Equine Flashcards
1
Q
What is the birth date of all foals?
A
1st January
2
Q
How long is gestation?
A
11 months
3
Q
Which months should covering take place in?
A
Feb-June/July
4
Q
What kind of oestrus do horses show?
A
Seasonally polyoestrus (Spring-Autumn)
5
Q
How long is the oestrus cycle?
A
21-23 days
6
Q
How long is the oestrus period?
A
2-4 days
7
Q
How long is the dioestrus period?
A
15-17 days
8
Q
How does melatonin affect GnRH?
A
Antagonises
9
Q
From when do you give the mare artificial light?
A
15th December
10
Q
How long does light take to work in the mare?
A
6 weeks
11
Q
Do you give dopamine or dopamine antagonists to induce breeding?
A
Antagonists
12
Q
Why do you give progesterone during transitional oestrous?
A
May not involve ovulation so progesterone stops cycling then taking this away causes full oestrus
13
Q
What can you give to mimic dioestrus?
A
PGs
14
Q
Why might you use intrauterine glass marbles to mimic pregnancy and stop cycling?
A
Because can’t give drugs to a racehorse
15
Q
Which vaccine can you give to working animals to stop cycling?
A
Porcine GnRH
16
Q
Which three things does venereal disease screening look for?
A
Taylorella (CEM), Pseudomonas, Klebsiella
17
Q
Which transport medium do you use for a clitoral swab?
A
Amies charcoal
18
Q
When is the only time you can get an endometrial swab?
A
In oestrus because cervix is open here
19
Q
How can mares wink clitoris?
A
Because have circular and longitudinal muscle
20
Q
Which orientation should the anus and vulva be?
A
Vertical
21
Q
What happens to the anus with age?
A
Sinks inwards
22
Q
Which seals prevent infection entry?
A
Vulval and vaginal
23
Q
Where should the pelvis shelf be?
A
At the top of the vulval opening
24
Q
What do endometrial epithelial cells look like?
A
Long and large with a wispy cytoplasm
25
What do vaginal/cervical cells look like?
Keratinised
26
What does the ovary look like on ultrasound if in season?
Orange segment and ovulation fossa with one large follicle
27
What three things can you check for 48 hours after mating?
Ovulation, twin ovulation, fluid in uterus
28
What happens if inflammatory response has not resolved after 48 hours?
Mare is "susceptible" so cover only once here
29
Above what age is endometriosis normal?
9
30
What are three changes that occur with age?
Gland "nests", fibrosis, excessive lymphatic lacunae
31
For how long is stallion sperm viable?
72 hours
32
How often should you examine for oestrus?
24-48 hr
33
Why do mares need boots?
To prevent kicking
34
Why do mares need a rubber ring?
For stallion biting
35
Where does fertilisation occur?
The oviducts
36
How long does it take for the conceptus to enter the uterus?
4-6 days
37
What months have peak testosterone?
April to May
38
How long does spermatogenesis take?
56 days
39
What is one problem with testicle damage?
Causes 2 months infertility
40
What is the lead rope like in stallions?
Longer
41
Why are teaser stallions used?
To avoid actual stallion getting kicked
42
What is one problems with scrotal damage?
Anti-sperm antibodies
43
How many degrees can the testicle swing without injury?
90-180
44
What happens if the testicle twists too far?
Pampiniform plexus occludes
45
What correlates with the daily sperm output?
Size of testicle
46
What does daily sperm output determine?
Number of mares can breed with
47
What can cryptorchids produce large amounts of?
Androgens
48
Which breeds commonly get cryptorchid?
TB and Welsh Pony
49
What are the two types of cryptorchid?
Partial and complete
50
How can you tell if any testicular tissue has been left behind after castration?
Anti-mullerian hormone levels
51
Which accessory glands do horses have?
All four
52
How many thrusts does ejaculation take?
3-5 (up to 8)
53
Which places do you swab in the stallion?
Urethra, urethral fossa, penile sheath
54
What is a high risk for sedation?
Acepromazine
55
What temperature should the artificial vagina be?
44-48 degrees
56
Where is the gel in the semen from?
The seminal vesciles
57
Why must you use a bottle warmers for the sperm?
