Equine reproductive ultrasonography
Date
1988-09
Authors
McKinnon, A. O., author
Squires, E. L., author
Pickett, B. W., author
Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Colorado State University, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Few people predicted the impact that ultrasonography has had on the equine breeding industry. The ability to examine a mare's reproductive tract noninvasively with ultrasonography provides the opportunity to diagnose pregnancy earlier than with rectal palpation, effectively manage twins and detect impending early embryonic death (EED). However, ultrasonography should not be limited to these areas. Ultrasonography can be used to diagnose uterine pathology, such as intrauterine fluid, air, debris and cysts. In addition, ultrasonographic examination of the ovaries may aid in determining stage of estrous cycle, status of preovulatory follicles, development and morphologic assessment of the corpus luteum (CL) and in interpreting ovarian irregularities, such as anovulatory, hemorrhagic follicles or periovarian cysts. The costs of equipment have resulted in a rather limited application of reproductive ultrasonography. Clients enthusiastically support use of ultrasonography to detect pregnancy. However, the same fee schedules for routine examination before and(or) after breeding are not currently accepted by the client. Perhaps another approach for practitioners involved with large numbers of broodmares would be a single fee per year per mare for use of equipment and a smaller fee per examination, whether the examination involved ultrasonography, palpation or both. If this philosophy was adopted, then a more logical approach to diagnosis and treatment of physiological and anatomical abnormalities of the mare's reproductive tract would be forthcoming. In addition, valuable information would be available from correlation of fertility data with normal and abnormal ultrasonographic observations.
Description
Includes bibliographical references.
September 1988.
September 1988.
Rights Access
Subject
Veterinary obstetrics
Horses -- Reproduction
Veterinary ultrasonography