Causes of equine perinatal mortality

The peripartum period is critical in equine medicine for maintaining healthy mares, and ensuring the delivery of healthy neonatal foals. The field of perinatal mortality in horses is continuously evolving, with several advances being recently made in causes of perinatal fetal and foal loss. This review details the main causes of perinatal loss in horses, through late pregnancy, parturition and the neonatal period. Recent advances in identification of infectious organisms and indicators of survival in neonatal foals will be discussed. Continued advances in reproductive and neonatal medicine will aid improved survival of foals through fewer pregnancy losses, and improved management of high-risk pregnancies and critically ill neonatal foals. (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Automated summary

The peripartum period is crucial for the health of mares and neonatal foals. Advances have been made in understanding the causes of perinatal fetal and foal loss in horses. Continued progress in reproductive and neonatal medicine will contribute to better survival rates for foals.