Retrospective five-year study of equine casuistry in a Colombian perinatology center

Abstract

A retrospective study was conducted at the Foal Care Equine Perinatology Center in Colombia from October 2017 to May 2023. The goal was to analyze the most frequent pathologies, as well as assess the sexes, ages, and breeds of the patients, with an emphasis on the perinatal population. Out of 945 clinical histories, 776 pertained to perinatology. Survival rates were calculated, and a descriptive analysis was performed. The overall survival rate for neonates was 73.6%, with females constituting 57% of the neonatal patients. The most prevalent breed among mares and neonates was the Creole Colombian Horse. Neonatal maladjustment accounted for 39.34% of the neonatal cases, and regarding the affected systems, there was a common multisystemic presentation (71.40%). Of the 341 foals admitted for neonatal adaptation, 72 were clones (with a survival rate of 76.39%), while 269 were non-clones (with a survival rate of 72.49%). A total of 202 mares (88.98%) were hospitalized for pregnancy monitoring, while 25 mares (11.02%) were brought to the perinatology center to treat dystocia or other reproductive pathologies. The most frequent diagnosis among mares was placentitis (73.68%). This study noted an increase in survival rates over time, which was associated with improvements in protocols and the acquisition of new medical equipment. The survival rates observed in this study are consistent with those reported in previous research. The collected data indicate that foaling occurs year-round in Colombia since the country experiences no distinct seasons. Studies with larger sample sizes are suggested, as well as periodical analysis of casuistry in the equine neonatology field, to improve the clinical management of patients and enhance productivity in the horse breeding industry.