Uterine Inertia due to Severe Selenium Deficiency in a Parturient Mare.
Authors: Busse Nicolas I, Uberti Benjamin
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Uterine Inertia and Selenium Deficiency in Mares A 12-year-old embryo-recipient show jumper presented seven days post-due date with a dilated cervix and mild colic signs, leading clinicians to investigate the cause of her failure to progress into active labour. After excluding gastrointestinal abnormalities, metabolic disorders, and fetal malpositioning through diagnostic workup, uterine inertia was diagnosed; critically, the mare failed to respond to oxytocin stimulation, necessitating caesarean section for delivery of a live filly. Subsequent investigation revealed severe selenium deficiency affecting not only the mare and her newborn foal (who presented with white muscle disease), but the entire source herd—pointing to a previously underrecognised nutritional aetiology for refractory uterine inertia. The finding is clinically significant because it expands the differential diagnosis for dystocia beyond mechanical and primary myometrial dysfunction, particularly in herds where forage selenium levels may be marginal. Equine practitioners managing mares with uterine inertia unresponsive to standard oxytocin protocols should consider requesting selenium status testing and reviewing the trace mineral profile of forage, particularly in geographical areas with known low soil selenium, as correcting this deficiency may prevent both obstetric complications in the dam and white muscle disease in offspring.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Consider selenium deficiency as a differential diagnosis in mares presenting with uterine inertia unresponsive to standard oxytocin treatment
- •Screen entire herds and newborn foals when selenium deficiency is suspected, as it affects multiple animals and causes white muscle disease in offspring
- •Ensure adequate selenium supplementation in breeding herds, particularly in regions with known selenium-poor forage, to prevent reproductive and neonatal complications
Key Findings
- •Severe selenium deficiency was identified as an underlying cause of uterine inertia in a parturient mare unresponsive to oxytocin treatment
- •The mare, her offspring, and the herd of origin all confirmed severe selenium deficiency
- •The filly was born with severe white muscle disease requiring intensive treatment
- •Gastrointestinal abnormalities, metabolic disorders, and fetal maldispositions were excluded as causes of dystocia