Equine reproduction Flashcards
(154 cards)
1
Q
How long is the mares normal oestrous cycle?
A
21 days
2
Q
How long is the mares normal oestrus?
A
2-7 days
3
Q
What are counted as high risk mares?
A
Previously positive mares
Travelling outside UK
4
Q
What do you swab horses for?
A
Contagious equine metritis - notifiable
Pseudomonas
Klebsiella
5
Q
What causes contagious equine metritis?
A
Taylorella equigenitalis
6
Q
What is a sign of active CEM infection?
A
Purulent discharge
7
Q
What are the two types of culture used for the swabs?
A
Aerobic and microaerophilic
8
Q
What are the two notifiable diseases that are detected by serology?
A
Equine viral arteritis
Equine infectious anaemia
9
Q
What does a seropositive infection mean for equine infectious anaemia?
A
Definite infection
Unlike equine viral arteritis which has a vaccination
10
Q
What is the ideal perineal conformation?
A
Vulva 0-10 degrees from vertical
3/4 of the vulva below the pelvic brim - top open
Mostly vertical
Have a vulval seal
11
Q
What are the steps of a breeding soundness exam?
A
Prebreeding swabs General clinical exam Repro clinical exam - Check perineal conformation Rectal ovarian palpation and US Check vestibule, vagina and cervix Endometrial swabs
12
Q
What are the different breeding methods in mares?
A
Natural covering
Fresh, chilled and frozen AI
Deep intrauterine insemination
13
Q
When is deep intrauterine insemination used?
A
When mares react badly to AI and get endometriosis
14
Q
How do you predict ovulation?
A
Follicle - 4-5cm
Oedema pattern on ultrasound
Flattening/softening of cervix
15
Q
How to bring forward the spring transition into oestrous?
A
Administer progestagens and then withdraw them - altrenogest
16
Q
How do you shorten the luteal cycle?
A
Use synthetic progesterone - estrumate
17
Q
What is required to be able to shorten the luteal phase of the oestrus cycle?
A
Need a mature CL
18
Q
How do you prevent oestrus?
A
Oral altrenogest
GnRH vaccine
19
Q
How do you treat endometritis?
A
Flush sterile saline and oxytocin/prostaglandins
20
Q
What causes infectious endometritis?
A
Commensals - common
Taylorella/klebsiella/pseudomonas
Yeast
Fungi
21
Q
What are the main causes of poor fertility in horses?
A
Erratic oestrus
Persistent CL
Anovulatory follicle
Granulosa cell tumour
22
Q
What electrolytes increase before foaling?
A
Calcium
Potassium
23
Q
What is the rule of 3 when foaling?
A
Stand by 1, suckle by 2, pass placenta by 3
24
Q
What events occur post partum?
A
Uterine involution
Foal heat - 5-9 days
25
How do you induce parturition?
Low dose oxytoxin
26
What is red bag delivery?
Allantochorion is passed before the foal is delivered - premature placental separation
27
When does it count as dystocia?
When the allantochorion ruptures but
No foal/amnion at vulva in 5 mins
No strong contractions at 10 mins
28
When should you stop vaginal assisted delivery?
When there has been no progress in 5 mins
29
What does clenbuterol do?
Stops uterine contractions
30
How do you treat retained foetal membranes?
Oxytocin
| Manual traction
31
What can retained foetal membranes cause?
Endometritis
Laminitis
Shock
Death
32
What is a first degree perineal laceration?
Just the vulval lips
33
What is a second degree perineal laceration?
Vulval lips and muscle layers
34
What is a third degree perineal laceration?
Common opening between vulva and anus
| Complete disruption of rectovestibular shelf
35
When should you inspect for cervical trauma?
Dioestrus
36
What can post partum colic mean?
Uterine haematoma
| Hypocalcaemia
37
What are the symptoms of hypocalcaemia?
Dry faeces
Spontaneous diaphragmatic flutter
Tetanic spasms
38
What is an issue with premature lactation?
Potential for failure of passive transfer to foal
collect colostrum
Check for placentitis
39
How can you diagnose pregnancy in a mare before 21 days?
Transrectal ultrasound - from d12
Elevated plasma progesterone
Failure to return to oestrus
40
When can you perform transrectal palpation to diagnose pregnancy?
From 21 days
41
What can you measure in a blood test to diagnose pregnancy in a mare from 60 days?
Plasma equine chorionic gonadotrophin
42
When does the foetus go out of reach?
85 days
43
What is the difference between a pregnancy and a cyst?
Pregnancy is spherical, specular reflections
| Cyst is irregular
44
How do you check for twins?
Check for 1 or 2 CL
| Can also US or manually palpate
45
How are twins managed in the mare?
Manual rupture - pinch
(Separate if not implanted to prevent killing both
Or abort both with PG
46
What are the risks with pregnancy diagnosis?
Rectal tears
Risk of killing both
Abortion
47
How can you tell if there is a rectal tear?
Blood on rectal glove
| Sudden loss of rectal tone
48
What are the risk factors for rectal tears?
