Antibiotic Use in Horse Reproduction: 2025 Vet Guide to Uterine Infection Treatment in Mares 🐴💊🧬
In this article
Antibiotic Use in Horse Reproduction: 2025 Vet Guide to Uterine Infection Treatment in Mares 🐴💊🧬
By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc
Updated July 2025
💡 Uterine infections are a leading cause of mare infertility—and they’re often overtreated. This 2025 guide helps equine owners and veterinarians make informed decisions about diagnosis, intrauterine flushing, antibiotic selection, systemic therapy, and surgical correction.
🔍 Understanding Uterine Infection vs. Contamination
- Culturing isn’t enough: Positive bacterial cultures don't always indicate infection—samples may reflect contamination.
- Cell cytology matters: Examine uterine lining cells microscopically to confirm inflammation.
🩺 Intrauterine Antibiotic Infusion
This long-standing method delivers high antibiotic concentration directly to the site—but requires careful flushing and monitoring to ensure effectiveness.
- 💧 **Flush thoroughly first**: Removing debris and fluid improves antibiotic action.
- 📅 **Treat for 3–7 days**, depending on severity and response.
- ⚠️ **Aseptic technique is crucial** to avoid introducing new infections.
🌐 Systemic Antibiotic Therapy
Oral or injectable antibiotics can reach therapeutic uterine levels, avoiding daily catheter use and contamination risk.
- ⏳ **Longer course required** due to slower accumulation.
- ✔️ Choose antibiotics with documented uterine penetration (e.g., penicillin±gentamicin, trimethoprim-sulfa).
🔧 Structural Abnormalities: Don’t Forget Fixing Anatomy!
Even with the best antibiotic regimen, uterine infections will recur unless anatomical issues—such as poor vulvar conformation, pneumovagina, or scar tissue—are addressed surgically.
- 💉 Caslick’s procedure for poor perineal conformation
- 🔬 Ultrasound to assess uterine environment and fluid retention
📋 Diagnostic & Treatment Workflow in 2025
- Perform culture and cytology of uterine samples.
- If inflammation present, choose infusion or systemic therapy.
- Flush uterus thoroughly before infusion to optimize antibiotic action.
- Treat for 3–7 days with chosen antibiotic.
- Re-examine after treatment—cultural, cytology, and ultrasound.
- Address any anatomical defects surgically.
🤝 Choosing Between Infusion vs. Systemic Use
| Method | Advantages | Challenges |
|---|---|---|
| Intrauterine Infusion | High local concentration, short course | Requires skill, potential contamination |
| Systemic Therapy | No catheter use, less invasive | Longer treatment, dependent on absorption |
⚠️ Antibiotic Stewardship & Resistance
- ✏️ Use culture and sensitivity to guide antibiotic choice.
- ♻️ Avoid prolonged, empirical antibiotic use—to slow resistance emergence.
📲 Ask A Vet App for Equine Owners
The Ask A Vet app can support your mare’s reproductive care with:
- 🩺 Guidance on sampling techniques and cytology interpretation
- 📊 Personalized treatment plans—infusion vs systemic
- 🛠️ Surgical referral guidance and follow-up protocols
➡️ Download the app for expert equine reproductive support. Visit AskAVet.com.
✅ Essential Points from Dr Houston
- Not all culture-positive mares are infected—cytology is essential.
- Flush before infusion and choose proper antibiotic and duration.
- Systemic therapy is a worthy alternative—but needs longer treatment.
- Resolve anatomical issues to prevent recurrence.
🐴💡 Thoughtful antibiotic use, combined with diagnostics and anatomical correction, offers the best reproductive outcomes for mares in 2025. Always collaborate with your vet, monitor closely, and seek support from Ask A Vet when needed.
