What is Caslicks in horses?
Caslicks is an operation to partially suture together the lips of the vulva. Caslicks are used to prevent fecal contamination problems in mares that have abnormal vulva conformation. Mares that have a Caslicks must have the lips of the vulva opened at least 30 days prior to foaling.
When should a caslick be removed?
A Caslick’s is placed under local anaesthesia and sutures can be removed 14 days after placement and a permanent seal remains. Contamination of this area is common and breakdown of the Caslick’s can occur. Your veterinarian will check that the Caslick’s does not have any holes before suture removal.
Why are Caslicks used on mares?
The placement of a Caslick’s helps to restore the normal anatomy of the mare and assists in the prevention of endometritis and placentitis.
When do you caslick a mare?
When a mare experiences windsucking or incomplete seal of vaginal tissues, a Caslick’s procedure can be performed by your veterinarian, usually under sedation and local anesthetic to suture the top two-thirds of the mare’s vagina, allowing tissue to knit, thereby preventing contamination from foreign materials entering …
How do you remove a caslick from a mare?
To remove the Caslick’s, simply use a scalpel or scissors to cut between the vulva lips. If the tissue is thick then a lidocaine can be used but is generally not needed. For indoor foaling, it is recommended to use a large stall (14 X 14 feet) that is recently cleaned, well-bedded and ventilated.
Can you breed a horse with a caslick?
Managing a Caslick In an artificial insemination program, mares in many instances can be bred without having to open a Caslick. “A person with a small hand and arm can often get under the Caslick to reach the cervix with an insemination pipette,” Dr. McCue says.
Why are mares stitched?
Summary. A breeding stitch is sometimes placed in the vulva of a mare following a Caslick operation. The purpose of the stitch is to alleviate potential stress or tension on the primary Caslick suture line.
Why would a Caslicks operation be carried out on a mare?
Unfortunately air entering the vagina also brings bacteria with it. Bacteria in the vagina also get onto the cervix and when the cervix opens i.e . when the mare is in season, the bacteria can get into the uterus. To correct this abnormality, we can perform a Caslicks Operation.
Does my mare need a caslick?
If you purchased your mare in foal, it is a good idea to have a veterinarian check for a caslick. An unopened caslick can be disastrous for a foaling mare, due to the foal tearing through the smaller opening.
Why are female horses called filly?
Its roots are in the Old Norse word “fylja” for female foal, that evolved to the Middle English word “filli” and is also similar to the Old English word for foal. The French word “fille” has similar roots. In English, a slang way of saying girl may be to refer to her as a filly.