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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Colic-like discomfort associated with ovulation in two mares.

Journal:
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Year:
1987
Authors:
Cox, J H & DeBowes, R M
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery and Medicine
Species:
horse

Plain-English summary

Two young female horses experienced discomfort that looked like colic, which is a type of abdominal pain. This discomfort was thought to be caused by pain from their ovaries as they were going through their reproductive cycle, specifically due to the growth of ovarian follicles and ovulation (the release of an egg). The veterinarians figured this out by ruling out any stomach issues, noticing the large ovarian follicles, and seeing that the symptoms came back during their heat cycles. They also found that treating the mares with medication to suppress their heat and ovulation helped relieve the pain. Overall, the treatment worked well for both mares.

Abstract

Discomfort manifested by colic-like clinical signs in 2 young mares was presumed to be attributable to ovarian pain associated with follicular enlargement and ovulation. Diagnosis was based on the lack of detectable evidence of gastrointestinal disease, the finding of a large ovarian follicle or recent ovulation, the repetition of signs during several subsequent estrual periods, and the clinical response to pharmacologic suppression of estrus and ovulation. The similarity of the clinical signs in these 2 mares to cyclic intermenstrual pain in women was considered.

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Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3692993/