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The 19-year-old multiparous pregnant Percheron mare illustrated seen at left is presented to you with a rapidly enlarging abdomen. The owner is concerned about the abrupt development of an
extensive area of painful oedema on the ventral abdominal wall. She is 325 days from the last covering date and has exhibited increasing depression and discomfort during the previous 24
hours. Rectal examination found a presenting foal with head and legs inside the pelvis, the foal moved vigorously when touched, the cervix was slightly dilated. Ultrasound examination of
the enlarging abdomen showed the possibility of fluid, most likely blood, extravasated into the abdominal tissues. Over the next half hour, the mare's heart rate increased to 70/minute and
respiratory efforts became more laboured with further signs of developing depression. |
  
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2. This is a difficult diagnostic dilemma and rectal palpation is usually unrewarding due to the advanced state of the pregnancy although the fetus can usually be palpated. Mares with ventral ruptures have ventral oedema from the udder to the xiphoid cartilage of the sternum. The typical presenting sign noticed by the owner is a sudden alteration in the contour of the ventral abdomen. There will be signs of distress and intermittent colic. If the pain is severe, there will be an increase in heart rate and respiratory rate. These mares are generally reluctant to move, walking slowly and lying down for long periods of time. Body temperature is usually normal. The presence of a severe plaque of ventral oedema (see illustration) and progressive distortion of the mare's abdominal shape often makes manual palpation of the area unrewarding. Deep palpation may be resisted as it is painful. Ultrasonographic examination of the posterior aspect of the ventral abdomen may be useful to detect the presence of a hernia. Ultrasonography may also reveal the size of the defect and the structures involved. Any defect in the abdominal musculature may be complicated by bowel incarceration. All examinations are less than satisfactory due to the foal's presence and oedema of the body wall. Rupture of the prepubic tendon causes development of signs similar to those associated with ventral hernias. Some differences may be present, but these may not be readily noticeable. Due to loss of tension from the cranial aspect of the pelvis, the pelvis will appear tilted in cases of prepubic tendon rupture. The tail head and ischial tuberosities may be elevated. Some mares develop very obvious lordosis and adopt a "rocking horse" position (see illustration) because the pelvis and vertebral column cannot maintain normal alignment. The udder may be displaced cranially and ventrally because of loss of its caudal attachment to the pelvis. The plaque of oedema can almost obliterate the outline of the mammary gland (see illustration). Rupture of the prepubic tendon may easily lead to rupture of the blood supply to the mammary gland and haemorrhage of the adjacent musculature. Blood may be detectable in the milk. Together with the reluctance to walk and lie down, these signs are strongly indicative for rupture of the prepubic tendon. |
Use of a strong bandage around the abdominal wall acting as an abdominal sling may provide
support for the ventral abdominal wall. However, such bandages are rarely successful except in mild cases where the mare is in good health and in many cases these mares usually manage without
support. Any abdominal bandage must be well padded to avoid pressure necrosis along the backline. A laxative, high concentrate diet may assist in decreasing the bowel contents and reducing the
degree of abdominal exertion associated with defecation. The possibility of bowel entrapment and strangulation should be investigated and surgical correction performed where appropriate. In many
cases, due to rapidly changing clinical parameters, the mare gains little from supportive treatment and induction of parturition (or termination of the pregnancy in mares earlier in gestation)
must be performed. Assistance with parturition is always necessary as the mare is likely to experience difficulty in inducing sufficient abdominal pressure to deliver the fetus. If the fetus is
sufficiently mature, the foal will generally progress well after induction of parturition. The oedema usually resolves quickly after foaling and the mare can suckle the foal normally. It is
advisable to check the foal's antibody levels at 36 hours of age because the oedema present immediately after parturition may interfere with colostrum intake. Supplementation with colostrum or
plasma may be indicated. In situations where the mare and foal progress well, the owner may be tempted to re-breed the mare. This must be strongly discouraged due to the likely re-occurrence of
the condition. If breed society regulations permit it, embryo transfer offers a very useful option in these mares. Surgical repair of small ventral hernias may be possible using primary closure
or mesh herniorraphy has been reported. Except where the defect is particularly small, rebreeding the mare is not to be recommended due to the possible exacerbation of the condition by further
pregnancies. In any case, the pregnancy would need constant monitoring. Surgical repair of small defects should not be attempted until several weeks after parturition to allow oedema to subside
and fibrosis of the hernial ring to occur. Spontaneous healing of partial ventral hernias can occur. In almost all cases surgical repair of prepubic tendon rupture is not possible and euthanasia
may be necessary.
© 2003 Dr. Jonathan F Pycock, B.Vet.Med., Ph.D., D.E.S.M., M.R.C.V.S.
Presented here with the authors' permission.