Placentitis is a medical term used to describe an infection of the foetal membranes. It is a very common cause of abortion at any stage of pregnancy in mares. The most common causes of Placentitis are caused by bacteria that has ascended from the mare’s vulva in tracks into the cervix. Susceptible mares should have a ‘caslick’ procedure after breeding. A ‘Caslick’ is a small surgical procedure to partially close the vulva at the top to hopefully prevent faecal contamination that could lead to Placentitis.
To prevent abortion, early detection of this condition is critical and waiting until symptoms of Placentitis develop may be too late.
Mares with Placentitis may develop:
- Premature udder development
- Vaginal discharge
When these signs occur treatment is difficult and often won’t have a successful outcome. For this reason, mares with a history of uterine infections or pregnancy loss should be checked early for Placentitis. It can be detected by an ultrasound exam of the placental wall by measuring the thickness. Abnormal thickness compared to average measurements has been shown to indicate Placentitis. Also occasionally separation of the placenta from the uterine wall can be seen or even infected material.
Studies have shown that treatment with certain antibiotics and a progesterone supplement have been effective in preventing abortions. It is recommended that mares are being checked at 8-9 months of gestation for signs of early Placentitis to early intervention for a live healthy foal.
To book your mare in for her next ultrasound or for any other information give our team a call on 07 4982 2552.