To prevent cold shock and to keep dark
58
Why should you wash but not disinfect the stallion before collection?
Irritates and removes natural flora
59
Which kind of mares can you use for live mare collection?
Oestrus, PG, IM oestradiol, ovariectomised, dummy
60
Which side should handlers and collectors stand?
The same side
61
For how many days should you collect ejaculate?
5-7 days
62
What can you do instead of going every 5-7 days?
Collect two samples an hour apart and use the second one
63
What is the second sample like compared to the first?
50% less
64
How should you evaluate the semen and in what order?
Volume, colour, pH, motility, conc, morphology, cytology, bacteriology
65
What should semen volume be?
70ml
66
What should semen pH be?
7.2-7.6ml
67
Why should you test the pH quickly?
Metabolic activity of sperm increases it
68
What happens to motility over time?
Decreases
69
Why do you add extender to the semen?
Can clump
70
How many semen should be moving?
75-90%
71
How many semen should be moving straight?
55-80%
72
How many sperm should still be moving after 6 hours?
10%
73
How many should still be moving after 24 hours in extended semen?
10%
74
Which stain do you use to see the live/dead ratio?
Nigrosin/eosin
75
What % should be live?
80%
76
What % should be morphologically normal?
70%
77
How do you work out the TNM?
total number x % morphologically normal x % progressively motile
78
Where do primary sperm defects occur?
Within the testes e.g. extra heads, bent
79
Where do secondary defects occur?
Within the epididymis and efferent tracts e.g. retained droplet
80
What is success rate per cycle with chilled semen?
55-70%
81
What is success rate per cycle with frozen semen?
35-59%
82
After which time limit must you remove gel and use extender?
If not using semen after 10 mins
83
After which time limit must you remove seminal plasma and use light and air proof container?
If storing for 2-6 hours
84
Why do you remove seminal plasma?
To decrease capacitation
85
What do you use if chilling for use in the next couple of days?
An equitainer
86
How quickly does an equitainer cool the semen?
0.3 degrees per minute
87
What temperature does an equitainer keep semen at?
4-6 degrees for 3 days
88
What is an example of a cryoprotectant?
Glycerol
89
What temperature is semen frozen at?
-196
90
Why must straws all freeze at the same time?
To avoid cellular damage
91
What is the volume of a straw?
0.5ml
92
What do larger straws have in the middle?
A hole
93
What must the motility be in frozen semen?
30%
94
Which mares are the hardest to breed from?
Old, competing
95
When should you inseminate fresh semen?
Up to 48 hours before ovulation
96
When should you inseminate chilled semen?
Up to 24 hours before ovulation
97
When should you inseminate frozen semen?
From 6 hours before to 6 hours after ovulation (usually before)
98
What must dummy mares have at the front?
A head
99
Why don’t some stallions like dummy mares?
Rubs their knees
100
What do you use to wash the mare before covering?
Water only
101
Why can’t you use a normal syringe for insemination?
Rubber is spermicidal
102
What is horse cervix like?
Short, simple
103
Where do stallions ejaculate?
Into the uterus because the cervix dilates
104
How many sperm are in one AI dose?
500 million
105
How do you synchronise donor and recipient during embryo transfer?
Progestagen and PGF2a
106
What day do you flush during embryo transfer?
7-8
107
Why do you flush earlier if embryo splitting?
ICM will have formed
108
What does the Wilsher method do?
Sucks cervix back towards the vulva so can see clearly and introduce less infection
109
Why can’t you give drugs to induce superovulation in horses?
They can only exit by ovulation fossa
110
What happens if you mate a large stallion with a small mare?
Runty foal
111
From which day does the embryo secrete PGE2 to relax the oviduct sphincter?
4-5
112
Until which day does the conceptus remain spherical and mobile?
16
113
Between which days does the conceptus have a glycoprotein capsule for physical protection and anti-adhesive?
6.5-23
114
From which day does the blastocyst produce oestrogen?
10
115
At what day does the chorionic girdle invade the endometrium to form the cups?
28
116
Are the cups fetal or maternal in origin?
Fetal
117
From what day is eCG produced?
35-40
118
What produce progesterone until the placenta takes over?
Accessory CLs
119
After which day can pseudopregnancy occur?
