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  Discussion on Fertility problems in mare
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Posted on Saturday, Jun 3, 2000 - 3:29 pm:

I have a 7-y.o. Appaloosa mare. She has been diagnosed as being "infertile," and I've been told not to waste my time (and more importantly, my money!) trying to breed her. I would love to get a foal out of this mare, and am curious if there's anything I can do now that might increase the odds of getting her in foal in the future. Her history: She was bred in 1998 by live cover. She didn't settle on the first two attempts, settled on the third, but lost the embryo within the first three weeks of her pregnancy. She was then cultured. The culture turned up heavy debris in the uterus, but no infection. She was caslick'd and sent home. I bought her in the fall of 1999. I had a cytology, biopsy and culture done on her this spring. The results said she had a grade 2 uterus, heavy debris, but again, no infection. Her uterine wall was described as inflamed and porous. I was told she was a poor candidate for breeding, and if I insisted on trying, she should be infused for three cycles prior to being bred. I decided to breed another mare this year, and ride this one. What I want to know is, is there anything I could do now that would improve the condition of her uterus? Should I have her infused? With 12 months to plan, is there a treatment program I could follow that might increase our chances of getting her in foal? Any advice on this matter would be appreciated.

Posted on Sunday, Jun 4, 2000 - 11:35 am:

Check out the article on Uterine Infection and Inflammation and its link to related articles. You should treat your case like a chronic endometritis, though you do not have proof of infection. Treating for three cycles without breeding on those cycles is just lost opportunities in my mind.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jun 5, 2000 - 5:20 pm:

Dr O, have you heard of using a Tea Tree Oil flush to help clear out any problems? I can check on the dosage of TTO to saline (I think that's what was used), and I'm pretty sure it was 3 of those solutions in a row.

Posted on Monday, Jun 5, 2000 - 6:35 pm:

Thanks for the help! And if you find any information on using tea tree oil, I would be interested in hearing it.

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 6, 2000 - 6:27 am:

Hello Jordana,
I have not heard of using tea oil and I would be very careful what I flushed into the uterus of a mare. Some substances which are normally very mild and considered safe for even open wounds, create scarring of the uterine mucosa. Unless frank puss is present I like plain warm saline and about the most aggressive I get is the use of a very dilute betadine solution. I don't measure but try to achieve a dilute "tea" color.
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 6, 2000 - 11:22 am:

My acquaintance used 5cc's of TTO in 500 ml of saline, 3 flushes one right after the other, using the same dilution. Repeat the next day, then a final flush with plain saline.

I'm not saying you should do this, just relating what has worked for some.

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 7, 2000 - 8:28 am:

I have heard some speak of success infusing a small amount of kerosene in the uterus of mares with scar tissue and cysts. It is said to act like a curtage . Any truth to this?

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 7, 2000 - 9:52 am:

Hello Omar,
I know as much about this as tea oil, I am afraid. I would do neither at this time.
DrO
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