[Incidence, diagnosis, therapy and subsequent fertility in goats with hydrometra]

The hydrometra is a comparatively common disease in dairy goats. The etiology and pathophysiology of this pathological uterine condition has not been completely clarified yet. In the present study 143 cases of hydrometra were found in 2434 goats which had been subjected to pregnancy diagnosis with transrectal ultrasonography for three years. The mean incidence was 5.78%. The uterus of the goats was filled with a clear or slightly turbid fluid which contained small blobs to a certain extent. The amount of the aseptic fluid in the uterus varied from 0.25 to 8.3 l. Hydrometra occurred in goats which had been mated as well as in those which had not been mated. Hydrometra may also be accompanied by embryonic/fetal mortality. The incidence of hydrometra was significantly increased in older does and in does which had been mated after estrus synchronisation with gestagens and PMSG. Out of the breeding season the incidence was higher than during the breeding season. The breed of the does and the milk yield did not influence the incidence of hydrometra. The application of prostaglandin analoques performed a luteolysis and the cloudburst in the goats with high efficiency. After therapy the performance in breeding was significantly decreased. The performances improved when does were mated in a longer distance to the disease. The goats showed a high risk of developing hydrometra again.