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The role of the RVN in treating dystocia in mares

02 July 2014

Clinical

10 mins read

02 July 2014

Volume 5 · Issue 6

ISSN (print): 2044-0065

ISSN (online): 2052-2959

Abstract

Delivering high quality and appropriate care to patients is central to the role of the registered veterinary nurse (RVN). With the recent changes to the regulation of all RVNs, awareness of responsibility to care for patients to an extremely high standard is required. Horses are different to small animals as they are only designed to carry and produce one offspring at a time. For this reason equine specific knowledge is required for any RVN wanting to nurse mares during and after parturition. This article will discuss the evidence-based information available for uterine torsion, fetal maldispositions and retained fetal membranes in the mare. The incidence, aetiology and pathophysiology will be discussed as well as the general and condition-specific nursing interventions.

The incidence of dystocia in mares ranges from approximately 4% in Thoroughbreds to as high as 10% in some draft breeds (Turner, 2013). Dystocia in the broodmare is one of the few true emergencies encountered in equine practice, where minutes make a difference to the survival of the foal (Embertson, 2003). Duration of dystocia also influences the degree of reproductive tract trauma that occurs during resolution of the dystocia. This can affect the reproductive soundness of the mare and affect her viability as a broodmare. For this reason equine specific knowledge is required for any registered veterinary nurses (RVNs) assisting with dystocia and nursing mares during and after foaling. This article will discuss the ways in which the RVN can assist with dystocia in the mare. Nursing interventions for uterine torsion, fetal malpresentation and retained fetal membranes (RFM) will be discussed.

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