Instructions
Use antibiotics. This is the traditional way of treating uterine infections in mares. During treatment, a vet or breeder infuses antibiotics into the horse's uterus. According to riding magazine Horse and Hound, different cases of infection require different lengths of treatment, but the standard course is daily infusions for five days while the horse is on heat. Unfortunately, wide use of antibiotics has given some strains of bacteria resistance to these drugs, making them harder to treat.
Administer mannose. This is a plant-based sugar that prevents the bacteria from sticking to the horse's uterine wall. Bacteria cannot become resistant to this substance as they can to antibiotics. Mannose can be administered either as part of a salt solution that is flushed through the mare's uterus, or with the same tools breeders use for artificial insemination.
Check for factors that might predispose a mare to uterine infections. According to Horse and Hound, a common cause of uterine infection is a certain shape of the horse's vulva. If it does not meet in the middle and protect the uterus against outside bacteria, the horse is more likely to develop infections. This problem can be remedied by a minor surgical procedure.
How Do I Treat a Mare's Uterine Infection?
If an otherwise healthy mare is having trouble conceiving, a uterine infection may be to blame. These infections are easily treatable but, if they occur repeatedly or are not caught early, they can cause infertility or miscarriage. Horses that suffer from these infections are known in the equine world as "dirty mares." The infection is common at the time of breeding and immediately after, but there are ways to treat it as well as measures owners can take to prevent recurrences.