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  Discussion on Novalsan boluses for treating uterine infections
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Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2001 - 7:59 am:

Dr. O,
How common is it to treat the post-foaling uterus with Novalsan boluses? My friend had a mare who foaled three days ago; the foal was doing great but the mare was not eating or defacating. My friend was not able to find the placenta in the paddock where the mare foaled, only the amniotic sac. She thought the mare might have a retained placenta and began giving the mare oxytocin every two hours (she did this three times and nothing happened). Vital signs remained in the normal range during this time and the mare never showed any signs of discomfort. After two days and no placenta and the mare still not defacating and showing little interest in food my friend had the vet come out. He palpated the mare and felt no sign of the placenta but started the mare on IM penecillin. He also put some nolvalsan boluses in the mare's uterus with the hope of knocking out any post-foaling infection (he came out around 7:30 that night). At midnight my friend checked the mare and her temperature had DrOpped from 100 to 98 degrees but she was not appearing to be in any distress. When my friend went out to feed the next morining (this would be day 3 post-foaling) she found the mare dead in her paddock with a prolapsed uterus and intestines. There was blood splattered all over the paddock and it was obvious that the mare had had a violent death. The vet came out to examine the dead mare and there was no placenta in the prolapsed uterus (we have determined that a wild animal carried it away shortly after the foal was born). Could the nolvalsan boluses have irritated the uterus so much that it caused her to push so incredibly hard to expell them? Does this sound like a post-foaling impaction colic? Any insight would be greatly appreciated! The mare was 10 years old, healthy, and has had two previous foals with no problems. Thanks for your help.
Sincerely,
Kristin

Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2001 - 8:04 am:

Hello Kristen,
Chlorhexidine is not generally used in a mare's uterus bacause it is irritating to the mucous membrane. However, at low enough concentrations it has been found to be acceptable in some works(The irritancy of chlorhexidine gluconate in the genital tract of the mare. Vet Rec. 1979 Aug 11;105(6):122-4.). I do not know of any research on the use of these boluses in mares nor have I had any experience with it, so cannot comment on their use in mares or possible outcome.

I keep coming back to the mare was inappetant for 3 days prior to the prolapse and wonder what may have been causing this, you suggest impaction, and certainly it is on the list of possiblities. I recommend a thorough necropsy to help answer some of these questions.
DrO
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