Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Llama died from peritonitis after placenta entered abdomen
By Bedford, S J et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1996·School of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Peritonitis associated with passage of the placenta into the abdominal cavity in a llama.
Plain-English summary
A female llama developed severe abdominal inflammation (peritonitis) after giving birth, which was linked to a tear in her vagina that allowed the placenta to enter her abdominal cavity. Although she seemed fine for the first week, her health quickly declined, and she sadly passed away 11 days after being admitted to the hospital. An examination after her death revealed the intact placenta inside her abdomen. The findings suggest that securing the placenta outside the llama immediately after birth could help prevent this serious complication.
People also search for: llama peritonitis after birth · llama vaginal tear treatment · placenta retained in llama abdomen
Abstract
Following parturition, a female llama was admitted to our hospital with a tear in the dorsal area of the vagina and peritonitis. The llama was clinically normal for 7 days after which its condition started to deteriorate, and the llama died 11 days after admission. On necropsy examination, the intact placenta was found in the abdominal cavity. Therefore, we suggest that in llamas with vaginal tears after parturition, it may be useful to immediately secure the fetal membranes with umbilical tape to the outside of the llama to ensure that the placenta will pass through the vulva. Additionally, in llamas with uterine or vaginal tears in which a retained placenta is suspected but cannot be identified in the uterus, exploratory laparotomy should be performed immediately, even if the llama appears clinically normal.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8944808/