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Pyometra has been recognised in a number of The Donkey Sanctuary's donkeys. Most donkey pregnancies are unplanned and unmonitored, which may lead to a higher incidence of endometritis. This, combined with cervical lacerations, can cause accumulation of pus in the uterus. In some cases the only presenting sign is low grade pain, manifesting as dullness. On rectal examination, a distended uterus can be felt.
Medical attempts to resolve the pyometra should be made using uterine drainage and prostaglandin mediated cervical relaxation. If this fails, surgical removal of the uterus may be attempted (Thiemann and Makhambeni, 2006). The donkey cervix may be predisposed to the development of pyometra, as it is longer than the cervix in the horse mare and protrudes into the vagina (Vendrammi et al 1998; Pugh, 2002). This makes drainage of the uterus difficult. There is also a reference in the literature to removal of a uterine tumour in a donkey mare (Bonfig and Ingenhorst, 1992).
References
- Thiemann, A. (2008) Surgery In Svendsen, E.D., Duncan, J. and Hadrill, D. (2008) The Professional Handbook of the Donkey, 4th edition, Whittet Books, Chapter 16
- Bonfig, H., Ingenhorst, I. (1992). ‘Surgical removal of a pedunculated uterine tumour in a donkey mare’. Tierarztl Prax 20(1). pp 65-68.
- Pugh, D.G. (2002). ‘Donkey reproduction’. AAEP proceedings 48. pp 113-114
- Thiemann, A.K., Makhambeni, M.M.S. (2006). ‘Five cases of ovariohysterectomy in the donkey’. 'Proceedings of the 9th congress of the W.E.V.A. pp 487-489.
- Vendrammi, O.M., Guintard, C. , Moreau, J., and Taintuner, D. (1998). ‘Cervix conformation: a first anatomical approach in Baudet de Poitou jenny asses’. Animal Science 66. pp 741-744.#
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