Question

You are examining a 13-year old Standardbred brood mare 5 hours after parturition. You note that the placenta is still present in the reproductive tract of the mare (see image). What is the most appropriate therapy?

Do nothing; the placenta is not considered retained until 12 hours post-parturition and it will likely be expelled by this time
Place physical traction on the placenta and remove it manually
Administer penicillin (IM) until the placenta is expelled on its own
Administer oxytocin (IM or IV) and lavage the uterus to facilitate removal

Answer 1

The recommended approach is to administer oxytocin and perform a uterine lavage to stimulate contractions and aid in the expulsion of the placenta from a mare 5 hours post-parturition.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most appropriate therapy for a Standardbred brood mare that still has the placenta present in the reproductive tract 5 hours after parturition is to administer oxytocin (IM or IV) and perform a uterine lavage. While the placenta is not considered retained until after 12 hours post-parturition in equine medicine, early intervention may help to prevent complications. Administering oxytocin will stimulate uterine contractions and aid in the expulsion of the placenta. Uterine lavage can help clean the uterus and prevent infection. However, it's important to not attempt physical traction on the placenta, as this could result in tearing and complications. Antibiotics such as penicillin may be used if there is a concern for infection, but they are not the primary method of inducing placental expulsion.