Lecture 7 Flashcards

1
Q

What is our role as the vet during equine pregnancy?

A
Early diagnosis of pregnancy
Monitoring embryonic development
Sexing the fetus
Monitor wellbeing of fetus
Diagnose problems
Monitor effects of treatment
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are some methods for pregnancy diagnosis

A
Behavioral assessment
Vaginal speculum exam
Transrectal palpation
Transrectal ultrasonography
Hormonal assays
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Behavioral assessment

A

Is the mare coming back into heat?

Very non-specific

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Vaginal speculum exam

A

Examine external cervical os

Progesterone= long, tight, pale, dry

Nonspecific and not commonly used because if the mare is pregnant you don’t want to put speculum in the vagina

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Transrectal palpation

A

Rapid
Economical
Useful at all stages

Easy to make mistakes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

US diagnosis of pregnancy

A

As early as 9 days post ovulation

Done routinely at 14 days post partum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Hormonal assays

A

Progesterone- 18 to 21 days after ovulation

Ecg- 36 to 120 days of gestation

Estrogens- after day 60

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What does progesterone at 18 to 21 days mean?

A

Pregnant, persistent CL, early embryonic death

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What does eCG at 36-120 days gestation?

A

Pregnancy or persistent endometrial cups

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What does estrogen after day 60 indicate?

A

Fetal viability

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are you looking for during palpation when diagnosing pregnancy?

A

Done 14-18 days

Good tone in tubular tract
Distinct uterine bifurcation
Active ovaries
Tightly closed cervix

Can give many false positives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What will you see on US when diagnosing pregnancy?

A

Perfectly round embryonic vesicle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

When and how can you diagnose twins

A

Ultrasound in day 14-16 gestation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How to manage equine twins?

When is the best time?

A

Manual embryo crush

Day 16-17 (mobile phase)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Which embryo should you crush in the case of twins?

A

Always the one that is in the better position for you to get to

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What will you see on US at day 17-18

A

The embryo changes shape from perfectly round to triangular (guitar pick)

Slight uterine edema

17
Q

What will you feel on palpation from day 20-25?

US at day 20-25?

A

Toned uterus
Narrow, elongated cervix

Guitar pick to irregular shape, embryo proper by day 21, heartbeat by day 24

18
Q

What membrane is being formed at day 25?

19
Q

What will you feel on transrectal palpation on day 30-35?

US on days 30-35?

A

Toned uterus
Narrow, elongated cervix
A bulge at the base of uterine horn

Regression of yolk sac
Dorsal migration of embryo (~half way up embryo)
Development of fetal membranes

20
Q

Where is the embryo proper at day 35?

A

All the way at the top of the embryonic vesicle

21
Q

What are some things that cause early embryonic death?

A

Uterine edema
No embryo proper
No heart beat
Collapsing vesicle

22
Q

What will you feel at day 35-40?

See on US?

A

Good uterine tone
Narrow, elongated cervix
Tennis ball shaped bulge

Transition from embryo to fetus (organogenesis is completed)
Formation and attachment of umbilical cord
Migration of fetus ventrally

23
Q

Describe the migration of the embryo

A
Embryo begins at the bottom
About halfway up at day 30
All the way up at day 35
Half way down at day 40
All down at day 45
24
Q

What will you feel at day 45-50?

See on US?

A

Same thing with uterus and cervix as before
Softball size bulge

Elongation of umbilical cord
Further migration of the fetus ventrally

25
What happens if you realize you have twins after day 40?
This is after endometrial cups have formed...so mare won’t cycle until day 120 even if you abort the fetuses
26
What can you do to management fetal twins after day 40?
Transvaginal ultrasound guided aspiration Very low success rate
27
What will you feel at day 60-65?
Less tone in gravid horn and more tone in non-gravid horn Vesicle is expanding into the uterine body Child size football shape
28
How to manage twins at day 60-110?
Cranio-cervical dislocation through flank incision
29
How to identify gender?
Use the gender tubercle- is in the back (female) or more cranial (male)
30
What do you feel at day 75-120?
``` Uterus is pulled ventrally and ovaries are at midline Basketball shape (need to differentiate from bladder by following the cervix) ``` Difficult to image transrectally at this stage
31
How to manage twins at day 110-150?
Transabdominal ultrasound guided cardiac injection with KCl or procain penicillin
32
What is going on at day 150-200?
Uterine descent is complete Fetal ballottment is consistent Best approach is transabdominal US
33
What should you be monitoring late gestation?
``` Transrectal US: Fetal orbit (fetal age) Placenta (integrity and thickness) Fetal fluids (echogenicity) ``` Transabdominal US: Fetal HR Fetal fluids Placenta
34
If you measure combined thickness of uterus and placenta and/or see separation between the fetal membrane and the uterus, what are you thinking?
Ascending placentitis