Equine Pregnancy and Parturition

Question 1

Non specific ways for Pregnancy Diagnosis for mares

Answer 1

Nonspecific: Teasing with a stallion/Vaginal speculum/Oestrone sulphate/Progesterone/eCG

Question 2

Specific Pregnancy Diagnosis for mares

Answer 2

Ultrasonography per rectum is the most common method/ Palpation (30 days>)

Question 3

Outline important foetal milestones in relation to ultrasound

Answer 3

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)

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Transrectal ultrasound of the uterus

Question 5

Mares are supposed to have twins (T/F)

Answer 5

False! Not good

Question 6

Diagnosis of twin pregnancy

Answer 6

Transrectal ultrasonography
14-15 days post ovulation

Question 7

What day do embryos ‘fix’ (not mobile)

Answer 7

Day 16

Question 8

Twin management (Prefixation)

Answer 8

Crushing transrectally

Question 9

Twin management (Postfixation)

Answer 9

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)

Question 10

Twin management (After endometrial cups)

Answer 10

Trans-rectal manipulation-Cranio-cervical dislocation
Transcutaneous foetal injection

Question 11

How many days after ovulation should a mare be checked for pregnancy to diagnose twin pregnancy
6
10
14
35
100

Answer 11

14

Question 12

Gestation length of mare

Answer 12

335-342 are the numbers used to calculate foaling date
Wide range of “normal” from 325-365days

Question 13

Normal foaling presentation

Answer 13

cranial-longitudinal

Question 14

Normal foaling position

Answer 14

dorso-sacral

Question 15

Normal foaling posture

Answer 15

extended head and limbs

Question 16

Describe calcium, sodium and potassium level of mare that is about to foal

Answer 16

Increase in calcium
Decreas in sodium
Increase in Potasium

Question 17

Outline stage 1 of parturition

Answer 17

30min-4hours
Restless, mild colic
Uterine contractions
Chorioallantoic rupture

Question 18

Outline stage 2 of parturition

Answer 18

<30min
Foal expulsion
Active labor: Strong contractions
Onset – mare ’breaks her water’
End – delivery of the foetus

Question 19

Outline stage 3 of parturition

Answer 19

within 3 hours
Passing Foetal membranes
Chorionic side
Amnionic side

Question 20

What is ‘red bag’- Peri-partum problems

Answer 20

Chorioallantois fails to rupture
Premature separation of the placenta- Hypoxia
Treatment
Break the membranes
Deliver the foal

Question 21

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

Answer 21

<4 hours, <30min, <3hours

Question 22

When does Late pregnancy problems- Uterine torsion happen

Answer 22

Last trimester

Question 23

Uterine torsion treatment

Answer 23

Standing flank laparotomy
Vaginal correction (only at parturition)
Manual Rolling

Question 24

What is hydrops

Answer 24

Hydroallantois or hydroamnion
Late pregnancy problem
Pathological accumulation of fluid
40-200L (8 – 18 L normal)

Question 25

Treatment of hydrops

Answer 25

Parturition induction or abortion
Assistance with delivery
Control drainage of fluid
Give IV fluids during drainage to maintain BP

Question 26

Treatment of Ventral body wall hernia or prepubic tendon rupture

Answer 26

Parturition induction
Assist pregnancy to term
NSAID’s
Restrict exercise
Sling bandage
Assist parturition