Texas Equine Veterinary Association

• 16 • Type II involves the prolapse of all three layers of the rectum. Type III is the prolapse of the rectum with evagination of the descending colon. Finally, type IV is tearing of the mesocolon and disruption of the blood supply (Rick, 1989). Ragle et al. documented two cases of ischemic necrosis of the descending colon aer rectal prolapse and then rupture of the mesocolon in postpartum mares (Ragle et al., 1997). is paper was evolutionary with the use of laparoscopy to diagnostic the cause of the colic. Laparoscopy was used to identify both the descending colon lesion from the rectal prolapse and the rupture of the mesocolon. One of the mares within this study arrived to the clinic 5 days aer twin dystocia. e rectal prolapse was approximately 20–30cm long. e first foal was alive and the second was dead upon delivery. Initially the mare was treated with penicillin G, ceiofur, flunixin meglumine. e first placenta passed without incident. e second placenta had significant hemorrhage. e mare was extremely depressed aer treatment, so further diagnostics were performed. e diagnostic laparoscopy was performed and revealed a 30cm tear in the mesocolon, and approximately 50cm of distal portion of the descending colon was necrotic. Because of the extreme caudal location of the necrotic lesion euthanasia was elected. e second mare presented for a type IV rectal prolapse. e laparoscopy was again used to find a large tear in the mesocolon that extended caudally to the mesorectum. e accuracy was confirmed by necropsy on both cases (Ragle et al., 1997). Gastric and Small intestinal Ileus: A retrospective study was performed observing the incidents of gastric and small intestinal ileus in Newmarket, UK by Hillyer et al. Over a 6-year period, 17 episodes were noted. Fieen received medical management, 9 received additional surgical decompression, and two were euthanized before treatment due to gastric rupture (Hillyer et al., 2008). Ileus is an uncommon cause of gastrointestinal dysfunction and colic in the mare. It occurs because of a disruption of the aboral transit of the gastrointestinal contents (Rakestraw, 2002). Typical causes include post-operative complication following abdominal surgery, anterior enteritis, peritonitis, electrolytes imbalances, endotoxemia, bowel ischemia, and intestinal distention (Blikslager et al., 2017; Koenig & Cote, 2006; Rakestraw, 2002). Clinical signs are noted abdominal distention, specifically of the stomach and small intestines. Excessive nasogastric reflux has also been noted. All mares in this study were thoroughbred broodmare with an average age 9 years old. On average, the mares were 11 days from parturition. All foals were born alive and had an uneventful delivery (Hillyer et al., 2008). Medical manage of these mares included frequent nasogastric reflux, IV fluids with calcium and potassium supplementation, pain management, and gastrointestinal prokinetics. e surgical decompression was performed by ventral midline laparotomy. A stomach tube was used for gastric decompression while the small intestine was decompression manually. e cecum was also decompressed manually by a needle. e following reproductive success was unaffected by this condition (Hillyer et al., 2008). Pneumovagina/uterus: Pneumovagina and uterus has been found to predispose a mare to endometritis and subfertility (PINTO & Paccamonti, 2004). With a positive windsucking test, the vestibulovaginal fold is incompetent and the reproductive tract barriers are disrupted (Asbury, 1993). A diagnostic method for pneumouterus is ultrasound, hyperechoic particles would be seen within the endometrial folds (Asbury, 1993). Another common diagnostic is the finding of eosinophils on endometrial cytology (Slusher et al., 1984). A mare and foal presented 6 hours aer parturition for failure to nurse and signs of abdominal pain. It was reported to have an uneventful delivery and passed the placenta within 2 hours. e mare had a slightly increase heart rate, sweating, and normal borborygmi. Upon rectal palpation, the uterus appeared to be distended and gas filled with a positive windsucking test. Treatment included pumping air from the uterus, and towel clamps were used to keep the uterus open for several hours following. e cause of the pneumouterus was determined to be from the trauma of parturition .. Diaphragmatic hernia: Diaphragmatic hernias have been identified in the periparturient and postpartum period because of the large uterus size and decreased tolerance of the diaphragm to sudden changes in intra-abdominal pressure (Clarke et al., 1987; Firth, 1976; Scott & Fishback, 1976). Conclusions: Over 160 mares admitted for postpartum emergencies over a ten-year period were examined. e top two causes were urogenital hemorrhage and large colon volvulus, comprising over 30% of the cases (Dolente et al., 2005). is furthers the point that postpartum colic is a significant pathology. As previously mentioned, the two main causes of postpartum colic are related to large colon volvulus and urogenital tract hemorrhage. ese two diseases present as colic but are diagnostically very different and have a different treatment plan and prognosis. Dystocia has been associated with urogenital hemorrhage not large colon volvulus (Dolente et al., 2005). Mares present to the clinic within 24 hours of delivery when urogenital hemorrhage occurs. Another differentiating factor is age, older multiparous mare more commonly have urogenital hemorrhage. Anemia, hypoproteinemia, and hypofibrinogenemia are associated with urogenital hemorrhage not large colon volvulus. Within the review, majority of the cases are associated with large animal hospitals or universities and does not represent the true prevalence of the diseases. Not all mares are referred to such hospitals. Conditions such as external trauma, primary uterine infections, and failure to lactate are commonly treated on farms.

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