Multicenter study of uterine tears and other reproductive complications in periparturient goats presented to veterinary teaching hospitals

BACKGROUND: Goats are increasingly popular as both production animals and pets. The frequency of and factors associated with periparturient reproductive complications in goats are largely unreported. OBJECTIVES: (1) To report the frequency of periparturient reproductive complications in does presented to university veterinary hospitals and (2) to identify factors associated with uterine tears in the study population. ANIMALS: A total of 198 periparturient does presented to 9 university veterinary hospitals from October 2021 to June 2022. METHODS: Multicenter, cross‐sectional study, with data collected from questionnaires completed by attending veterinarians. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with diagnosis of uterine tears. RESULTS: Ninety‐three (47%) does had at least 1 periparturient reproductive complication. Periparturient complications included retained fetal membranes (n = 38, 26%), vaginal or perineal trauma (n = 33, 19%), uterine tears (n = 32, 18%), metritis (n = 22, 13%), uterine or vaginal hemorrhage (n = 8, 5%), Cesarean section complications (n = 8, 8%), and uterine prolapse (n = 1, 0.5%). A positive interaction effect was found between small breeds (Nigerian Dwarf and Pygmy) and manipulation on the farm by a layperson upon diagnosis of uterine tears (odd ratios [OR], 5.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41, 21.25; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Periparturient reproductive complications were common. Small breed combined with manipulation on the farm by layperson was associated with diagnosis of uterine tears. Clients should be educated that in the event of dystocia, small breed does are at greater risk of uterine tears and prompt veterinary intervention is critical.