Eutocia, Induction of Parturition

Question 1

What are 4 things that should be done 4-6 weeks prior to foaling?

Answer 1

• Vaccinate
• watch more frequently
• Clean udder and legs
  Open Caslicks if present

Question 2

What are 4 recommended vaccinations for the pregnant mare for?

Answer 2

• EWT
• WNV
• EHV 1
• EHV 4

Question 3

What can result if a Caslick is not removed prior to parturition?

Answer 3

Recto-vaginal fistula/tear

Question 4

What are the 3 best predictors for readiness for birth in the mare?

Answer 4

• Udder formation with the presence of colostrum
• Relaxation of cervix
• Gestational age greater than 330 days

Question 5

What are 5 signs that parturition might be occurring soon?

Answer 5

• External conformation
• Udder development 2-4 weeks prior
• Cervical relaxation
• Milk calcium test kit/strips
• Milk electrolyte inversion

Question 6

What are 3 signs of udder development to watch for?

Answer 6

• Milk in teats 1-2 weeks prior
• Waxing 24-48 hours prior
• Dripping of milk

Question 7

Is minor separation of the vulva normal close to parturition?

Answer 7

Yes

Question 8

Cervical dilation favors what?

Answer 8

Shorter delivery time

Question 9

What are 4 things that might be seen with an unrelaxed cervix?

Answer 9

• Longer time from induction to delivery
• Possible increase in intra-partum asphyxia
• Longer time to stand and nurse
• More complications such as placental separation and dystocia

Question 10

What are 3 things to watch for with milk composition?

Answer 10

• Inversion of Na+ and K+
• Increase in Ca++
• Changes in color/viscosity

Question 11

Inversion of sodium and potassium indicates what?

Answer 11

Within 48 hours of parturition

Question 12

“Foal Watch” should be used once a day until how many ppm are reached?
Then what?

Answer 12

• 125 ppm

- Then test 2x per day

Question 13

The best clinical use of the milk pH test is to predict what?

Answer 13

When a mare is NOT ready to foal.

Question 14

Does pH increase or decrease near foaling?

Answer 14

Decreases

Question 15

What type of mares may not have significant development or colostrum production?

Answer 15

Maiden mares

Question 16

Restlessness, tail swishing, mild colic, sweating, fetus re-orients itself and cervix dilation can be seen with what stage of parturition?

Answer 16

Stage 1

Question 17

Mare gets up and down, forceful abdominal contractions occur, appearance of amnion covered fetal limbs at vulva can be seen with what stage of parturition?

Answer 17

Stage 2

Question 18

Mild colic signs can be seen with what stage of parturition?

Answer 18

Stage 3

Question 19

Stage 1 of parturition ends with what?

Answer 19

Ends with rupture of chorioallantois

Question 20

Stage 2 of parturition ends with what?

Answer 20

Ends with expulsion of fetus

Question 21

Stage 3 of parturition ends with what?

Answer 21

Ends with passage of placenta

Question 22

What are 5 things that should be done with the mare post-foaling?

Answer 22

• Examine for twin
• Examine for any trauma
• Assess udder
• Assess significance of any colic signs
• Make sure placenta is expelled by about 3 hours

Question 23

A mare is considered to have retained fetal membranes if the placenta has not been expelled by what time frame?

Answer 23

3 hours post-foaling

Question 24

What are 3 reasons for performing induction in a mare?

Answer 24

• Gestational abnormalities
• Mare with previous dystocia or history of placental separation
• Convenience

Question 25

What are 2 examples of gestational abnormalities that would indicate the use of induction?

Answer 25

- Rupture of pre-pubic tendon | - Hydrallantois

Question 26

What are 4 complications that can be seen with the induction of parturition?

Answer 26

- Dystocia - Premature placental separation - Fetal hypoxia - Dysmaturity

Question 27

Fetal maturation is associated with what?

Answer 27

Increased adrenocortical activity

Question 28

When does increased adrenocoritcal activity occur in most species? When does it occur in horses?

Answer 28

- A few weeks prior to birth | - 24-48 hours before birth

Question 29

The foal needs to be what before the mare can be induced?

Answer 29

Foal needs to be mature

Question 30

An equine fetus is at much greater risk of what if delivered at an inappropriate time?

Answer 30

Dysmaturity/prematurity

Question 31

What are 6 things a foal needs in order to survive?

