鈾twin horses and the riskd [[Please answer]] 鈾

1 of the mares at the barn I board at was foaled about a month and a half ago. She had an ultrasound 1 wk ago. The vet said she was having twins. But the owner doesn't want to abort one of the twins [[which i think is cool of him ;-]]

I was wondering the risks and problems that might happen. I know their are risks with every foaling but what ones are more likely to happen with twin foals??

鈾?Emily 鈾?br>

P.S. the mare is 7 yrs old .. about 15 hh .. and this is her 2nd pregnancy. She was bred right after her foal was born.

Thanx again!

If twins are detected, it is best to follow your vets鈥?advice on what to do, they may try to pinch one, or leave them and hope that one dies naturally. The survival rate of healthy twins is very low because the uterine wall cannot easily support the growth of two placentas.

Twins pose a number of risks:

In 95% of mares with twin embryos, one or both embryos are resorbed or aborted during the first 60 days. However, waiting to see if this occurs naturally could delay or interfere with a subsequent successful pregnancy.

Of the small percentage of twins that survive in utero past 50 days, it is highly unlikely that two healthy foals will be born. If either survives, it may be small and weak.

Most twins surviving past 50 days will spontaneously abort at 6-8 months.

Mares carrying twins are more likely to give birth prematurely (before 300-320 days). Premature foals may have serious medical problems and are less likely to survive.