Caslicks procedure

J

Jericho

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For those who have had this done on their mare, did your vet recommend a Caslick or did you suggest? I have a feeling that my mare may need one as her vulva is very slightly 'on the slant' and when I bought her the vet said may just need to be careful with infections generally and I am aware that this confirmation does predispose air getting into the vulva. I did have a good chat with the AI vet about her vulva confirmation and he didnt seem to think there was a problem although I notice she does get a bit mucky round that area and sometimes the pink flesh of the vulva lips shows and the AI vet seems to think that this is caused by a previous foal. Just wondering if I should actually ask them about giving her a Caslicks just in case? Can they still scan effectively?
 
My T/B always has a caslicks learnt that one a few backs after a season at stud and she would get into foal but wouldnt hold it, sent her the following year to my vets insted of the stud and he picked up on her vulva confo straight away and bingo in foal and stayed in foal and every year since takes first time after the caslicks has been done (says with baited breath touching wood frantically as she is being covered tomorrow) I would hope your vet knows what he is looking at, have you tried to get her into foal yet? As for scanning that is no problem as that is done rectally and they dont stitch up the whole of the vulva either.
 
When mares are scanned, the vet goes in through the rectum, so a caslicks is neither here nor there in that respect. You know your mare and if you are noticing that she gets mucky under her tail fairly often, then maybe a caslicks would be a good idea. I know if I ever breed from B again, she will be caslicked, at my request.
 
Just read your other post, i think if i was you and had tried 2 cycles and you already have your concerns regarding her vuvla confo then i would get a caslicks done
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As well as outer perinial conformation, some mares do not have the greatest interior conformation which will cause them to suck in air, and some can look fine, and STILL suck in air, so TBH if you're having trouble getting her in foal, you have nothing to lose by giving her a caslick.
I've had mares done on my suggestion, and on the vets.

It will not affect scanning as that is done rectally, but you will have to make sure you have her unstitched when she gets close to foaling - some studs will do it right before they foal, but if there is the smallest chance her foaling will be missed you must make sure it is done in advance.
 
I'd ask for one. Better to be safe than sorry. One of my mares always has one (she has low set cervix and a slanted vulva). Even if the stud and/or vet haven't done it, do ask for one if you think your mare would benefit.
 
There's a nice little measurement you can do, called Pascoe's Caslick Index... it gives you a good indication as to whether or not a mare needs the be sewn up.

L is the effective length of the vulva, measured from the dorsal commissure to the ischial floor. A is the angle of the vulva measured from the vertical.

caslicksindex.jpg


<100 = Normal
100-150 = Questionable
>150 = Caslick's required

Hope that is of interest
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