Occurrence
•
Breeding
o
Rectal tears
•
Palpation
•
Penetration by stallion
o
Vaginal tears
•
Penetration by stallion
•
Peri-parturient
o
Dystocia
o
Hemorrhage
o
Uterine
•
Torsion
•
Prolapse
•
Rupture / tear
•
Retained fetal membranes
•
Metritis
o
Vagina
•
Rectovaginal tears
o
Gastro-intestinal
•
Damage to viscera
•
Rectal prolapse
Breeding associated emergencies
•
Rectal tears
o Associated with:
•
Palpation
•
Penile penetration of rectum by stallion
o
Signs
•
"Feeling" of release of rectal tissue around arm
•
Blood on sleeve or penis
•
Onset of shock
•
Signs of peritonitis
•
Usually colic
•
Straining to defecate
o
Types
•
Grade 1
•
Involves only rectal mucosa and submucosa
•
Grade 2
•
Through muscular layer
•
Mucosa and submucosa intact
•
No bleeding
•
Forms diverticulum
•
Grade 3a
•
Only serosal layer is intact
•
Grade 3b
•
Occurs dorsally
•
Mesorectum and retroperitoneal tissues are intact
•
Grade 4
•
All layers disrupted
•
Fecal contamination of peritoneum
o
Incidence
•
Most occur dorsally
•
15 – 55 cm from the anus
•
In one retrospective study of 85 horses with rectal tears (Eastman TG et al Equine Vet Edu 2000 12(5):263-266.)
•
4⅞ 5 associated with routine pregnancy exams
•
Grade 1 - 93% survived to discharge
•
Grade 2 – 66% (2/3) survived to discharge
•
Grade 3a – 70%
•
Grade 3b – 69%
•
Grade 4 – 6%
•
Few cases of penile penetration in literature
•
2 at MDS-EMC in last 5 years
•
Both lateral wall
•
Grade 3b
