Postpartum complications in the Mare Flashcards
Things to examine on the postpartum mare exam
- General heatlh and physical exam
- Digestive tract
- Urinary tract
- External evaluation of the perineal region
- Repro tract examination
General health and PE of a mare
- Demeanor
- Comfort level
- Signs of colic and endotoxemia
- Mothering bheavior
- Temperature
- Mm color and CRT
- Presence of abrasions around eyes or buter coxae
- Heart rate, respiratory rate, and chest auscultation
What are some of the most concerning findings on a postpartum exam of the mare?
- FEVER***
What physical exam findings can indicate dystocia if foaling was not witnessed?
- Abrasions around the eyes or tuber coxae
Aspects of GI tract exam in the postpartum exam of a mare?
- GI sounds in all quadrants
- Fecal production (not too dry)
- Often reduced in quantity in postpartum mares due to pain and perineal swelling
- Retention in rectum
- Early colic signs
- +/- administration of mineral oil
Urinary tract signs in the postpartum exam of the mare?
- Squatting (alminitis)
- Full stream (pain)
- Urometra
- Urethral damage
- Bladder atony
External evaluation of the perineal region?
- Swelling (unilateral or bilateral)
- Vulva
- Peri-vulvar hematoma
- Perineal body trauma (1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree)
- Vaginal discharge
Repro tract exam - what does it normally include?
- Usually not transrectal ultrasound
- Vaginal speculum exam though
When is transrectal ultrasound indicated?
- Retained placenta, metritis, other medical emergency conditions
Things to look for with vaginal speculum exam?
- Traumatic lesions on the vaginal walls, urethral opening, or cervix
Normal appearance and smell of lochia?
- Mix of mucus, endometrial cells (brownish)
- SHOULD NOT SMELL BAD
Cervical palpation - what can injure?
- Oversized fetus
- Obestetrical chains or fetotomy wire
- Even so-called “normal” parturition
How to palpate the cervix?
- Put one or two fingers inside the cervix
- Palpate all around the lumen of the cervix
Normal appearance of the mammary gland after foaling?
- Soft, symmetrical
- Colostrum analysis
- Monitor for mastitis
Signs of mastitis
- Heat, asymmetry, hind limb lameness
Colostrum - what’s good, average, and low?
- 30% is good
- Average is 15-20%
- <15% you worry about FPTI due to low IgG
What info should clients get from the placenta?
- Time in minutes from foaling to passage of the placenta
- Record the weight and the weight of the foal
- Keep it refrigerated but DO NOT freeze
- Collect the amnion and chorioallantois
When should the clients call you if the placenta hasn’t been passed?
> 3 hours
- DO not encourage the use of oxytocin before exam
What % of the foal’s weight should the placenta be?
10-12%
Which horn of the placenta does the umbilical cord attach to?
- Base of the fetal horn
Which side of the placenta is in contact with the endometrium?
- Chorionic side
How can you differentiate the fetal horn from non-fetal horn?
- Umbilical cord always at the base of the fetal horn
- Fetal horn is usually bigger and more edematous
How can you make sure the placenta is complete?
- Pump it up with water and close at the level of the cervix
What are some abnormalities of the placenta that can happen?
- Plaques
- Mucopurulent discharge or film
- Avillous areas
- Too small for the size of the mare/uterus
- Incomplete
What to do with plaques or pus on the placenta?
- Impression smears and cytology
- Uterine culture and cytology
- Look at the foal (blood cultures)
- Rule out placentitis (bacterial or fungal)
Avillous area on the placenta
- Can be incidental
- Are the avillous areas large enough to have inhibited nutrient exchange?
- Look at the foal
- Look for signs of a dummy foal or endotoxemia
What % of the weight of the dam should the foal be?
-10% approximately
Incomplete placenta - what to do?
- MEDICAL EMERGENCY
- Often small placental tags are retained
- Here the base of the fetal horn is not retained
What are some of the most common postpartum emergencies you’ll see?
- Urogenital hemorrhage
- Large colon volvulus
- Septic metritis
- Uterine tears
- Open diagnosis
Urogenital hemorrhage - who gets?
- Mares >13 years
Signs of urogenital hemorrhage
- Anemia
- Hypoproteinemia
- Hypofibrinogenemia
Signs of septic metritis or associated with it
- Dystocia
SIgns associated with uterine tears
- Leukopenia common
What should you consider if placenta is incomplete?
- Retained placenta
What to consider if fever, sweating, muscle fasciculations; depression; vaginal discharge; swollen hind end, lacerated, hemorrhage; poor mothering; incomplete or absent urination?
- Retained placenta
- Toxic or septic metritis
- Rectovaginal tears and perineal lacerations
- Perineal bruising and vulvar hematomas
- Periparturient hemorrhage
- Uterine tear/rupture
- Colic
- Urinary tract complications
Instructions to owner in case of emergency on the farm
- Confine mare and foal to a quiet area
- Keep foal near the mare but out of harm’s way
- Don’t administer tranquilizers until you examine the mare
Why should owners mostly not administer tranquilizers until you examine the mare?
- Often they have acepromazine, which causes hypotensive effects in mares with broad ligament hemorrhage
Instructions to owners if need to be transported to the hospital
- Bring foal
- Keep foal next to but separate from mare (stall divider or straw bales)
- Bring placenta if available
How long can postpartum complications occur after foaling?
-Up to weeks
Risk factors for post-partum complications
- Age (very young or >17 years)
- Breeds (mini, heavy horses)
- Previous history of foaling or postpartum conditions
- History of retained placenta
- Previous injury to the birth canal (perineal or cervical laceration)
Risk factors for retained placenta?
- Dystocia
- Abortion or stillborn
- Fetal membrane hydrops
- Placentitis
- Metabolic disorders
- Breeds
Which part of the placenta is most often retained?
- Tip of the non-pregnant horn
- Less stimulation
Hydrops in horses
- This was in the 2nd or 3rd lecture - probably worth reviewing
What therapy is usually recommended for retained placenta?
- Oxytocin therapy
- Evaluate calcium and potentially rule out hypocalcemia
How to give oxytocin for retained placenta?
- Low dose bolus every 2 hours
- Continuous rate drip in LRS or saline
- Some mare may experience severe colic with large doses of oxytocin and cause injury to the foal
Chorioallantois distension
- used for retained placenta
- Need access to the vulva
- Distend with 12-20 L sterile aline
- REsults usually seen within 5-40 minutes
Forced extraction of the placenta
- DON’T DO IT
Why should you not forcibly extract the placenta?
- Tears
- Partial retention
- Uterine invagination/eversion or prolapse
- necrotic tissue may remain within the endometrial crypts causing further complications with metritis and toxemia
What to do if retained placenta has gone on for more than 6-8 hours?
- Borad spectrum systemic antibiotics
- Monitor for complications (anorexia, fever, depression, laminitis, warm feet, and increased digital pulse)
- Transabdominal ultrasound exam while uterine flushing may reveal remnant
- Supportive therapy for toxemia such as NSAIDs and tetanus prophylaxis
Broad spectrum antibiotics that may work for RP
- Ampicillin, gentamicin, kanamycin, penicillin, ticarcillin, ceftiofur, TMS
What can happen as a consequence of a retained placenta?
- Toxic or septic metritis
Risk factors for toxic metritis
- Dystocia in 70% of cases
- Retained placenta
- Excessive obstetrical manipulations (based on lesions produced or if delivery wasn’t complete)