High risk pregnancy in the mare - Practical implications for the practitioner

Abstract

A variety of problems occur during late gestation that increases the risk of pregnancy loss or poor neonatal survival. Additionally, situations arise where the pregnancy must be terminated in order to save the mare's life. Reproductive conditions that produce a high risk to pregnancy include abnormalities of the umbilical cord, fetal malformations, hydrops allantois, hyrops amnii, placentitis, twin pregnancy, uterine torsion, and prolonged gestation. Non-reproductive conditions that place the pregnancy at risk include ventral ruptures and abdominal wall ruptures, reduced pelvic diameter, gastrointestinal disease, and respiratory disease. These causes can be pre-existing or arise during gestation. Transrectal and transabdominal ultrasonography and endocrine profiling are commonly used to monitor pregnancies determined to be at high risk for fetal loss. Although a specific therapeutic plan will depend on the cause of high risk status, progestins, cyclooxygenase inhibitors, broad spectrum antibiotics, and pentoxifylline are commonly used in many cases of high risk pregnancy. The outcome is highly variable, depending on the cause and how early in the course of disease that an abnormality is identified.