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  Discussion on Uterine culture
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New Member:
nmcgill

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 24, 2009 - 12:15 pm:

I have an older TB mare (12) that had 2 foals after retiring (5) off the track, was sold at 2 years barren to a hunter barn where she had another foal but no more. I cultured her to find a "mild" infection that was treated, she cultured clean and we bred her. She was checked in foal at 14 days but having just lost it at day 43. My vet wanted to put a "caustic solution" in her uterus to dissolve the mucus lining to then be collected for centrifuging because she feels there is an infection "hiding" in the lining that didn't get treated. When she told me the price I baulked. None of this jived with what my former vet from where we moved would have said. He always said maiden and barren mares often need to have their reproductive systems jump started and usually slip the first one of the season. After two, we can start tests. Hormone levels were checked 5 days after breeding and were an 8.(supposedly plenty to maintain a pregnancy)
Anyway, here are my thoughts on the inconsistencies. Mare was infused with antibiotics and when I asked about flushing, was told they would be absorbed through the uterine lining and didn't need to be flushed. So, wasn't the uterine lining treated as well and above procedure unnecessary? Mare is said to be conformationally bad. High pelvic rim, low uterus = hard to bred but every time she is checked there is no fluid pooling. In fact, the vet came back to lavage the mare after breeding her and found no fluids. Isn't this an indication that the high pelvic rim is not deterring natural flushing? I am so confused I am nearly paralyzed on what my next step should be.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 25, 2009 - 7:08 am:

Welcome NMcGill,
First, I would certainly not put anything caustic in the mare either but before we discuss a plan I have a few more questions:
1) What specie(s) of bacteria were cultured out of the uterus and was a cytology done at the same time?
2) Do you have this mare under lights and when do you plan to start breeding her again?
3) Am I correct in saying that despite recent exams, including ultrasound, that at this time there are no known recent abnormalities with the mare other than a history of a single early embryonic loss last breeding season?
DrO
New Member:
nmcgill

Posted on Sunday, Dec 6, 2009 - 8:27 pm:

Sorry about the delay in responding.
1)The vet said it was a "minor Ecoli" infection. My statements say the mare was infused with Gantacin or Naxcel for 3 days in a row and tested clean at the next heat. I am not sure why 2 different meds were used. I didn't notice until I looked at the statement to answer your question. When I asked her about picking up something on the way in or out, I was told she used a triple guarded swab and there was no chance of contaminant. No cytology was done.
2)No, the mare is not under lights at this time because I had basically decided I had a pasture ornament but the more I think about it the more I don't believe yet she is unbreedable.I plan to put my mares under lights after the first of the year. We don't show babies and I have no desire to be on foal watch in January so I don't usually start breeding until April. I have my own stud now so am less at the mercy of the stallion schedule.
3)Other than the vet insisting she is conformationally unsound for breeding, there is nothing else I have knowledge of. She cycles fine, progesterone was an 8 (although I have questions about that) and bred easily. All the things that are supposed to happen because of her confirmation (urine pooling, fluid build up, etc) have never happened.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Dec 11, 2009 - 8:45 am:

Hello NMcGill,
It is not always a matter of picking things up on the way in or out, though triple guarded swabs are not a guarantee. The fact is that during estrus bacteria can be found in the uterus of healthy mares and E. coli would certainly be the most common contaminant. But this is all explained in the article associated with this discussion, you can reach this on the navigation bar at the top of the page.

I agree with you that having trouble settling after one breeding and with all tests being essentially normal that it is way too early to give up on this mare. After all this would happen to 30% of the normal mares.

Though at this time it is not sure at all you have a problem it following two breedings she is still not in foal we have a article that takes a step by step approach to mare infertility at Diseases of Horses » Reproductive Diseases » Trouble Settling Mares & Stallion Infertility » Mare Infertility Diagnosis: cycles but does not settle.

However I would start with normal breeding patterns and fertility rates in horses. You will find that article at Equine Reproduction » Horse Breeding & Artificial Insemination » Breeding Patterns in Mares and Stallions.
DrO
New Member:
nmcgill

Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 12:13 pm:

I thought I would re-visit with an update. I began searching in February for a new vet to use for breeding by explaining the basics about the mare and seeing what the vet suggested would be their first course of action. 3 vets later and I found one whose suggestion was a cytology. She came to palpate her and my "unbreedable" mare was actually still pregnant. Had I followed the advice of the original vet, I would have "cleansed" a valuable embryo. My advice to all is if it doesn't make sense, do not blindly follow. If it is not life threatening, do your research.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 - 7:54 am:

Congratulations NMcGill,
and what a great story that your new vet took the time to check for pregnancy before doing the cytology swab that may have damaged the placenta and fetus. I think the take home message is that any exam can be in error, so before you take steps you cannot retake recheck. One red flag is that the mare had not returned to heat. Missing a 40 day pregnancy is not going to happen often with an experienced examiner, what tests were performed at day 42 to determine she was not in foal?
DrO
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