DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES IN MARE REPRODUCTION - BASIC EVALUATION

Evaluation of the female reproductive tract requires knowledge of the basic diagnostic procedures that are involved. Examination may be perf ormed to identify lesions, to describe normal reproductive events that are associated with breeding and pregnancy, or to ensure that the rep roductive tract is normal. Examination should proceed in a systematic manner, starting with external conformation evaluation, palpation of i nternal genitalia per rectum, ultrasonography of the reproductive trac t, and vaginoscopy and/or manual vaginal/cervical/uterine examination. The first article of this three-part continuing education series cons iders these specific procedures used to evaluate the reproductive syst em of the mare. After the basic reproductive examination has been comp leted, the information gathered can be summarized to reach a diagnosis or to suggest the need for ancillary diagnostic approaches. It is pos sible for the veterinarian to arrive at a faulty conclusion by conside ring only one piece of information gleaned from the basic examination, if ail of the information fails to clearly indicate the condition tha t is affecting the mare, further diagnostic procedures should be consi dered. These procedures are reviewed in the remaining two parts in thi s series. The second part will deal with uterine culture, uterine cyto logy, uterine biopsy, hysteroscopy, oviductal patency testing, and sci ntigraphy. The final article will discuss hormonal evaluation and gene tic testing.