Therio Exam 1: Postpartum Mare & Foal Care, Stallion Conditions, Camelid Repro

Foal standing within 1 hr, nursing within 2 hrs, placenta passed within 3 hrs

What is the 1-2-3 rule of foaling?

Represents the prepartum environment (abnormal placenta can suggest high risk foals)

The placenta is examined for thickening, purulent material, meconium staining, etc. How is the placenta related to a foal's health?

11%

As part of the postpartum exam, the placenta is weighed. It should be less than or equal to ____% of the foal's body weight.

18-36 hrs

How many hours post-parturition should a foal be examined?

Premature

A foal was born on day 314 of gestation. It is small with a silky coat, domed forehead, Curled back/soft ears, & has limb deformities. Is this a premature or dysmature foal?

Dysmature

Describes a foal that was born > 320 days into gestation but displays signs of immaturity

Postmature

Describes a foal that remained in utero too long

*Often larger sized but thin, which can lead to dystocias

Hypothermia (99-101.5°F is WNL in foals)

Are Preemies/compromised neonates more susceptible to hyperthermia or hypothermia?

Postmature

A foal was born on day 375 of gestation. It was thin with muscle wasting but large framed with fully erupted incisors. Was this a dysmature or postmature foal?

Postmature

Can fescue toxicosis cause premature, dysmature, or postmature foaling?

Fescue toxicosis

Sickness caused by Neotyphodium coenophialum (endophyte fungus) that contains ergovaline (major toxic alkaloid)

Ergovaline

What component of fescue toxicosis is responsible for:

1)Interfering with prolactin secretion, body temp. regulation, & feed intake

2) Constricting blood vessels & reducing blood flow to extremities

Agalactia (lack of milk production)

What is the hallmark sign of fescue toxicosis in mares?

*Followed by prolonged gestation

Red bag delivery

Fescue toxicosis can cause premature separation of the chorioallantois. What is this condition called?

Prevention (Remove mares from infected pastures 90 days prior to expected due date)

What is the best treatment for mares in terms of Fescue Toxicosis?

Doperidone

What is the most common dopamine receptor antagonist given to treat Fescue Toxicosis in mares?

*Enhances prolactin production for milk let down

< 400 (mg/dl)

What is the IgG level in a foal with complete failure of passive transfer?

400-800 (mg/dl)

What is the IgG level in a foal with partial failure of passive transfer?

Failure of passive transfer (FPT)

Condition in which foals don't receive enough IgG from colostrum

*Results in a weak, unprotected immune system

Weakness, lethargy

What are the 1st signs of FPT in foals?

*Evaluate the mare's udder too to look for nursing patterns

Colostrum (sooner the better), plasma (esp if gut absorption is questionable0

What are 2 treatments that can help with FPT?

Meconium impaction

Most common cause of neonatal colic

-Typically occurs at

Straining, flagging tail

What are 2 common signs of meconium impaction?

Enemas (Prophylactic enemas with Lube/soap/water mix, & acetylcysteine retention enemas in severe cases)

What is the treatment for meconium impactions?

False (risk rupturing the bladder, hold 1 arm under neck to base of ear & the other arm at base of tail)

True or False: When handling a foal, you place 1 arm under the neck and another arm around the abdomen.

True

True or False: Murmurs are common in foals that are only a few hours old.

True

True or False: Any heart murmurs heard after day 7 in foals is a concern.

Ventricular septal defect

Most common congenital heart defect in foals

-Hole in the septum separating the 2 ventricles

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

Congenital heart defect where a temporary fetal blood vessel connecting the aorta to the pulmonary artery fails to close

-Physiologic closure by 24 hours post-parturition

-Can be normal up to 7 days

Cleft palate, bite defects

What 2 conditions should be ruled out during an oral exam on a foal?

2-12 hours, 8 hours

How many hours after birth should the meconium be passed? Urination?

Ruptured bladder

If a foal is straining to urinate within the first 24 hours of birth, what injury are you concerned about?

*Can be diagnosed on US

Patent urachus

Congenital condition when the fetal channel between bladder & umbilicus didn't close correctly

-Causing urine to leak from the navel; will see 2 streams of urine

1:2 dilution of chlorhexidine & water

The umbilicus is cleaned 4-6 times in the first 24 hrs of life. Then 2-3x daily for 2-3 days. What solution is used to clean the umbilicus?

