Recent surgeries
Standing mare perineal laceration repair
 Perineal lacerations most commonly happen to mares during foaling. They are graded according to the depth and severity of the tearing sustained. This mare suffered the most severe grade of tear (so-called grade 3) resulting in a large opening developing between the rectum and vagina. This allowed droppings to fall down into the vagina, causing chronic inflammation, infection and infertility.
Initially mares are treated by local wound treatment, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Definitive surgical repair is not carried out until all the inflammation and swelling has gone away and the tissues have healed as far as they are able. Although several methods exist, we tend to use a 2 stage technique first described by Aanes in the 1960s. The mare is kept on grass to keep the droppings soft pre-operatively. Antibiotics, sedatives, anti-inflammatories and an epidural was carried out prior to cleaning the whole area ready for surgery. In stage 1 the upper roof of the vagina is re-created, leaving the rectum alone. This is shown at various stages below.
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