31/10/2026
🔬 What am I looking at?
Hint: definitely not something we want to see on a Saturday morning prior to mare breeding scans, but an important finding to make evidence-based decisions on if we should breed a mare that day or not.
Those little colonies growing on this agar plate are bacteria—but what does that have to do with breeding your mare?
Bacterial endometritis can occur even in maiden mares without obvious outward signs, which may affect their fertility.
When indicated, we collect a uterine sample for culture and sensitivity testing. Culture helps identify bacteria present, while sensitivity testing helps guide antibiotic selection if treatment is needed.
We interpret these results alongside your mare’s examination and cytology—a check for inflammatory cells—to build a clearer picture of her uterine health.
At Hawkesbury Equine, our in-house pathology laboratory provides timely results to help guide these clinical decisions.
A small sample can provide important answers.
