Q: I have a 21-year-old mare currently being treated for a guttural pouch infection that was diagnosed by endoscope–we’re just waiting for cytology results. Earlier in the year she was successfully bred by shipped semen, put on Regumate, but still lost the embryo at around two months. She’s previously had four foals.

My veterinarian says the guttural pouch infection could have possibly been the reason for the loss. Can a experienced reproductive specialist please comment?

Suzanne, via e-mail

A: There are numerous causes for pregnancy loss in a mare. I could not determine from your question if the mare was diagnosed with the guttural pouch infection near the time the pregnancy loss was detected. If this is the case, it is possible that there was a hematogenous (through the blood) spread of infection that reached the uterus and resulted in the demise of the pregnancy