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  Discussion on High testosterone in my mare
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New Member:
dancer1

Posted on Sunday, Oct 5, 2014 - 3:50 pm:

Hello! I am new to this forum and hoping for some help: 6 yo paint mare, purchased about 10 months ago; equine dentist was out this weekend and noticed that she has very well developed canines which he said are usually caused by elevated testosterone levels. She did come to us due to severe aggression issues and seemed to by cycling erratically. So this would explain her aggression problems. I have been using essential oils with her which have really helped and of course, she has been in training, which has helped. I did some research and found out that the high test. levels are often caused by ovarian granulose cell tumors. Wondering if anyone has any advice? I do plan to have the vet out to check her for tumors, but also wonder what info anyone has?
Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Sunday, Oct 5, 2014 - 5:32 pm:

Hello dancer1,

While this is rare it does happen in horses,and I know of two cases in Standardbred racehorses, I'm sure there are more. Horses have all the mare genital parts but actually are genetically male and have internal male parts causing them to act like stallions. Usually found through ultrasounds and blood tests, hair tests etc. You said your mare cycles irregulary, not sure if this would happen in an intersexed horse. You can look up the stories on Martha Maxine and Arizona Helen. They were originally classified as mares and raced against other fillies and mares and once they were diagnosed they had to race against other horses,colts and geldings.
Member:
zaza

Posted on Monday, Oct 6, 2014 - 11:28 am:

Hi dancer1

I wonder... so far what you have said sounds classic for PCOS (Policystic Ovarian SynDrOme) in humans therefore I don't know the prevalence in equine but I have found that there is little difference in what commonly ails humans compared to other species except they like to rename the disease so if it exist it would probably be called something else. Anyway, I am sure there are numerous explanations for what you describe but consider this possibility... PCOS is diagnosed with a blood test measuring the antigen levels including the findings of elevated testosterone and ultrasound reveals numerous follicles with a large overall ovarian volume. Of course elevated testosterone will cause aggression, but also weight gain and insulin resistance therefore does she have this as well? Another side effect to this synDrOme is difficulty conceiving and high likelihood of miscarriage therefore another question would be have they tried to breed her?
Member:
frances

Posted on Friday, Oct 10, 2014 - 2:48 pm:

Hi, I have a mare who exhibited some similar symptoms, see thread: Persistent estrus, both ovaries atrophied, nymphomania,

In her case I tried using the supplement vitex agnus castus (otherwise known as chasteberry), not
really expecting to see much of a change, but to my surprise, her behaviour became normal within 3 or 4 days, on a dose much lower than the recommended one.

When I took her off it, she reverted quickly to the undesirable behaviour.

Just my experience....
Member:
frances

Posted on Friday, Oct 10, 2014 - 2:55 pm:

Oh, here are the links to the thread, in case you're interested:

diseases of horses, reproductive diseases, trouble settling mares and stallion fertility, abnormal heat cycles, persistent estrus both ovaries atrophied nymphomania
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Oct 12, 2014 - 6:30 pm:

Welcome Dancer1,
I have seen no scientific work to suggest that canines in mares (large or otherwise) is an indication of high testosterone or granulosa cell tumor. I have seen many mares with canines that did not display abnormal behavior.

If it is the only problem YOU have I would not spend the money to test. If YOU have other signs of GCT by all means have a GCT lab profile (testosterone, inhibin, and newly recommended Anti-Mullerian Hormone) run to confirm or deny. The AMH makes the HCG stim unnecessary. For more on GCT see HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Reproductive Diseases » Trouble Settling Mares & Stallion Infertility » Granulosa Cell Tumors in Mares.
DrO
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