ABSTRACT OF THE WEEK

The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Equine practice
Volume 37 | Issue 2 (August 2021)

Managing Reproduction Emergencies in the Field: Part 2: Parturient and Periparturient Conditions.

Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. August 2021;37(2):367-405.

Kristina G Lu¹, Kim A Sprayberry²

¹ Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, 4250 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY 40511, USA.; ² Department of Animal Sciences, Cal Poly University San Luis Obispo, 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA. Electronic address: kspraybe@calpoly.edu.

Abstract

Selected conditions affecting broodmares are discussed, including arterial rupture, dystocia, foal support with ex utero intrapartum treatment, uterine prolapse, postpartum colic, the metritis/sepsis/systemic inflammatory response syndrome complex, and retained fetal membranes. Postpartum colic beyond third-stage labor contractions should prompt comprehensive evaluation for direct injuries to the reproductive tract or indirect injury of the intestinal tract. Mares with perforation or rupture of the uterus are typically recognized 1 to 3 days after foaling, with depression, fever, and leukopenia; laminitis and progression to founder can be fulminant. The same concerns are relevant in mares with retention of fetal membranes.

Keywords

Dystocia; Hemorrhage; Metritis; Prolapse; Retained membranes; SIRS; Shock; Uterine;

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