Reproduction Flashcards
what is a stallion?
entire male older than 4 years
what is a colt?
entire male younger than 4 years
when should testicles descend into the scrotum of horses?
at or shortly after birth (can take up to 24 months)
when does puberty occur in male horses?
12-24 months old
when do male horses reach sexual maturity?
4-5 years old
how long does spermatogenesis roughly take in horses?
60 days
what are some possible influences on semen quality?
testicular size/efficiency
age
season
frequency of ejaculation
general health/injury
what is often the limiting factor to how many mares a stallion can cover?
libido (not sperm)
what should be examined for breeding soundness of stallions?
exam of external genitalia
exam of internal genitalia
libido and mating ability
semen evaluation
testicular biopsy
ultrasound testicle
urethral endoscopy
what diseases should stallions be tested for?
contagious equine metritis (Taylorella equigenitalis)
equine viral arteritis
what sexually transmitted disease is notifiable in stallions?
equine viral arteritis
how can stallions be protected from equine viral arteritis?
vaccination
what is the issue with the vaccine for equine viral arteritis?
isn’t a marker vaccine - must tested before giving the vaccine then keep on top of vaccine boosters
what clinical sign of systemic illness can effect sperm production of stallions?
pyrexia
what is a paraphimosis?
inability of penis to be retracted into sheath
how can paraphimosis be treated?
support penis to stop dangling
possible GA and replace then place purse string suture across preputial orifice
what is priapism?
persistant erection
how is a priapism treated?
surgically by flushing corpus cavernous with heparinised saline under GA
why should extra care be taken when rectalling a stallions?
higher risk of tears
what are the advantages of AI?
can be transported (spread genetics)
can be stored (even after death)
get more matings per ejaculate
reduced venereal disease and post mating endometritis
what are the disadvantages of AI?
specialist skills needed to collect, process and inseminate
may have poorer conception rates
expensive
labour intensive
not accepted in thoroughbreds
how long dose fresh semen last?
use within a few hours (can be treated with extenders)
how long does chilled semen last?
48 hours
what is done to create chilled semen after collection?
mixed with extenders and then slowly cooled to 5 degrees
what is frozen semen mixed with before freezing?
extenders and cryoprotectants
how long can frozen semen last?
forever (if liquid nitrogen is topped up)
where is semen inserted into for AI?
just through the cervix
how is frozen semen inseminated?
warm to 37 degree in water bath then insert just through the cervix or into the uterine horn
when does fresh/chilled semen need to be inseminated? (relating to ovulation)
same as natural service (48 hours before ovulation)
when does frozen semen need to be inseminated? (relating to ovulation)
as close as possible to ovulations (6 hours either side)
what is a common pre-parturient problem in pregnant mares?
colic
what colics can pre-parturient mares get?
all the normal ones plus pregnancy specific ones including foal movement, foaling/aborting and ischaemia of caecum/colon
how severe is foal movement colic?
mild/moderate medical colic
how is foal movement colic treated?
should respond to mild/moderate analgesia such as phenylbutazone or buscopan
what causes ischaemia/necrosis of the caecum and colon colic in pre-parturient mares?
foals weight putting pressure on viscera and stretching the blood vessels (can lead to rupture of vessels)
what are some colics specific to the pre-parturient mare?
uterine torsion
foal movement
foaling/aborting
ischaemia/necrosis of caecum/colon
how severe is uterine torsion colic?
low grade chronic/intermittent colic (can be very severe)
when do uterine torsions usually occur?
last third of pregnancy
how can uterine torsion be diagnosed?
rectal (can palpate one tight broad ligament)
why can uterine torsion be diagnosed by vaginal exam in mares?
twists cranial to cervix
how can uterine torsion be treated in mares?
standing flank laparotomy or midline laparotomy with caesarian (if close enough)
(rolling not recommended)
what is the supposed cause of ventral oedema in pregnant mares?
foal compressing lymphatic drainage
what can cause an over-large mare in pre-parturient mares?
ventral oedema
pre-pubic tendon rupture
hydrops
obesity
what are the clinical signs of pre-pubic tendon rupture in the pregnant mare?
large painful oedema continuous with udder (dropped udder)
bloody discharge in milk
colic
how is pre-pubic tendon rupture in the pre-parturient mare?
analgesia - phenylbutazone
needs assistance for foaling (caesarian??) - can’t contract stomach
often results in euthanasia
what is hydrops?
excessive fluid in the allantoic/amniotic space that eventually results in colic, dyspnoea and circulatory collapse
how is hydrops treated?
induce foaling/abortion
dilate cervix and drain fluid
IV fluid to maintain blood pressure
what are the clinical signs of placentitis?
premature udder development and lactation with vaginal discharge
what is done to treat placentitis?
potentiated sulphonamides
bute
what is the most common cause of vaginal bleeding in horses?
varicose veins
what horses is varicose veins most common in?
pregnant older mares
what is done to treat varicose vein vaginal bleeding?
nothing - rarely cause an issue (just reassure owner)
if not progress has been made when foaling a dystocia what can be done?
reassess
(caesarian, GA and controlled vaginal delivery, GA, cut out foal and euthanise mare)
what can happen in complete uterine ruptures of pregnant mares?
foal can fall into abdomen (not palpable in birth canal) leading to fatal haemorrhage or peritonitis
how are perineal lacerations from foaling treated?
many heal on their own but some need surgical repair if they will lateral the perineal confirmation
antibiotics and NSAIDs
what is a third degree perineal laceration?
penetrating laceration through rectum and anus so the vagina and anus now communicate
how are third degree perineal lacerations treated?
not immediately (will breakdown) - delay for 4-6 weeks to allow granulation then can attempt surgery
give antibiotics and NSAIDs
what are some possible post-partum colics?
uterine cramps
GI colics
ischaemia/necrosis of caecum/colon
inversion of uterine horn
what causes uterine cramp colic?
contraction of the uterus post foaling (this is a mild/moderate colic)
how are uterine cramps treated?
buscopan and phenylbutazone
what causes inversion of the uterine horns (colic)?
forceful foaling or removal of the retained membranes
what is done to treat inversion of the uterine horn (colic)?
analgesia, buscopan, manual replacement and uterine lavage
what happens inverted uterine horns aren’t treated?
can progresses to a uterine prolapse
what GI colics are postpartum mares more predisposed to?
colonic torsion (more space in abdomen) - rapidly fatal
where does rupture of the uterine artery haemorrhage into?
broad ligament or abdomen
how serious is a colic caused by rupture of the uterine artery?
mild/moderate but can progress to signs of haemorrhage
how are ruptures of the uterine artery treated?
sedate (keep animal quiet)
analgesia and NSAIDs
blood transfusion
clotting agents
how are uterine prolapses treated?
clean uterus and replace under epidural
give oxytocin once replaced
broad spectrum antibiotics and NSAIDs
how long does it take for most mares to pass foetal membranes?
2 hours
how long after foaling do retained foetal membranes become a concern?
4-6 hours