A broodmare battling chronic laminitis, a stallion with recurrent uveitis, and a maiden mare with persistent tendinitis: While these horses and their conditions are each distinct, the animals do share the potential for exhibiting pain-related fertility problems. A University of Florida (UF) veterinarian described how equine pain might influence reproduction ability, along with how to detect subtle signs of pain, at the 2013 American College of Theriogenology Conference & Symposia, held Aug. 7-10 in Louisville, Ky.

L. Chris Sanchez, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, an associate professor and Director of UF’s Hofmann Equine Neonatal ICU, admitted equine researchers don’t know much about the pain-fertility relationship, but she pointed out that “the whole horse affects reproduction … external environment can affect whatever body system you’re dealing with.

“I can’t imagine having some of the horrifically nasty ocular conditions that many of our patients have,” she offered as an example. “If you have something with a really nasty eye, don’t be surprised if you have trouble with getting that mare pregnant.”

Citing a clear correlation between lameness and fertility in cattle, she said there’s something to be learned from what researchers have determined in looking at other species. But first she reviewed pain for her veterinary audience