Objective: To determine survival rate, complications, and short-term fertility rate after fetotomy in mares.
Design: Retrospective study.
Animals: 72 mares with severe dystocia.
Procedures: Records from 1991 to 2005 were searched for mares with dystocia in which a fetotomy was performed. Data relating to presentation and position of foals; survival rate, complications, and short-term fertility rate in mares; and 45-day pregnancy rate in mares bred 2 to 3 months after fetotomy were recorded.
Results: Anterior fetal presentation was detected for 54 of 72 (75%) mares, posterior presentation was detected for 13 (18.1%), and transverse presentation was detected for 5 (6.9%). One fetus in anterior presentation was hydrocephalic. Survival rate after fetotomy was 95.8%. Complications included retained fetal membranes (5.5%), laminitis (6.9%), vaginal and cervical lacerations (2.8%), and delayed uterine involution (2.8%). Mares bred 2 to 3 months after fetotomy had good short-term fertility, with a mean pregnancy rate of 79.4% at 45 days after breeding.
Conclusions and clinical relevance: The survival rate was high, compared with rates reported after cesarean section, and short-term fertility rate was similar to those reported for mares that had a controlled vaginal delivery or cesarean section. Fetotomy performed by a skilled veterinarian on a nonviable fetus should be considered as a means of quick and safe correction of dystocia that does not necessarily impair short-term fertility in affected mares.