Although chronic renal disease is uncommon in horses, guidelines for management of the broodmare with kidney disease are needed to ensure successful foaling. Herein, we present a case report of a broodmare with chronic renal disease that produced a live foal, and parturition was predicted by monitoring pH and electrolytes in the milk. A 15-year-old pregnant mare presented with a history of poor body condition and weight loss despite an excellent appetite. At presentation, the mare was bright, alert and responsive, with severe pitting ventral oedema and vital parameters within normal limits. Plasma biochemistry revealed azotaemia, hypercalcaemia and hypophosphataemia. Based on clinical ultrasonographic and biochemical parameters, the mare was diagnosed with renal failure. Pregnancy was assessed by transabdominal ultrasound, and the fetal parameters were within normal limits; however, an increased combined thickness of the uterus and placenta and oedematous fetal membranes were found. Monitoring of mammary secretions accurately predicted the onset of foaling at 326 days of gestation. A healthy filly was delivered, and the fetal membranes were passed in a timely manner without complications. Physical examination and haematological parameters were within the normal limits for a neonate foal, except for a mild elevation in blood urea nitrogen. Two weeks later, the mare was subjected to euthanasia due to worsening of her condition. At necropsy and on histopathological examination, the findings were consistent with chronic renal disease. This case demonstrates that a pregnant horse with chronic renal disease can be managed with supportive care and produce a viable foal. Fetal well-being and mare’s prefoaling milk electrolytes were similar to parameters measured in healthy pregnant mares, suggesting that the feto-placental unit may be spared of the dam’s systemic disease. Prepartum physiological changes in the milk may be unaltered with concurrent maternal renal disease and still be useful for foaling prediction.

中文翻译：

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怀孕母马的肾功能衰竭

虽然慢性肾病在马中并不常见，但需要有肾病的育雏管理指南以确保成功产仔。在此，我们报告了一个患有慢性肾病的育雏马的案例报告，该育雏马产生了一头活的小马驹，并通过监测牛奶中的 pH 值和电解质来预测分娩。一只 15 岁的怀孕母马出现了身体状况不佳和体重减轻的病史，尽管食欲很好。在介绍时，母马明亮、警觉且反应灵敏，腹部有严重的凹陷性水肿，重要参数在正常范围内。血浆生化显示氮质血症、高钙血症和低磷血症。根据临床超声和生化参数，母马被诊断为肾功能衰竭。通过经腹超声评估怀孕，胎儿参数在正常范围内；然而，发现子宫和胎盘和水肿胎膜的组合厚度增加。对乳腺分泌物的监测准确地预测了妊娠 326 天时产仔的开始。产下一头健康小马，胎膜通畅，无并发症。除了血尿素氮轻度升高外，体格检查和血液学参数均在新生儿马驹的正常范围内。两周后，由于病情恶化，这匹母马被实施了安乐死。在尸检和组织病理学检查中，这些发现与慢性肾病一致。这个案例表明，患有慢性肾病的怀孕马可以通过支持性护理进行管理，并产生一头可存活的小马驹。胎儿健康和母马产前乳汁电解质与在健康怀孕母马中测量的参数相似，这表明胎儿-胎盘单位可能不会受到母马全身性疾病的影响。母乳中的产前生理变化可能不会因并发母体肾脏疾病而改变，但仍可用于预测产仔。