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  Discussion on Betadine left in Uterus
Author Message
Member:
indigo

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 27, 2010 - 1:34 pm:

Hi Dr. O,

Am treating a mare for ecoli infection as evidenced by culture/cytology, and my vet has chosen to use betadine for two days, then infuse with pen on the 3rd day, and I am planning on breeding her this same day (3rd) if she progresses as "planned."

I have read that betadine should not be left in the uterus due to the inflammatory response it evokes, and also that it should not be used immediately prior to breeding for the same reason. What are your thoughts on this? I have read conflicting information, and my vet does not seem to feel this is a problem, as she routinely flushes with betadine and does NOT follow it up with a saline flush afterwards.

As late as it is, this will probably be my only chance to breed this mare this year, so I dont want to do anything that is going to create a more hostile environment in the uterus.

Thanks,
CC
Member:
indigo

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 28, 2010 - 11:48 am:

Dr O,

An update to this... change of plans.

My vet flushed with betadine yesterday. She ran the sensitivity test on the culture and based on those results flushed her with saline today and infused with Naxcel. Plan is to check her tomorrow and possibly infuse with Naxcel again, plan to breed on Friday.

Questions-- is it possible this infusion has created a hostile environment in the uterus, lowering her chance at conceiving? Is the Naxcel spermacidal? If so, would it be helpful to infuse her with saline again tomorrow night (will infuse with antibiotic in the AM) and flush with saline again Friday morning, then breed after noon?

I really need to TRY to breed this mare on this cycle, and would appreciate a second opinion. If you were faced with this situation, and HAD to breed this cycle, what would you suggest doing at this point (and no, giving up and waiting til next year is not a solution! ;-))

Thanks!
CC
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 28, 2010 - 12:39 pm:

I have flushed with Betadine diluted to about a 2% solution in saline for severe pyometras and in one case bred on the following cycle successfully. I have not used it and then immediately bred as you discuss above. It is true that this type treatment is frowned on now a days and I don't use it in the cases of a simple positive culture, only where there is a lot of purulence.

I cannot find any scientific work on the effects of ceftiofur (Naxcel) on sperm but it is regularly recommended as a broad spectrum antibiotic for extending equine semen so other peoples experience suggest it is minimally toxic. I have not examined your mare CC and cannot make specific treatment recommendations for you.
DrO
Member:
indigo

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 28, 2010 - 12:54 pm:

Hi Dr. O, thank you very much for the information.

Let me pose the question another way-- is it beneficial to lavage with saline a day prior to breeding to "calm" the uterus and help rinse away any potential contaminants? Or would the saline lavage have the opposite effect and further irritate an already possibly irritated uterus?

Thanks again!
CC
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Apr 29, 2010 - 7:20 am:

CC we handle this question in detail in the article associated with this discussion area. See the Persistent Post Breeding Endometritis subtopic in the article.
DrO
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