Page 222 - Manual of Equine Field Surgery

218 FEMALE UROGENITAL SURGERIES

normal conformation. Improving the physical

COMMENTS condition of these mares results in improved per-

ineal conformation. With age and repeated foal-

For maximum reproductive function, the dorsal ings, the vulva lengthens and vulva conformation

commissure of the vulva should extend no more becomes more horizontal relative to the pelvic

than 4 to 5 cm dorsal to the ischiatic tuber, brim because of general organ and muscle relax-

meaning that approximately two thirds of the I

ation in the pelvic region.4
vulvar cleft is below the ischiatic tuber.4 The

vulvar labiae should be oriented vertically with a

cranial-to-caudal slope of no more than 10 de-

5
grees from vertical. A distance of more than 4 cm REFERENCES

between the dorsal commissure of the vulva

and the ischiatic tuber and/or an angle of more 1. Anasari MM: The Caslick's operation in mares,

than 10 degrees in the declination of the vulvar Comp Cont Educ Vet 5:s107, 1983.

labiae is associated with poor perineal conforma- 2. Beard W: Standing urogenital surgery, Vet Clin N Am I
Equine Pract 7:669, 1991.
tion and increases the likelihood of pneu- 3. Turner AS, Mcllwrath CW: Techniques in large

rnovagina." Variations in perineal conformation animal surgery, ed 2, Philadelphia, 1989, Lea &

have many causes, including inherent conforma- Febiger.

tion, poor physical condition, and age. A flat 4. Trotter GW, McKinnon AO: Surgery for abnormal

croup, elevated tail set, under-developed vulvar vulvar and perinea! conformation in the mare, Vet

labiae, and sunken anus all contribute to faulty Clin N Am Equine Pract 4:389, 1988.

5
perineal conformation. Poor physical condition 5. Easley J: External perinea! conformation. In McKin-

intensifies the problem and can result in abnor- non AO, Voss JL, editors: Equine reproduction,

mal conformation in mares with otherwise Philadelphia, 1993, Lea & Febiger.