Rectal examination
Dystocia
Age
Breed
49
How can you reduce the risk of rectal tears?
Sedation, relaxants - buscopan
50
What should you do if there is a rectal tear?
Admit to owner immediately
ABs, NSAIDs
Absorbent packing
Referral
51
What produces progesterone in horses?
Prim/secondary CLs initially
| Then supported by equine chorionic gonadotrophin from endometrial cups
52
Up until what point can you do intended abortion by vet?
<35 days - until endometrial cups form
53
How does oestrus next present after embryo loss at 5-15 days?
Early return to oestrus
54
How does oestrus next present after embryo loss at 16-36 days?
6 weeks after luteolysis of primary CL
55
How does oestrus next present after embryo loss at 36-140 days?
5 months after luteolysis of secondary CL
56
What are the 3 main infectious causes of abortion in mares?
Bacterial placentitis
Equine herpes virus
Equine viral arteritis
57
What are the clinical signs of bacterial placentitis?
Vulval discharge
Premature lactation
Abortion
58
HOw do you diagnose bacterial placentitis?
Measure thickness of uterus and placenta
| Swab cervix
59
What is the main pathogen causing bacterial placentitis?
Strep zooepidemicus
60
Which type of equine herpes virus is most likely to cause abortion?
EHV-1
61
What is important in the treatment of EHV-1?
Aborted foetus is highly contagious to other mares so dispose correctly
62
What are the clinical signs of Equine viral arteritis?
Abortion
Conjunctivitis
Scrotal swelling
63
What are some non infectious causes of pregnancy loss?
Twisted umbilical cord
Uterine torsion
Twins
Premature placental separation
64
How do you treat uterine dorsoretroflexion?
Clenbuterol and gentle exercise
65
What are the signs of a ruptured prepubic tendon?
Massive ventral swelling
| Pitting oedema
66
What fluid is involved in hydrops uteri?
Allantoic fluid
67
How do you treat hydrops uteri?
Abortion
| Treat for shock after fluid loss
68
How can you clear any post covering luminal fluid?
Oxytocin
| Prostaglandins
69
What method of breeding do all thoroughbreds use?
In hand breeding
70
What is the maximum no of covers?
3 a day
71
What are the 5 stages of a stallion breeding soundness exam?
```
General health - vaccination status
Gross examination
Bacteriological screening
Virology
Semen elavuation
```
72
What are the 3 main stallion vaccinations?
Influenza
Tetanus
EHV-1 and EHV-4
73
Where should you do the bacteriological swabs?
Urethral orifice
Urethral fossa
Prepuce
Pre-ejaculatory fluid
74
What/how many bacteriological swabs should a low risk stallion have?
2 negative sets of swabs >7 days apart
75
What pathogens are bacteriological swabs screening for?
CEMO
Klebsiella
Pseudomonas
76
How do you treat bacterial venereal pathogens?
Topical - clean penis
| Inoculate with health bacteria broth from normal stallion
77
How do you treat equine viral arteritis?
Symptomatic treatment - spontaneous recovery over 1 month
| 30% shed in semen for life - castrate these
78
What is required after semen collection?
Removal of the gel fraction
79
Why remove the gel fraction?
Reduces sperm motility
| Reduces longevity
80
How do you remove the gel fraction?
Filtration at entry to collection vessel
| Suction with pipette
81
What is the percentage of progressive motility of normal sperm?
60-80%
82
What is the percentage of morphologically live normal sperm?
60%
83
What is the normal volume of stallion ejaculate?
15-100ml
84
What stain do you use to evaluate semen morphology?
Nigrosin
| Eosin
85
What different semen extenders are there?
Milk or egg based
86
What ratio of semen extender do you use?
1:3 - semen:extender
87
How do you prepare frozen semen?
Centrifuge
Dilute into cryoprotective solution
Cool to 5 degrees
Freeze in liquid nitrogen
88
What is semen stored in?
0.5ml straws
89
What is the recommended minimum sperm per dose?
200 million progressively motile sperm per dose
90
What is the BEVA minimum standard for fresh semen?
Progressively motile with normal morphology >50%
91
What is the BEVA minimum standard for chilled semen?
>500x10^6 progressively motile sperm/dose at AI
92
What is the BEVA minimum standard for frozen semen?
>30% PM sperm
93
How do you unfreeze frozen semen?
Fast thaw for 30 secs at 37 degrees
94
What can temporarily reduce spermatogenesis for a few months?
A fever
95
How long does spermatogenesis take to occur?
57 days
96
What doe abnormal testes look like on ultrasound?
Generalised/focal change to testicular echotexture - cellular infiltration, cysts etc.
97
What can cause haemospermia?
Urethritis
Penile laceration
Accessory gland infection
98
What can cause urospermia?
Cystitis - bladder infection
| Cauda equine syndrome
99
What can cause pyospermia?
Seminal vesiculitis - bacteria
| Infection of accessory glands
100
When would you do a urethroscopy?
Visualise uroliths
| Identify source of blood/pus
101
What can cause ejaculatory dysfunction?
