Scanning mares in the breeding season is a process that should only be done by vets. Unfortunately, I have seen firsthand the consequences when it has been carried out by someone who is not a medical professional.

In France, I witnessed the painful death of a mare internally torn by an unqualified person carrying out the scan. It is a memory that has never left me.

Each year the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) issues a reminder of the importance of care in rectal examination and ultrasound scanning of mares during fertility work and/or pregnancy diagnosis, to help avoid such a scenario.

Ultrasound scanning has revolutionised the management of fertility and pregnancy diagnosis in mares and is the most common and reliable method for detecting complications.

However, the rectal palpation of the reproductive tract of mares, and in particular rectal ultrasound scanning for pregnancy diagnosis, is an extremely delicate procedure.

VCI past president and council member, Vivienne Duggan, associate professor in equine veterinary medicine in UCD, says, "As an equine veterinary practitioner in the Veterinary Hospital in UCD, the hazards of carrying out rectal examinations and rectal ultrasound scanning of the mare reproductive tract are all too real.

"Any tear in the sensitive and fragile tissue in the rectum of the mare, which can occur unbeknownst to the person performing the scan, can have dire and fatal consequences for the mare.”

By law, only vets can perform this procedure. The legal position is that the examination of the reproductive organs of a mare via the rectum, either by hand or with an ultrasound probe, constitutes the practice of veterinary medicine.

It is therefore illegal for anyone who is not a veterinary practitioner to perform a rectal examination of the reproductive tract or to diagnose pregnancy by ultrasound scanning in a mare, regardless of whether they own the mare in question.

Having a qualified person perform the scan not only gives a horse owner or keeper assurance of their skill and training, it is all important for insurance purposes, should anything happen to the mare.

A matter of law

The Veterinary Practice Act 2005, as amended, defines the practice of veterinary medicine and provides, subject to a number of exceptions, that only veterinary practitioners may practise veterinary medicine. This is to ensure that animals are treated only by those people qualified to do so.

The Act lists that the practise of veterinary medicine on an animal include diagnosing disease, injury, pain, deformity, defect or state of health.

Diagnosing is further defined in the Act as examining the reproductive organs of a mare via the rectum.

The Act also makes it a criminal offence for a veterinary practitioner (or an agent or employee acting on his or her behalf) to employ a person who is not registered with the Veterinary Council of Ireland, to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine on behalf of the veterinary practitioner.

Ultrasound scanning is the most common and reliable method for pregnancy diagnosis and detecting complications

The Veterinary Council is the enforcement authority under the Veterinary Practice Act and can carry out investigations where it has reasonable cause to suspect that an offence has occurred or is occurring.

Following an investigation, there are a number of options open to the Veterinary Council, including prosecution.

Professionals

If someone has performed a rectal examination or an ultrasound scan of the reproductive tract of a mare when not on the Register of Veterinary Practitioners, and they are convicted, it carries a severe fine and a possible prison sentence.

It can be a stressful time sending your beloved mares to stud and you need to know they will be treated by professionals. The same goes if you own or run a stud, or even a small hobby breeding exercise, the safety and wellbeing of mares should be prioritised at all times.

If, as a customer or as a member of staff, you see scanning being done by someone who is not a registered vet, it is not ethical, or even legal, and should be reported forthwith to the Veterinary Council.