Retention of fetal membranes in an Arabian mare: a case report

Retention of fetal membranes (RFM) is properly regarded as potentially more serious problem in postpartum mares and must be handled with care (1). Failure to passage part or all of the allantochorionic membrane with or without the amniotic membranes within a prescribed period of the time as retention of the fetal membranes. The length of time varies among authors from 30 minutes to 6-12 hours (2-4). Retention of fetal membranes has been described as retained placenta or retention of afterbirth. This condition is reported to occur with a frequency of 2 to 10.5 % in draught horses (5). Retained placenta is more common in draft breed than in median or light breed (6). Reports concerning incidence or treatment of retained placenta in Arabian mares are not available. This report describes the first case of retention of fetal membranes in an Arabian mare in Ira