Dystocia, retained placenta, and laminitis in a draft mare

Hannah, a 12 year old Clydesdale mare, presented as an emergency to the Theriogenology service at the Cornell University Equine and Farm animal Hospital on 6/18/09 for dystocia. Upon presentation, Hannah was quiet and alert with moderate tachypnea and tachycardia. Vaginal examination revealed the presence of a large, mal-positioned foal. The foal was determined to be dead upon presentation and was delivered by manual traction. The mare was considered at increased risk of foundering, and laminitis prophylaxis was initiated. She passed an intact placenta approximately 75 hours after delivery of the foal. Hannah developed laminitis secondary to retention of her fetal membranes. She was treated for acute laminitis for several days before being discharged to the care of her owners. This report describes a complicated case that illustrates multiple frustrating disease processes commonly encountered by practicing equine veterinarians