Mare Post-Partum

Question 1

A mare presents systemically ill about 24 hours after giving birth.

She is severely depressed with high fever.

You’ve ruled out peritonitis, so what is your primary ddx?

Answer 1

Septic metritis

Question 2

What is the best treatment for

septic metritis?

Answer 2

Large volume uterine lavage (10-20 L) BID

(To remove purulent material and reduce amount of endotoxins)

Mares usually respond within 24-36 hours after lavage

Question 3

A mare presents after foaling:

She is moderately to severely painful,

sweating, tachycardic, weak pulses, pale MM.

You avoid doing a rectal exam and choose to diagnose

using transabdominal ultrasound

because this is your primary ddx

Answer 3

Hemorrhage from uterine or ovarian vessels

Question 4

How is a mare with uterine/ovarian vessel hemorrhage

treated?

Answer 4

Sedation with XYLAZINE, BUTORPHANOL

IV therapy with formalin: 10% formalin in LRS

Replenish fluids ASAP (hypertonic/isotonic)

Aminocaproic acid (anti-fibrinolytic)

Yunnan baiyao (hemostatic properties)

Question 5

___________ is a common cause of

colic in mares post-partum

Answer 5

Displacement of large colon

Question 6

In a case of Uterine laceration (rupture)

medical treatment involves

supportive therapy and promotion of fast uterine involution

What meds do you use?

Answer 6

OXYTOCIN, ABx, NSAIDs

uterine lavage is CONTRAINDICATED!

Question 7

Uterine horn intussusception

in the post partum mare usually occurs in the

______horn

Answer 7

non-pregnant

Question 8

Hypogalactia/aglactia in a systemically healthy mare

could be caused by which 2 things?

Answer 8

Fescue: treatment with Domperidone

Pain: mares that are in pain even if not showing signs of pain will often not let their milk down

Question 9

Which of the following has a poor prognosis in mares?

Uterine prolapse

Rectal prolapse

Answer 9

rectal prognosis- usually lethal!

Question 10

Bladder atony is sometimes seen

in the systemically healthy post-partum mare.

What medication is used to treat this?

Answer 10

Bethanecol!

Question 11

This method of treatment of RFM (retained fetal membranes) involves infusion of a large volume of fluid in the UNRUPTURED chorio-allantoic space to stimulate endogenous oxytocin release

Answer 11

Burns technique

Question 12

Mares have their first post partum heat starting around day 6 and ovulate around day 10. This is known as:

Answer 12

(foal heat)

Question 13

When can FOAL HEAT be used for breeding?

Answer 13

WHEN CAN YOU USE FOAL HEAT?

Ovulation >10d PP

Young healthy mare

Well involuted uterus (good tone, small size, no fluid)

Swab is not a reliable indicator of suitability

Natural mating versus chilled semen vs frozen semen??