Preseason checks and treatment of chronic endometritis in mares

摘要

To maximise the likelihood of a successful breeding season, barren and maiden mares should be managed properly during the autumn and winter nonbreeding season and in the run up to the start of the new breeding season. A thorough barren mare examination, usually performed at some stage during the autumn, will ensure that any underlying gynaecological abnormalities are diagnosed and treated appropriately. As a minimum a routine gynaecological examination should be performed. Assessing the mare's vulvalconformation is one of the easiest and most important aspects of good mare management. It is often disappointing to note how many barren mares arrive at stud at the beginning of the new breeding season not having been properly re-sutured following foaling the previous year. Vaginoscopic examination will help visualise any cervical abnormality or injury and allow collection of a cervical swab for bacteriological culture and a smear for cytology. Rectal palpation and ultrasonography will identify any luminal abnormality and gross evidence of endometritis, principally accumulation of intraluminal fluid. Ideally a uterine biopsy should be also taken to give the best assessment of the endometrium for the presence of acute and chronic endometritis. Based onthese examinations appropriate treatment can then be undertaken. Thus hopefully ensuring the mare will have her best chance of conceiving and carrying her pregnancy to full term.