Puerperium - Mare

From WikiVet English
Revision as of 17:05, 8 December 2010 by Bara (talk | contribs) (Created page with "Also see General Puerperium The puerperium is shorter than in the cow, with rapid involution and good conception rates at the first postpar...")

(diff) ← Older revision | Approved revision (diff) | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Also see General Puerperium

The puerperium is shorter than in the cow, with rapid involution and good conception rates at the first postpartum oestrus.

Involution

  • Lochial discharge is slight in most mares and usually ceases 24-48 hours after foaling.
  • Uterine horns shrink rapidly, reaching pre-gravid size by day 32 postpartum.
  • Cervix remains slightly dilated until after the first oestrus.
  • Involution delayed by retained foetal membranes.

Restoration of the Endometrium

  • Endometrium capable of sustaining a pregnancy (fully restored) by 13-25 days postpartum.
  • Small amounts of villous debris attached to maternal crypts are removed by autolysis.
  • Maternal cryps disappear due to:
    • Lysis
    • Shrinkage of endometrial epithelial cells
    • Condensation of contents of epithelial cells
    • Collapse of the crypt lumen

Return to Ovarian Cyclicity

  • Rapid
  • Foal heat occurs 5-12 days postpartum.
  • Follicular activity after day 2 postpartum.

Bacterial Elimination

  • Bacterial contamination of the uterus from the environment is frequent, occuring by the same method as in the cow.
  • Organisms usually eliminated during foal heat or disappear at second postpartum oestrus.