False (tincture of iodine is too caustic/destructive)

True or False: The umbilicus is cleaned post-partum with a dilution of water and iodine.

Learned behavior

The menace response in foals can be absent for up to 2 weeks post-parturition. Why is this normal?

Injected sclera

Prominent blood vessels on sclera

-Can be a congenital condition in foals

Costochondral junction

Most common fracture site in foals

Thoroughbreds, drafts

What horse breeds are more likely to have rib fractured foals due to dystocias?

Contracture, laxity

A foal with a ______ deformity has an abnormally bent leg, while a _____ deformity means that the foal lays abnormally back on its heels.

Outward, inward

A valgus leg deformity causes the distal portion of the leg to bend ____, while a varus deformity bends _____.

Hypermetric, wide stance

Describe the normal posture & gait of a newborn foal

Prophylactic Antibiotics

Controversial treatment Indicated for partial Failure of passive transfer (FPT)

N:L ratio

What component of a CBC is assessed to determine if a foal is high risk?

-< 1:1 ratio = poor prognosis

6-8 hours

How many hours post-parturition is the best time for a foal to receive colostrum?

*Test IgG at 24 hrs

Dystocia, Placentitis

What 2 conditions increase a mare's risk of a retained placenta?

*Sequelae of RP: Metritis, Septicemia, Laminitis, Death

Placental tag

What part of the placenta can be retained to cause an invagination of the uterine horn post-partum?

*Treatment: removal of retained portion of placenta, replace uterine invagination, warm water infusion

Stage 2

In what stage of parturition are uterine ruptures most likely to occur?

-Usually at tip of previously gravid horn due to the foal straightening its hindlimbs

Internal hemorrhage

Condition in pregnant mares caused by a rupture of the utero-ovarian or uterine artery (in broad ligament)

-At parturition or shortly postpartum in mares usually >10 years old

Caslick's, Perineoplasty

Treatment for Perineal Lacerations Post-Partum:

-1st degree = ______

-2nd degree = ______

-3rd degree = wait 3-4 weeks to repair

Perineal laceration, rectovaginal fistulas

What are 2 conditions that can result from perineal trauma during parturition?

production, delivery

Stallion infertility can be due to:

1) Sperm ____ issue (#, motility, morphology)

2)Sperm ____ issue (ejaculation dysfunction)

Hemospermia

Presence of blood in the ejaculate

*Often due to Tears exposing the corpus spongiosum & blood enters urethra

No

Does hemospermia interfere with fertility in stallions?

*BIG affect on fertility if freezing semen

Urethral rent (tear in dorsal aspect of urethra at the ischium)

What is the most common cause of hemospermia?

Seminal vesicles

Inflammatory conditions of the accessory sex glands can cause hemospermia. Which gland is most commonly affected?

Endoscopy

What diagnostic test can be utilized for determining the source/cause of hemospermia?

*Will typically see obvious bleeding after collection/breeding

True

True or False: Treating hemospermia with sexual rest, surgery, and antibiotics has a fair prognosis of normal ejaculate returning.

Cryptorchidism

Failure of 1 or both testicles to descend into the scrotum

*Can be inguinal or abdominal retention

-Seen in 5% of horses

Unilateral (85%, bilateral 15%)

Are unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism more common?

*R vs L occurrence about equal

Spermatogenesis

Does a retained (cryptorchid) testicle disrupt spermatogenesis or hormone secretion?

*Retained testicle will be smaller in size than a descended testicle

Cox test

Challenge test used to determine the presence of testicular tissue

-Check baseline testosterone & then inject GnRH → if there's testicular tissue, LH will be released & testosterone will be evaluated

Older

Are estrogen levels higher in younger or older stallions?

*Used to determine if testicular tissue is present in stallions

Anti-muellerian hormone

Besides testosterone, what hormone produced by the testicles is used to determine the presence of testicular tissue?

*An elevation of this hormone = testicular tissue present

Cryptorchidism

What condition do these diagnostic tests identify in stallions:

-Cox test

-Estrogen levels

-Anti-Mullerian levels

-Ultrasound

Castration (remove retained testicle 1st)

What is the treatment for Cryptorchidism?

