Tips and tricks for fluidproducing mares

Mares susceptible to persistent mating-induced or infectious endometritis, with delayed uterine clearance and abnormal reproductive anatomy, or mares with failure of cervical relaxation commonly present with excessive intrauterine fluid either pre-or post-breeding. One of the challenges faced with endometritis is accurately diagnosing clinical cases to ensure appropriate and timely therapy is instigated. Treatment includes improving the physical clearance of inflammatory by-products following breeding, eliminating any potential pathogens (mechanical pathway) and modulating the ongoing inflammatory response (immunological pathway). Correction of abnormal perineal conformation is also critical. Key management recommendations include breeding the mare only once during the oestrus period to limit further inflammation, performing uterine lavage and administering ecbolic agents 4–6 hours after insemination and the use of targeted post-breeding treatments. It is vital to have a non-infected, uninflamed uterine environment before the embryo entering the uterus in order to optimise embryonic survival.