Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] pregnancy tests

> Ever experience how quickly a horse can die after the rectal walls are
> perforated?  I have - it took just 45 minutes when it happened to a mare
we
> had sold.  A very experienced and skilled vet, too.   Even though it's a
> common procedure that doesn't mean it's risk free - *every* palpation or
> ultrasound carries that very risk.  Always keep in mind that no matter
what
> the odds are, someone (or some critter), some time, somewhere has to be
the
> one who is that small percentage that makes the odds.  No way am I ever
> going to casually have a mare palpated again.  If I absolutely had to
know,
> I'd pay the bucks for the blood test.

On the other hand, I just had a friend e-mail me this morning about the
death of a mare that had an unusually short vagina, and had the stallion's
penis actually rupture the anterior vagina upon breeding.  This death would
have been prevented had a rectal exam been done.  I've also followed many
mares through resolving hematomas of the uterine artery that could prove
fatal if the mare were naturally covered--or in some cases, they are
sufficiently severe that even after they are fibrosed, they could prove
fatal if the mare were ever bred again.  I personally only know of two mares
who have died of rectal tears resulting from palpation.  I know of at least
three deaths that could have been prevented had palpations been done, and
probably 10 times that many whose lives have possibly been spared because
routine palpations picked up hematoma.  I'll go with the odds and palpate
routinely.

Heidi


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=