Answer 31

- Functional lungs - Functional GI - Appropriate energy reserves - Ability to suck - Ability to swallow - Ability to maintain body temperature

Question 32

Oxytocin is released from the posterior pituitary secondary to what?

Answer 32

Ferguson's reflex

Question 33

What are 2 important stimulants to myometrial contraction?

Answer 33

- PGF2a | - Oxytocin

Question 34

Are steroids usually used as an induction agent in horses? | Why?

Answer 34

- No | - Need high doses and prolonged treatment to be successful

Question 35

How long does it take for prostaglandin to induce parturition?

Answer 35

1-6 hours

Question 36

Prostaglandins may be useful in pre-treatment prior to what?

Answer 36

Oxytocin

Question 37

What are 2 side effects that can be seen with prostaglandin use at higher doses?

Answer 37

- Sweating | - Mild colic

Question 38

What is the induction DOC in mares?

Answer 38

Oxytocin

Question 39

Foaling occurs within what time frame with oxytocin use?

Answer 39

Within 60 minutes

Question 40

What is the typical dose of oxytocin used to induce parturition?

Answer 40

10-20 IU IM once

Question 41

A higher dose of oxytocin may cause what?

Answer 41

Discomfort

Question 42

Which layer should be presented at he vulva?

Answer 42

Amnion

Question 43

If everything is going well, one should wait until what occurs before intervening?

Answer 43

Wait until umbilicus breaks

Question 44

A foal should be standing by when? | Nursing by when?

Answer 44

- Standing within 1 hour | - Nursing within 2 hours

Question 45

How does a placenta often present after delivery?

Answer 45

Often turned inside out after delivery.

Question 46

When spread out, the placenta should form what shape?

Answer 46

Y or F shape

Question 47

What should be examined in the placenta?

Answer 47

Both allantoic and chorionic surfaces

Question 48

What is the normal umbilical cord length in a horse?

Answer 48

36-83 cm

Question 49

An umbilical cord weighing more than 12.5 lb. may be associated with what?

Answer 49

Associated with problems

Question 50

What is the normal weight of an umbilical cord?

Answer 50

About 11% of foal's weight

Question 51

What are 2 things that make the fetus susceptible to torsion of the umbilical cord and to amnion covering the nostrils at birth?

Answer 51

- Length of umbilical cord | - Non-union of amnion to chorioallantois

Question 52

What are 2 things that can occur if the umbilical cord is too long?

Answer 52

- Hypoperfusion | - Wrapping around extremities

Question 53

What are 2 things that can happen in the umbilical cord is too short?

Answer 53

- Premature placental separation | - Breaking of the cord

Question 54

Umbilical cord torsion has a greater chance if the cord is greater than what length?

Answer 54

Greater than 80 cm

Question 55

What are 3 things that can be seen with an umbilical cord torsion?

Answer 55

- Area of demarcation - Compression of urachus - Degenerative changes to chorioallantois

Question 56

Compression of the urachus as a result of umbilical cord torsion can lead to what?

Answer 56

Bladder distention

Question 57

What are 4 degenerative changes to the chorioallantois that can be seen with umbilical cord torsion?

Answer 57

- Mineralization - Vascular congestion - Hemorrhage - Thrombosis

Question 58

What is something that can be seen with a normal foal but an abnormally long umbilical cord? Why?

Answer 58

- Twisted umbilicus | - Excessive movement of normal foal can cause this

Question 59

What can happen to a yolk sac remnant?

Answer 59

Some become calcified

Question 60

Are lesions common on the amnion?

Answer 60

No

Question 61

Thickened cystic nodular areas can be seen with what condition?

Answer 61

Amnion nodosum

Question 62

How can too little amniotic fluid lead to amnion nodosum?

Answer 62

Fetus rubs on inner epithelial amnionic surface

Question 63

Hair and sebaceous material embedding in focally ulcerated amnion causing chronic proliferative changes can lead to what condition?

Answer 63

Amnion nodosum

Question 64

What is a possible inciting cause for amnion nodosum?

Answer 64

Primary urinary system problems in the foal.

Question 65

Concentric to diffuse firm whitish colored lesions that seem to radiate from blood vessels but are not associated with vascular changes are called what?

Answer 65

Enigmatic localized mineralization

Question 66

Are enigmatic localized mineralizations usually related to infectious placentitis?

Answer 66

No

Question 67

What does enigmatic localized mineralization resemble?

Answer 67

"Lichen growing on dead wood"