A retrospective study of equine perinatal loss in Canada (2007 to 2020).

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify the most common causes of equine perinatal loss up to 7 d of age in Canada.

ANIMAL

Equine.

PROCEDURE

Necropsy reports from 360 equine perinatal loss cases were acquired from provincial veterinary diagnostic labs across Canada. Each case was classified into a basic cause (noninfectious, infectious, or unidentified) of perinatal loss, then further classified into primary and secondary categories for analysis.

RESULTS

Of the basic causes of perinatal loss, noninfectious causes were the most common. Bacterial causes, such as septicemia, were the most common primary diagnosis overall. was the most commonly identified bacterial species.

CONCLUSION

This study showed similar results to those of studies conducted in other countries, including having similar etiologic agents identified. The high prevalence of thyroid hyperplasia identified in this study is notable and was not reported in other, similar retrospective studies, despite being reported in locations other than Canada.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Perinatal loss can have important economic consequences for horse breeders; thus, identification of the most common causes is of interest to both veterinarians and breeders.