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Placentitis in BroodmaresBy Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 8, 2010
Placentitis (inflammation of the placenta) may be caused by bacterial or fungal infection of the uterus, most often by organisms entering through the reproductive tract. It is thought to be the most common cause of premature equine birth.
Most common in older horses, the condition produces no obvious signs in about 20 to 25% of affected broodmares. According to Dr. Michelle LeBlanc of Rood and Riddle Veterinary Clinic in Lexington, Kentucky, treatment with a broad-spectrum antibiotic for 10 days in the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy is helpful in some mares with a history of uterine infections.
Broodmare owners and managers should consult a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment of placentitis.
