So, last week I posted a question about tight cervixes… Well, my mare seemed to turn around and come into heat and all seemed somewhat good. They bred her yesterday. Today I get the news that she has a fever, is panting and an elevated heart rate. They think she has a rectal tear. From what I hear this is pretty awful news, she may go to the clinic, we are waiting a bit to see. I am doing what the vets tell me to do. I figure she probably can not be pregnant at this point with all the meds and stress, I am more worried about her surviving at this point. I confess that I did not realize this was a risk b/c rectal exams are so common. After some research I have a better idea of what is going on, but does anyone have personal expirience with this, good or bad?
I’m thinking that it would be difficult to cause a rectal tear by putting the insemination rod in the mare, but what do I know? Perhaps she got a rectal tear when she was ultrasounded or was the vet palpating her? I know that vets often say how easy it is to damage the mare when ultrasounding although I have never heard of anyone I know having a mare that ended up with a rectal tear. Jingles for the mare and sending positive thoughts to you. You must be distraught. I hope things improve quickly.
Thank you for the jingles! Things are getting worse, she is on her way to the hospital now 
I feel awful… hoping for something great like a foal, and instead the poor girl is probably having surgery. The worst is that I am a few states away so I am not even with her right now…
No experience with this but just sending jingles for your girl.
Hope all goes well for your girl.
Jingles for your mare!!
I don’t understand how they tore her rectum when they inseminated her…was he rough and just punctured into the rectum and ???
The only thing I can think of is maybe she was being rectally palpated while she was being inseminated. I hope your mares gets better!
HUGE jingles for your mare and I also cannot fathom how a rectal tear could happen with a vaginal insemination …
Hope she pulls through okay for you …
Been there, done that, have the t-shirt. I have never heard of a rectal tear from insemination, only from rectal palpation. My guess is that they ultrasounded her prior to insemination and the tear occurred then. Was there blood on the sleeve when the vet removed his arm?
Rectal tears are extremely serious. Life threatening. I don’t want to scare you, but I would treat this very seriously. I know of two mares who had this happen to them. One had to be put down. The other one was a very low grade tear, but still stayed in the hospital for two weeks.
Jingles for your mare!!
Add me to the list of people who can’t figure out how the insemination could be the cause. Not that it matters now. Jingles for a quick recovery.
Jingling for you. If it is a rectal tear it is very serious, as others have said. I doubt that the actual insemination caused it, unless they were trying to go deep-horn for some reason. I’m guessing they palpated her right before insemination and it could have happened then. Unfortunately this is a risk when breeding mares and even very competent vets can have this happen. I hope your girl pulls through!
Jingles for you and your mare . Praying for a good outcome!
A rectal tear … they think! If there was a rectal tear there would have been blood on the glove and they would have know it right away.
This is why I insist that my vet wears ‘translucid’ gloves instead of the red one. I don’t even understand how they can manufactured red gloves; you want to know if there is blood after a rectal exam, not hiding it. But of course it does’nt look good and they want to protect themselves from eventual lawsuit I guess.
This doesn’t happen often but I heard of a case that the tears was small enough that the mare recovered well. I wish you the same. All the jingles in the world.
I am really sad to report that there was nothing they could do for her at the hospital. I WAS able to get there to be with her, so I stayed with her until it was over. I am beyond devastated, she was my special horse and we did so much together. I never in million years thought this could happen. Now I know better. Thanks for the well wishes everyone, it means a lot.
OMG chillydc I am beyond stunned and so very very sorry for your loss.
I’m so, so sorry for your loss. It must have been a very severe tear.
What a horrible turn of events. From hoping for a new life to losing a beloved one. I can’t even imagine. Godspeed.
Sending caring thoughts…I am so sorry this happened to her…and to you.
May your mare run free and safe over the Rainbow Bridge.
Martha
You just lived my worst nightmare. I am so, so sorry. I’m glad you were able to be there with her at the end.
Hugs to you!
