Equine Pregnancy and Parturition Flashcards
Non specific ways for Pregnancy Diagnosis for mares
Nonspecific: Teasing with a stallion/Vaginal speculum/Oestrone sulphate/Progesterone/eCG
Specific Pregnancy Diagnosis for mares
Ultrasonography per rectum is the most common method/ Palpation (30 days>)
Outline important foetal milestones in relation to ultrasound
14 d – first exam (count CL’s and look for twins) – Perform manual twin reduction before fixation
16d - repeat twin check, if necessary
28 d – heartbeat check
45 - 65 d last check (+/- fetal sexing)
What is the recommended method for early pregnancy diagnosis in the mare
Transrectal palpation of the uterus
Progesterone serology
Teasing behaviour to stallion
Transrectal ultrasound of the uterus
Vaginal speculum exam of the cervix
Transrectal ultrasound of the uterus
Mares are supposed to have twins (T/F)
False! Not good
Diagnosis of twin pregnancy
Transrectal ultrasonography
14-15 days post ovulation
What day do embryos ‘fix’ (not mobile)
Day 16
Twin management (Prefixation)
Crushing transrectally
Twin management (Postfixation)
Bilateral: Crush
Unilateral: Check back in a couple of days/Ginther’s deprivation hypothesis- Go away by itself
Abort before endometrial cup formation – d35 (Prostaglandin)
Twin management (After endometrial cups)
Trans-rectal manipulation-Cranio-cervical dislocation
Transcutaneous foetal injection
How many days after ovulation should a mare be checked for pregnancy to diagnose twin pregnancy
6
10
14
35
100
14
Gestation length of mare
335-342 are the numbers used to calculate foaling date
Wide range of “normal” from 325-365days
Normal foaling presentation
cranial-longitudinal
Normal foaling position
dorso-sacral
Normal foaling posture
extended head and limbs
Describe calcium, sodium and potassium level of mare that is about to foal
Increase in calcium
Decreas in sodium
Increase in Potasium
Outline stage 1 of parturition
30min-4hours
Restless, mild colic
Uterine contractions
Chorioallantoic rupture
Outline stage 2 of parturition
<30min
Foal expulsion
Active labor: Strong contractions
Onset – mare ’breaks her water’
End – delivery of the foetus
Outline stage 3 of parturition
within 3 hours
Passing Foetal membranes
Chorionic side
Amnionic side
What is ‘red bag’- Peri-partum problems
Chorioallantois fails to rupture
Premature separation of the placenta- Hypoxia
Treatment
Break the membranes
Deliver the foal
What is the considered a normal timeframe for stage 1, 2 and 3 of labour in the mare respectively
<4 hours, <30min, <3hours
<30min, <3hours, <12hours
<12hours, <3hours, <4hours
<4hours, <3hours, <30min
<30min, <12hours, <4hours
<4 hours, <30min, <3hours
When does Late pregnancy problems- Uterine torsion happen
Last trimester
Uterine torsion treatment
Standing flank laparotomy
Vaginal correction (only at parturition)
Manual Rolling
What is hydrops
Hydroallantois or hydroamnion
Late pregnancy problem
Pathological accumulation of fluid
40-200L (8 – 18 L normal)
Treatment of hydrops
Parturition induction or abortion
Assistance with delivery
Control drainage of fluid
Give IV fluids during drainage to maintain BP
Treatment of Ventral body wall hernia or prepubic tendon rupture
Parturition induction
Assist pregnancy to term
NSAID’s
Restrict exercise
Sling bandage
Assist parturition
