Parturition: Stages 2-3 (Cram)

What are the four parts the second stage of labour is characterized by?

1. Entrance of the fetus into the birth canal
2. Rupture of the amniotic sac
3. Abdominal contractions
4. Expulsion of the fetus

Which part of the second stage of labour stimulates more forceful contractions?

Entrance of the fetus into the birth canal

What postion do animals usually take up during abdominal contractions?

Lateral recumbancy

Term for what happens early in the second stage of labour for cattle. When spasms come about every 3 minutes and last about ½ minute each

Active abdominal contractions

True or false: In cattle, by the time a portion of the calf shows, the straining becomes almost continuous

True. This straining is virtually continuous until the head and trunk is delivered. She may rest at this point

If assistance is needed, when should you pull?

When the animal is straining

What marks the end of birth in cattle?

Rupture of the umbilical cord. You don't want this to occur until at least the head is delivered. This way the calf can still recieve oxygen

Term for when the fetus' shoulders are stuck at the dam’s pelvis. Assistance may be necessary if this happens

Shoulder lock

Term for when the fetus' hips are stuck at the dam’s pelvis. Assistance may be necessary if this happens

Hip lock

Fill in the blank: The fetus must pass through an ____ during the birth process.

arc

What is the average length of second stage labour in cows?

70 minutes (can be 0.5-4 hours). Is longer in heifers

What marks the start of the second stage of parturition in mares?

The appearance of the amnion at the vulva

How long does the second stage of labour last in the mare (hint: It is less than in cows)?

Average is 20 minutes

Note: Like cattle, it typically occurs in lateral recumbency

What is unique about the umbilical cord of horses?

It is very long, and takes a while to break. It will break once the foal or the mare stands up

Most sows deliver in lateral recumbancy, what other postition might deliver in?

Sternal

Fill in the blank: Once delivery starts piglets are usually expelled about 1 every ___ minutes.

15

What sign do sows show right before delivery of each piglet?

Vigorous tail swishing

How many hours should farrowing take?

3 hours

Note: The sow doesn’t usually pay too much attention to piglets until after all piglets are delivered

True or false: Piglets located in the anterior horn of the uterus will be born last.

True. This means that there is a greater chance of the umbilical cord becoming detached from the placenta during farrowing

When does most of the placenta pass for sows?

Immeadiately after farrowing or within several hours

What problem in farrowing is more common in gilts

Savaging

Name some things you can do to prevent savaging

Handle pregnant gilts quietly, crate gilts 3 or more days prior to farrowing, supervise farrowing, cull sows who savages more than one litter, avoid cross fostering litters on to gilts, sedation, anti–inflammatory drugs, and use muzzles

Note: It was once a practice to test gilts by placing a rabbit in the pen and seeing if she'd savage it

True or false: The pup is born in the amnion in most instances

True

Note: The bitch tears this with her teeth and licks the pup. Can eviscerate pups if not careful

Fill in the blank: After the onset of heavy straining the pup should come in ___ minutes.

15

Note: It'll go puppy, placenta, puppy, placenta, puppy, etc.

Fill in the blank: In the bitch, the length of time between delivery averages ___ - ___ minutes.

10, 30

True or false: Bitches should be allowed to eat their placentas for nutritional purposes.

False. They can eat it, but it can cause indegestion and vomiting. They evolved to eat it to keep their nest clean, which we can do for them

What time of day to llamas and aplacas give birth?

Morning. They don't lick the amnion off their offspring, so the sun dries it instead

True or faslse: Like a horse, llamas and alpacas have very long umbilical cords

True

Fill in the blank: The third stage of labour is characterized by expulsion of the ______ and _____ [term for shrinking of an organ] of the ______.

placenta, involution, uterus

Note: Expulsion of the placenta is caused by contractions of the uterus

Does any straining happen in the third stage of labour?

Yes. But these are short, infrequent and, and mild periods of straining

True or false: In cows, mares, sows, llamas, and alpacas the expulsion of the placenta will occur in about a handful of hours after birth.

True. It will happen in about 2-3 hours. Cows can be up to 8 hours.

Term for the reddish/brown non–smelling discharge that is often present for about a week or two post–partum in the cow, mare, llama, and alpaca

Lochia

Note: If it smells rotten, it might be a sign of retained or partially retained placenta

Why don't we want cattle to eat their afterbirth?

They will eat it to decrease predation, but it's better to remove it because they can choke on it

How many months does it take for cattle to resume their estrous cycle post–partum?

1-2 months (30–60 days). Their uterus will involute in 30 days

How many days does it take for mares to resume their estrous cycle post-partum? And what is the name for this first heat after birth?

7-10 days. This is called foal heat. Complete involution of the uterus only takes about 2-3 weeks

What sign does the foal give that the mare is in foal heat?

Scours due to the hormonal changes in milk

True or false: If any dystocia occurs, involution of the uterus will take longer than the normal time

True

Mastitis–metritis–agalactia syndrome (MMA) (also called post–partum dysgalactia syndrome (PPDS)) are a concern with which species?

Sows. Occurs due to retained placenta/piglets. This will usually occurs within 48 hours of farrowing

Term for the inability of sows to become pregnant when they have piglets suckling

Lactational anestrus

True or false: Like mares, sows with piglets can often be bred very soon post-partum

False. For sows, it doesn't matter when they gave birth, but when their piglets are no longer suckling. Sows can be successfully rebred 4 - 10 days after weaning

When do dogs return to heat?

Bitches return to heat 2 – 3 months post partum

True or false: Like sows, the queen's next heat will depend on weaning rather than time post-partum

True. Queens return to heat about 2 weeks after weaning

Which two species have lactational anestrus?

1. Sows
2. Queens

Note: Suckling suppresses LH pulses during the first part of lactation. Metabolic factors suppress heat in the second part of lactation

Term used to describe a cause of anestrus that can occur in all animals. It is due to putting so much energy into milk

Negative energy balance

Which two species can be bred as soon as 2 days post-partum?

1. Llamas

2. Alpacas

Which three species are induced ovulators?

1. Cats

2. Llamas

3. Alpacas

Note: For the cat, the barbs on the penis induce ovulation. For camelids it's long sessions of mating 5-50 minutes

Term used to describe the action llamas and alpacas do to signal to the male that they are in heat

Cushing. They lie down in sternal