Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Successful management of hydrallantois in a Standardbred mare at term resulting in the birth of a live foal.
- Journal:
- The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
- Year:
- 2019
- Authors:
- Mitchell, Anna R M et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences (Mitchell · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 6-year-old Standardbred mare was brought in for examination because her belly was unusually swollen and she had fluid buildup in her lower abdomen. Tests, including a physical exam and ultrasound, showed that she had a lot of extra fluid in her uterus, a condition known as hydrallantois (which means there was too much fluid around the fetus). The veterinarians carefully drained 55 liters of this fluid over about 45 minutes while giving her fluids through an IV, and then they helped her deliver a healthy foal. This case is notable because it’s the first time a mare with hydrallantois at this stage of pregnancy has successfully given birth to a live foal that survived long-term. Overall, the treatment worked well for both the mare and her foal.
Abstract
A 6-year-old Standardbred mare was presented at 339 days of gestation for investigation of abnormal abdominal distension and ventral edema. Transrectal palpation and ultrasound examination revealed the uterus to be enlarged with an excessive volume of fetal fluid, characteristic of hydrops. Gradual transcervical drainage of 55 L of allantoic fluid over 45 minutes, with concurrent intravenous fluid therapy followed by assisted vaginal delivery, resulted in the birth of a live foal with long-term survival. The birth and long-term survival of a foal from a mare with hydrallantois at term has not been previously reported in horses. However, this report demonstrates that successful outcome for both mare and foal may be achieved in a mare at term with hydrallantois.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31080262/