Inguinal hernia

Congenital, hereditary condition in foals in which the Intestines enter the vaginal cavity (space bt parietal tunic & surface of testicles)

Standardbreds

What horse breed is overrepresented for inguinal hernias?

No for foals, yes for stallions (foals =medical management/slings to apply pressure)

For inguinal hernias, is surgery required in foals? In mature stallions?

Palpation, US (see GI contents in scrotum)

2 diagnostic tests for inguinal hernias in stallions

Inguinal hernia

A mature stallion presented with tachycardia, fast breathing, painful,& scrotal enlargement. An US shows GI contents in the scrotum. What condition is causing all of this?

Penile Trauma

Excessive swelling & bruising of the penis that usually occurs during mating

-Often leads to an edematous penis +/- paraphimosis

Paraphimosis

An outcome of penile trauma in which the stallion can't retract the penis due to edema/injury

*Causes more edema/damage

*Penile Paralysis can occur if chronic

True

True or False: Penile trauma in stallions can be treated via massage, NSAIDS, antibiotics, hydrotherapy, and/or slings.

Penile Paralysis

An inability to retract penis due to paraphimosis or priapism

*Can be secondary to trauma, tumor or acepromazine administration

Paraphimosis

Is penile paralysis more commonly caused by paraphimosis or priapism?

Acepromazine

What medication can cause priapism & subsequent penile paralysis?

Benstropine mestylate

Antidote for priapism due to acepromazine if given very early following diagnosis

Penile Paralysis

What are these treatments for:

-Benstropine mestylate

-Phenylephrine in CCP (corpus cavernosum penis)

-Heparin lavage of CCP (chronic case)

-Slings, massage, NSAIDS, antibiotics, topicals

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Most common Penile tumor

-Often seen in unpigmented skin in aged horses

*Smegma thought to be carcinogenic = smegma accumulation thought to cause this tumor

Geldings (rarely erect compared to stallions = more smegma accumulation)

Do geldings or stallions have a higher incidence of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the penis?

Biopsy

Main diagnostic for penile tumors

*Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Melanomas (nodular), sarcoids, lymphoma

False (Surgery, cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen), topical or local therapy are all options depending on the size/location/type)

True or False: Surgery is the only treatment available for penile tumors.

Urospermia

Condition in which urine contaminates semen during ejaculation due to an incompetent urethral sphincter

Fails to close (partial or complete)

What does the urethral sphincter do during ejaculation to cause urospermia?

Yes (significantly)

Does urospermia reduce fertility in stallions?

Urospermia

What penile condition is diagnosed via:

-Odor of urine in semen

-Positive reaction with BUN test strips (more commonly used)

No effective cure

What is the treatment for urospermia?

*For breeding, use an open ended AV to collect sperm rich jets allowing for separation bt semen & urine

-Collection into extender to dilute toxic elements

Hydrocoele (Hematocoele)

Accumulation of fluid within vaginal cavity in stallions

- Fluid acts to insulate the testicle

-Painless fluid filled scrotal enlargement

Yes

Does a Hydrocoele that's NOT corrected reduce fertility in stallions?

Hemicastration

What surgery can be done to fix Hydrocoele in stallions?

*some resolve without needing surgery

*Adjacent testicle can hypertrophy

Coital exanthema

Disease caused by EHV3 that results in Pox like lesions on penis

-Transient condition which can recur

No

Does a Hydrocoele reduce fertility in stallions?

Habronemiasis

Parasitic infection that causes "summer sores" (deep granulation tissue that bleeds) on the penis/prepuce

-Larva of equine stomach worm Habronema incites intense tissue reaction

Ivermectin

What is given to treat habronemiasis?

Urethral process

Where are Habronemiasis lesions typically found?

Seminoma

Most common testicular neoplasia

-Includes Germinal testicular tumor & Teratomas

*Usually large but don't metastize

False

True or False: Seminomas are associated with cryptorchidism in stallions.

Left

Camelids have a bicornuate uterus. Which horn is larger & the site of 98% of pregnancies?

Cows

Camelids have these repro characteristics that are similar to what animal:

-Cervix with 2-4 annular rings

-Tone in estrus

-Udder with 4 teats

-Ovary architecture