Page 927 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse
P. 927
Preparation
If purpose-built stocks are not available, the mare should be examined in a stable. She must
VetBooks.ir be adequately restrained by a competent handler and it is helpful if her tail is bandaged. The
vet will require:
• a bucket of clean, warm water
• an assistant to hold the tail out of the way
• a power supply for the scanner.
On occasions it is necessary to apply a twitch or sedate the mare for the examination.
Assessment of the vulva
The vulva is checked for any signs of a discharge. The vulval lips should be vertical and meet
together in the midline, forming a firm seal. If the vulva slopes forwards, the seal is easily
broken and air may be sucked into the vagina as the mare moves (Figure 19.13). Aspiration
of air and contamination by faeces can lead to inflammation of the vagina, cervix and the
lining of the uterus, with resultant subfertility.
Figure 19.13 A forward-sloping vulva may aspirate air and become contaminated by faeces; this mare has had a Caslick’s
operation to prevent this