Day 40 - fetus dies but cups still there
120
What are equilin and equilenin?
Oestrogen-type products
121
Which part of the uterus contracts?
At the base of a horn
122
Which horn contracts compared the last year?
The opposite
123
What happens to the embryo when the uterus contracts?
Doesn’t implant but stops moving
124
By which day does the placenta form microvilli?
40
125
How many layers does the horse placenta have?
6
126
Where does the placenta spread?
Down the fallopian tubes
127
Why is colostrum compulsory in the horse?
Thick placenta so large molecules can’t cross
128
After what day can you feel pregnancy by palpation?
Day 20
129
At what day do you do the first scan to check for no twins?
16 days
130
At what day do you do the second scan to check yolk scan and see heart?
28-30 days
131
At what day do you do the third scan?
40 days
132
After what day are they unlikely to abort?
40 days
133
At what day is the last scan for sexing?
60 days
134
If economic constraints, when should you do the one scan?
26-30 days to see asynchronous twins
135
What do you test for in a blood test for pregnancy?
eCG from day 40-120
136
Why does eCG not guarantee she is in foal?
May just have cups
137
What % of twins pregnancies will abort both?
70%
138
If it is too late to pop a twin and they have fallen over pelvic brim, what can you do?
Inject KCl into heart through abdomen
139
What is chance of one going to term if using KCl?
40%
140
How do you determine sex?
Genital tubercle location - tail bail is filly, behind umbilicus is colt
141
At what gestation is fetal activity greatest?
3-4 months
142
Where do you see fetal movement on the mare?
Lower flank
143
What does presentation mean?
Where head is relative to exit eg cranial, caudal
144
What does position mean?
Where backbone is relative to the mare
145
What does posture mean?
What extremities are doing
146
Why will taking milk samples not predispose to running milk?
Because this is caused by muscular sphincter
147
What can you measure in the milk within 24/48 hours of birth?
Calcium increase and Na/K cross
148
What is progesterone like in mid-gestation?
Low - will abort if high
149
What does oestrone sulphate show?
A live foal, but it may not be normal
150
What produces oestrone sulphate?
Fetal gonads
151
Where can you measure oestrone sulphate?
Urine- cheaper
152
How long before term should you use to foaling premises?
6 weeks
153
Why should you move to foaling premises early?
To build up antibodies
154
How long before term should you flu and tet?
4 weeks
155
What should nursery paddocks be like?
Small with rounded corners
156
How long should foaling box be?
Double the length of the mare
157
What kind of straw should you use in foaling units?
Wheat - no spiky bits
158
Why do you need a sitting up room?
Can put mare off
159
What are four types of foaling alarms?
Position, heat, sweat, vulval
160
Where do sweat alarms go?
Across the chest
161
Where do position alarms go?
On the head collar
162
Why aren't position alarms reliable?
Go off when the mare lies down
163
What's the problem with vulval monitoring systems?
Expensive
164
How do vulval monitoring systems work?
Stitched in and go off when vulval lips separate
165
When should you call the vet during parturition?
If colic signs become permanent with no rest period, or if they best exaggerated with no progress
166
What is happening during first stage labour?
Myometrial contractions
167
What is happening during second stage labour?
Abdominal muscle contractions
168
Why do you see allantoic fluid burst?
Placenta bursts at cervix
169
What shows the start of second stage labour?
Allantoic fluid burst
170
How long does second stage labour last?
20 minutes
171
What does allantoic fluid contain?
Urine but not faeces
172
When should client remove Caslicks?
After fluids have burst as mare is usually lying down
173
If clients can't how early can vets remove Caslicks?
No more than 1 week
174
How soon should you see a foot after fluids burst?
5 minutes
175
How many feet should you see first?
1
176
Why should you not pull the foal out?
So allantoic fluid can be squeezed from lungs
177
How quickly should foal become sternal?
2-3 mins
178
Why does foal go sternal?
Easier to breathe
179
How long can the cord take to break naturally?
20 minutes
180
What are two common injuries if mare foals standing up?
Broken ribs or umbilical hernia
181
How long can third stage labour take?
Two hours or longer
182
Why should you tie the placenta up?
To avoid mare treading on it so you can examine the whole thing
183
Which part of placenta should be on the outside?
