Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Postpartum Polyneuropathy in a Mare: A Case Report.
- Journal:
- Journal of equine veterinary science
- Year:
- 2021
- Authors:
- de Medeiros Assis, Daniel et al.
- Affiliation:
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science and Health (PPGCSA) · Brazil
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This case involved a 3-year-old Mangalarga Marchador mare who experienced severe nerve damage after a difficult birth that lasted about 12 hours. During delivery, the foal's head was stuck, which caused the mare to have trouble moving her back legs and left her in a frog-like position on the ground. Despite three days of treatment, she did not get better and was ultimately euthanized. A postmortem exam revealed bleeding around the nerves that control movement, confirming she had obstetric paralysis (nerve damage from complications during birth). The authors noted that earlier intervention might have led to a better outcome, but this depends on various factors like available resources and the owner's decisions.
Abstract
Obstetric paralysis is a generic term used to describe postpartum locomotor alterations resulting from nerve damage, widely reported in cattle, but rare in equines. The aim of this study is to report a case of a peripheral polyneuropathy in a primiparous mare, 3 years old, of Mangalarga Marchador breed, after a dystocia lasting approximately 12 hours. At the time of delivery, the head of the fetus was exposed in the vulva and there was flexion of the thoracic limbs. These events culminated in a framework of extreme abduction of the pelvic limbs, thus generating functional impotence and leading the animal to adopt a frog anddecubitus position. After three days of treatment with no improvement in the clinical framework, the animal was euthanized. In the postmortem examination, perineural hemorrhagic lesions were observed in the obturator and sciatic nerves, characterizing the diagnosis of obstetric paralysis. It is possible the outcome of the case would have been satisfactory if there had been an early fetotomy or postpartum treatment had been more prolonged; however, these measures depend on the availability of equipment, conditions of care, and consideration of the owner.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33349410/