Neurological
Vascular
Pain - orthopaedic
102
What is the goal of a caslicks procedure?
Improve the vulval seal
| Reduce risk of endometritis/ascending placentitis
103
What is another word ofr a caslicks procedure?
Episioplasty
104
When are caslicks done?
When there is poor conformation
Previous foaling trauma
Pneumo/faeco/urovagina
105
When is an episiotomy/removing caslicks done?
2 weeks before foaling date
106
When does urovagina usually occur?
Thin multiparous mare
| Sloping vaginal floor
107
What is a uteropexy?
Elevate uterus by fixing uterine horns to dorsolateral abdominal walls
Fluid drains out
108
When is a caesarean performed?
Dystocia
Uterine tear
Uterine torsion
Elective
109
What are the complications of dystocia?
Repro tract trauma
Retained foetal membranes
Metritis
Bladder prolapse
110
What is a rectovaginal fistula?
Tear on inside but not all the way to the outside, between the anus and the vulva
Anal sphincter intact
111
How do you treat a 1st or 2nd degree perineal lacteration?
Repair when fresh like a caslicks
112
How do you treat a 3rd degree perineal laceration?
```
Leave time to granulate
Clean daily
Surgically close rectal mucosa
close vaginal mucosa
Close skin between anus and vulva
```
113
When should you examine the cervix for laceration?
In all dystocia cases at 3 weeks post partum
114
What should you do if there is a uterine laceration?
C section
| May repair laceration before delivering foal
115
When should you perform an ovariectomy?
Behaviour changes
| Large ovary
116
What is a common cause of large ovary or behaviour changes in a mare?
Granulosa cell tumour
117
What behaviour changes can be seen due to a granulosa (theca) cell tumour?
Persistent oestrus behaviour
Nymphomania
Aggressive - stallion tendencies
118
What is seen on serology that suggests a granulosa cell tumour?
Antimullarian hormone
119
Why are horses castrated?
Behaviour modification
Improve gene pool
Medical reasions
120
When does castration occur?
Between 6 and 24 months
| When both testicles are present
121
Why does castration occur at this age?
Allow handling training
Allow conformation of entire - muscles
After racing as colt
122
When should open castration not be performed?
In mature stallions
| Donkeys/mules
123
What is semi-closed castration?
Vaginal tunic incised, contents checked then closed
124
What type of castration must be done under general anaesthetic?
Semi-closed
| Closed
125
What is closed castration?
Testicle is removed in the vaginal tunic which is ligated and removed
126
What can be used in standing field castration?
Emasculators
127
How should emasculators be used?
Nut to nut
| Leave for 3-5 mins when on
128
What are some castration complications?
```
Intestinal herneation
Persistent arterial haemorrhage
Scrotal/preputial oedema
Infected tissue
Inflamed prepuce with discharge
```
129
What is the name fore a cryptorchid horse?
Rig
130
What are the different locations of a retained testicle?
Abdominal or inguinal
131
How is cryptorchidism diagnosed?
With a history
Palpation - sedate
Hormone assay
132
How can you palpate for a testicle in the internal inguinal ring?
Transrectally
133
What hormone is looked for on a hormone assay to identify cryptorchidism?
Anti-mullarian hormone
134
How can cryptorchid horses be treated
Laparoscopic surgery - standing sedation or GA
135
What are the two different methods of GA cryptorchid surgery?
Midline or inguinal approach
136
What is phimosis?
Inability to protrude penis from prepuce
137
What is paraphimosis?
Inability retract penis into prepuce
138
What is priapism?
Persistent erection in the absence of stimulation
139
What neoplasia of the penis may metastasise and where to?
Squamous cell carcinoma
| Melanoma
140
What neoplasia of the penis is a space occupying lesion that rarely metastasises?
Sarcoid
141
What are some complications of penile haematoma?
Urethral obstruction - catheterise
| Paraphimosis/phimosis
142
What can cause paraphimosis?
Oedema
Damage to innervation
ACP tranquilisers
143
What can prolonged paraphimosis cause?
Oedema and swelling
Stretched nerves
Stretched retractor penis muscle
144
How do you treat/manage paraphimosis?
Retain penis in sheath with purse string suture
| Support in sling
145
What is the most common cause of priapism?
ACP (phenothiazine)
146
How can you treat priapism?
Adrenaline into corpus cavernosum - contracts smooth muscle
147
What is segmental posthectomy (reefing)?
Take a circumferential cuff of the epithelium from the internal preputial lamina to help maintain the position of the penis in the prepuce
148
What is penile amputation called?
Phallectomy
149
What can phimosis cause?
Urine scalding within the sheath
150
When is phimosis normal?
In foals under 1 month
151
What are the two different types of strictures that can cause phimosis?
Constriction of the preputial orifice
| Constriction of the preputial ring
152
How is constriction of the preputial ring treated?
Reefing
153
What are uroliths made up of?
Calcium carbonate
154
How are uroliths treated?
Perineal urethrotomy - crush stone and flush
