Diagnosis and treatment of uterine tears

Uterine tear should be considered in the post-partum mare with fever, mild colic, inappetance or signs consistent with endotoxaemia. In addition to a uterine tear, the list of differential diagnoses includes a vaginal tear entering the peritoneal cavity, trauma to the small colon mesentery, unobserved (and corrected) rectal prolapse with subsequent vascular compromise to the terminal small colon or rectum, trauma resulting in compromise to other intestinal organs or retained fetal membranes. Depending on the severity, clinical signs might appear within a few hours of foaling, or can manifest 24–48 h post partum. A comprehensive approach to diagnosis includes thorough evaluation of the reproductive and the gastrointestinal tracts, including sonographic examination and abdominocentesis ...