Diseases of pregnancy in the mare Flashcards

1
Q

Differential diagnoses of colic (8)

A
  • Abortion/premature parturition
  • Uterine torsion
  • Fetal hypermotility
  • Uterine dorsoretroflexion
  • Hydrops of the placental membranes
  • Uterine rupture
  • Pre-pubic tendon / abdominal muscle rupture
  • Colic of non-genital tract origin
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2
Q

Differential diagnoses of premature mammary gland development and lactation (6)

A
  • Placentitis
  • Chronic placental separation
  • In utero death of a twin
  • Impending abortion
  • Idiopathic abortion
  • ‘Running milk’
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3
Q

Differential diagnoses of vulval discharge (5)

A
  • Placentitis
  • Placental separation
  • Vaginitis
  • Urine staining
  • Varicose veins
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4
Q

Differential diagnoses of ventral oedema/abdominal swelling (4)

A
  • Hydrops
  • Pre-pubic tendon/abdominal wall muscle rupture
  • Mammary gland oedema
  • Late pregnancy
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5
Q

Other abnormalities of pregnancy

A
  • Hyperlipidaemia
  • Orthopaedic problems
  • Oestrus behaviour
  • Prolonged gestation
  • Rarely immune-mediated thrombocytopaenia (ITP) and Evan’s syndrome
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6
Q

Mammary gland development

A
  • 2 mammary glands, each with two small openings
  • Growth begins about a month before parturition
  • Most size increase in two weeks beforehand
  • Teats become shorter and fatter as udder becomes full as bases are stretched
  • Oedema of udder and ventral body wall are indications of full term
  • White flecks seen on teats a few days before waxing up
  • Wax up 24 hrs before birth
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7
Q

Mammary secretion

A

Typically mammary secretions pass from straw colour water like secretions to more cloudy in the weeks preceding parturition
Colostrum is yellowish white and viscous

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8
Q

Perineal conformation/relaxation

A

Relaxation of pelvic ligaments and softening either side of tail head several days before parturition to allow expansion of birth canal

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9
Q

Vaginoscopy

A

In first 10 months of pregnancy vagina should be tight, tacky, and cervix tight and pale with a mucus plug

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10
Q

Transrectal ultrasound

A

5.0 or 7.5 MHz linear transducer
To measure the combined thickness of the uteroplacental junction just cranial to the cervical os to be measured
Abnormal thickening may be indicative of placentitis while increased echogenicity of the uterine fluid may follow haemorrhage, meconium release or inflammatory debris which

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11
Q

Transabdominal ultrasound

A

Enables assessment of maturity and viability of the pregnancy
Further placental assessment, foetal fluids, foetal movement and position, foetal heart rate, and foetal size and growth

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12
Q

Parameters measures in the blood

A
  • eCG: early gestation, confirms presence of placenta only
  • Oestrone sulphate: mid gestation, ocnfirms presence of live foetus (produced by foetal gonads)
  • Progesterone
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13
Q

Abortion/premature parturition

A

Mild/moderate colic
Restlessness, sweating, raised tailhead
Usually little or no mammary gland development
Dry vulva, but vagina is moist and pink
Cervical plug will have liquefied
Allantochorion membranes may be visible with or without a bloody or purulent discharge

No effective treatment - just monitor and help with dystocia if it occurs

Isolate, burn bedding and placental membranes, and submit foetus to a lab

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14
Q

Uterine torsion

A

Often in late gestation (7mo-term)
Older mares more susceptible

Early intervention important

Varied signs from low grade colic to severe colic unresponsive to analgesic

Diagnose via palpation of broad ligaments per rectum

Treat by rolling or laparotomy

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15
Q

Fetal hypermotility

A

Mild colic in late pregnancy

Violent and excessive fetal movement of unknown cause

Treat with smooth muscle spasmolytics or tocolytics but if it persists assess with transabdominal US

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16
Q

Uterine dorsoretroflexion

A

Seen in last third of pregnancy

Moderate to severe colic
Straining to pass faeces
Swelling may be visible around vulva and perineum due to fetal impaction in pelvic canal

Cause unknown

Diagnose with rectal palpation - live fetus palpable in birth canal enclosed in tight uterus

Treat with smooth muscle relaxant drugs, reduce food intake and encourage regular walking

17
Q

Hydrops of the placental membranes

A

Large physiological volumes of fluid (up to 100L) may accumulate before clinical signs become apparent, then up to 250L

Uncommon and cause unknown

Usually multiparous mares and hydroallantois is most likely

Signs are acute onset, rapid excessive abdominal distension in last third of pregnancy

Progressive condition, few reach term and produce a live foal, most abort spontaneously

Can be rebred successfully

18
Q

Uterine rupture

A

Usually post-foaling period but may occur secondary to uterine torsion, hydrops allantois and twins

Mild to moderate colic signs dependent on extent of rupture and peritoneal inflammation

Diagnosis on rectal palpation

Occasionally haemorrhage and exsanguination can be fatal

Foal may be free within the abdomen

19
Q

Prepubic tendon/abdominal muscle rupture

A

In late gestation
Tearing of the prepubic tendon where it inserts onto pelvis, or of the central abdominal musculature

Acute onset with a discrete bulge on ventral aspect, painful to palpate, oedema does not disappear with exercise

Treatment is variable and dependent on extent of rupture - premature parturition, belly band, etc.
Further breeding not advisable

20
Q

Placentitis

A

Cervix open and draining pus

Accelerates fetal maturation, so increased viability of the foal is possible

Treat with systemic antibiotics, normally only trimethoprim cross the placenta to fetal circulation

21
Q

Chronic placental separation

A

Insidious onset

May be the result of an underlying abnormality within the fetoplacental unit

Separation begins at the cervical star, cervix softens and opens

Treatment may include antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, clenbuterol, and progesterone

22
Q

Acute premature placental separation

A

‘Red bag’

During second stage labour

Treatment may include antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, clenbuterol, and progesterone

23
Q

Impending abortion

A

Usually no mammary gland development due to acute nature of the event

24
Q

‘Running milk’

A

Premature secretion of milk

Can occur up to several weeks before foaling

Leads to failure of passive transfer

25
Q

Vulval discharge

A

Not uncommon in late pregnancy

Purulent discharge: may be due to an ascending placentitis or vaginitis

Must differentiate from urine staining and rule out urinary tract disease or urine pooling in anterior vagina

Varicose veins are the usual cause of bloody discharge

26
Q

Ventral oedema/abdominal swelling

A

May result from:
- Hydrops
- Rupture of prepubic tendon or musculature
- Mammary gland oedema
Or just healthy mares in late gestation
Rarely infectious causes like EVA, EIA or right sided heart failure and neoplasia

27
Q

Hyperlipaemia

A

Abnormal mobilisation of serum triglycerides as a result of increased lipolysis following negative energy balance

Uncommon and restricted to pregnant pony mares and miniature ponies and donkeys

Clotted blood sample shows milky opaque serum

Reduce stress and provide nutritional support

28
Q

Oestrus behaviour during pregnancy

A

Does not need treatment

29
Q

When do the fetal adrenal glands start producing cortisol

A

Last 5-7 days of gestation

30
Q

What drug can be used to enhance fetal maturation in utero

A

ACTH - needs to be injected into fetus so is risky, only done when essential due to imminent demise of mare

31
Q

Induction of parturition

A

Even a few days too early can result in a premature/dysmature non-viable foal

Oxytocin: will stimulate parturition at any stage of gestation
Synthetic prostaglandin analogue: Fluprostenol IM causes birth within 2 hrs in full term mares