Postpartum Mare Flashcards
Immediate postpartum mare
- mare and foal interaction
- placental exam
- general health assessment
- housing management
- complications
Retained placenta
> 3 hrs postpartum
- 2-10% of parturitions
- increased risk after dystocia and placentitis
- usually nongravid horn
- partial or complete, always examine!
Retained placenta can lead to ______
- metritis
- septicemia
- laminitis
- death
Retained placenta - treatment
- ecbolics (oxytocin)
- gentle traction
- burns technique: NG tube thru vulva into allantoic space
- meijer et al: stallion catheter in longitudinal incision in vein of umbilicus
Post-expulsion treatment
- antibiotics if you do not know how long placenta was retained
- uterine lavage
- exercise
- laminitis treatment
Uterine prolapse typically occurs ______
Immediately postpartum
- may see post abortion or with retained fetal membranes
Uterine prolapse - treatment
- sedation/anesthesia
- lift uterus to pelvic level
- cleanse
- remove placental attachements
- ligate vessels
- suture uterine tears
- catheterize bladder
- replace uterus w/ garbage bags filled with warm water
- antibiotics, ecbolics, caslick
Invagination of uterine horn
Unresponsive, mild colic postpartum
- associated with retained placental tag
- intrauterine exam (dome-shaped tip projecting into uterine lumen)
Invagination of uterine horn - treatment
- sedation
- manual removal of placental tag
- replace uterine invagination
- warm water infusion
Uterine rupture
Occurs during stage 2 labor
- may be from dystocia
- usually at tip of previously gravid horn due to straightening of hindlimbs
- occurs during labor/manipulation or postpartum treatment
- examine placenta
Uterine rupture - clinical signs
- hemorrhagic vaginal discharge
- signs of circulatory shock
- colic
- depression
- fever
- peritonitis
Uterine rupture - treatment
Treat for shock and dehydration!
- surgical repair
- abdominal cavity lavage
- anti-inflammatory
- uterine massage
Internal hemorrhage
Rupture of utero-ovarian or uterine artery (in broad ligament)
- at parturition or shortly postpartum
- usually >10 years old
- along with uterine prolapse or torsion
Internal hemorrhage - clinical signs
- colic
- hemorrhagic shock
- may show no signs (controlled bleed)
Internal hemorrhage - treatment
- dark stall and leave alone!!
- banamine
- burtorphanol
- corticosteroids
- whole blood transfusions
Other postpartum hemorrhages
- trauma to birth canal or uterus
- cervical trauma
- vaginal trauma
- perineal trauma
Acquired abnormalities can occur in:
- perineal trauma
- vagina
- cervix
- uterus
- oviducts
Uterine involution and ovarian cyclicity
- decreasing uterine fluid
- decreasing uterine size
- histologic recovery –> occurs in 14-15 days
- postpartum estrus
Postpartum exam
- 5-7 days
- palpation of genital tract
- ultrasound exam
- digital exam
- speculum exam
First postpartum breeding
- foal heat estrus 5-15 days postfoaling
- foal heat pregnancy rates 10-20% lower
- first postpartum ovulation