Smooth, shiny
184
What has happened if the red side of the placenta is outside?
Must have detached from foal before birth
185
What is surface area of foal linked to?
Morbidity/mortality
186
What % of foals weight should placenta be?
10-12%
187
Which part of placenta is usually left behind?
Tip of non pregnant horn
188
What does tip of non pregnant horn look like?
Wrinkled, narrower, thinner
189
What does tip of pregnant horn look like?
Smooth, oedematous
190
Which part of horn does foetus implant?
Base
191
What do yolk sac remnants look like?
Hard, yellow
192
Where are hippomanes found?
Allantoic sac
193
Where are there no microvilli?
Cervix
194
Where can you see endometrial cup remnants?
Base of pregnant horn
195
What usually causes placentitis?
Haematogenous
196
What can happen to the foal if placentitis?
Hypoxic
197
Is placentitis usually recurring?
No
198
What happens to the foal in vaginal infection?
May become infected
199
Where does vaginal infection come from?
Stallion
200
How old is a full term foal?
Over 320 days
201
How old is a dysmature foal?
After 320 days but with signs of prematurity
202
How old is an aborted foal?
Before 300 days
203
How old is a premature foal?
300-320 days
204
What are three signs of a premature foal?
Small, domed forehead, lax legs
205
What three things should foals be doing by 5 mins?
Lift head, onto brisket, suck reflex
206
Why can it be hard to see resp rate in very young foals?
Shivering
207
What should foal be doing after 15 mins?
Onto brisket, attempt to stand
208
When should the foal stand by?
30-90 mins
209
What should you treat navel with?
0.5% chlorhexidine
210
Why do some owners want enemas?
To prevent meconium retention
211
Which kind of foals normally get meconium retention?
Overdue colts
212
What should you use for an enema?
Phosphate buffer
213
What are 5 prenatal “at risk” factors?
Mare history, mare health, gestation length, lactation, vaccination status
214
What are two neonatal at risk factors?
Low birthweight, dysmature/premature
215
On which days should vet examine foal?
1,2,3
216
Where should the foal run when vet enters?
To its mother
217
Where should you hold a foal?
Base of tail, around head
218
What happens if you hold a foal too long?
Plays dead
219
Why should you check mucous membranes on day 1?
Haemolytic diseases
220
Which vaccination is given to foals?
Tetanus anti toxin
221
Why is tetanus antitoxin not always necessary?
Colostral immunity usually enough
222
Which foals get prophylactic antibiotics?
High risk
223
Which blood samples do you take on day 2?
Routine haematology and serum protein
224
What blood level must be checked for insurance?
IgG level
225
How much IgG transfer is through the placenta?
None
226
What do you do if not enough IgG?
Give serum sample
227
What does high MCV suggest?
Dysmaturity
228
What should neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio be?
2:1
229
What does neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio other than 1 suggest?
Dysmature
230
What do plasma fibrinogen and serum amyloid A show?
Inflammation
231
Why is serum amyloid A better to show inflammation?
Fibrinogen is slower to rise
232
From what age are autogenous IgG produced?
2 weeks
233
When in gestation is colostrum produced?
Last 2-4 weeks gestation
234
What influences colostrum production?
Hormones
235
How much colostrum does a mare produce?
1.5-2 litres
236
What Igs are in colostrum?
IgG, IgA, IgM
237
What other 3 substances does colostrum contain?
Local protective substances, complement, lactoferrin
238
How does sucking affect IgG uptake?
Increases
239
By what mechanism is colostrum absorbed?
Pinocytosis
240
At what time is colostrum uptake maximal?
8 hours
241
When does colostral uptake end?
36 hours
242
At what age does serum IgG levels peak?
18 hours
243
What serum level is partial FPT?
2-4g/L
244
What level is total FPT?
Less than 2g/L
245
What is FPT prevalence?
3-25%
246
Why should you only use equine colostrum?
Avoid anaphylaxis
247
What can you insure for on day 3?
Mortality
248
Which kind of plasma is best?
Fresh
249
What three characteristics should a plasma donor have?
No disease history eg neonatal isoerythrolysis, negative for RBC isoantibodies, vaccinated 4 weeks previously
