated accidental absorption could lead to disruption of the menstrual cycle, uterine or abdominal cramping, increased or decreased uterine bleeding, prolongation of pregnancy or headache.

And of course, keep out of reach of children.

ALWAYS CALL YOUR VET IF YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH CONCERNS WITH YOUR MINI.