Lecture 6: Periparturient And Postpartum Periods in Cattle

- uterine infections (endometritis, metritis, and pyometra)

- retained placenta

- metabolic and nutritional disease = ketosis, hypocalcemia, LDA

- prolapses (vaginal and uterine)

- perineal lacerations

- tears or uterine artery rupture

List the 6 major periparturient disease in cattle?

- metritis (NOT ENDOMETRITIS)

Which uterine infection is the most likely to make a cow sick and is the most common?

- dystocia

- hypocalcemia

- retained fetal membranes

- unsanitary calving

Uterine infections has a higher occurrence in dairy cattle. What are the predisposing factors?

- temporary inflammation of the endometrium (lining of uterus)

- animals are not sick and systemically well

- purulent exudate from vulva, but uterus feels normal on palpation

What are the signs of endometritis in cattle?

- parturition

- copulation (dirty DICK)

- AI

- uterine infusion

- normal vaginal flora

What are the causes of endometritis?

- a temporary issue that will clear after a few cycles,

- Ceftiofur SQ

How do you treat endometritis?

true

True or false

historically they used to treat, but no abx are approved for intra-uterine infusion in lactating dairy cattle

- contamination of the uterus during parturition

- unsanitary calvings

- dystocia

- dead calves

- improper dystocia management

- condition which increase retrained placenta or decrease involution

What are the causes of metritis?

- retained placenta

Metritis occurance can increase by 50-90% due to what?

- mixed G+ and G-, coliforms, anaerobes

- involution is not progressive,

- uterus has a thin and non-muscular wall

what is early non-septic metritis in cattle like?

- caused by synergistic activity of trueperella pyogenes and fusobacterium necrophorum

- large thin walled uterus with voluminous grey watery smelly fluid

what is late non-septic metritis in cattle like?

- clinical signs

- rectal exam

How do you diagnose non-septic metritis?

- early (7-10 days post partum) = subtle or undetectable

- malodorous, watery, fetid discharge = SMELLS

+/- ADR, depressed, decrease milk production, anorexia, fever

Non-septic metritis is diagnosed based on clinical signs, what are they?

- thick walls with good contractions

- no fluid in the uterus

What should a normal uterus feel like 2 weeks post partum in cattle?

- ceftiofur SQ = excenel (TX OF CHOICE)

How do you treat non-septic metritis?

- when a postpartum cow gets coliforms or clostridium in their uterus leading to endotoxic shock

What is septic/toxic metritis in cattle?

- systemically ill to moribund --> potentially fatal infection (very very sick)

- dehydration, sunken eyes, weakness, hypothermia

- enlarged thin walled uterus with voluminous fluid on rectal

What are the clinical signs for septic/toxic metritis?

- roughly handle the uterus

- infuse antimicrobials

- stimulate uterine contractions (no oxytocin or PGF2)

What should you not do when treating septic metritis since it can result in the release and absorption on endotoxins?

- supportive care --> fluids and systemic abx

- handle uterus carefully

- consider syphoning off uterine fluid

- stabilize how today and treat uterus tomorrow

How do you treat septic metritis?

- purulent exudate in uterus

- in the presence of corpus luteum/ progesterone (cervix is closed and pus held in uterus)

- no estrus

What are the characteristics of a pyometra in bovines?

1. metritis, endometritis, lochia, ect is present

2. cow ovulates and a CL forms while above is happening.

3. uterine contents inhibit PGF2a release and CL is maintained

What is the pathophysiology of bovine pyometra?

- 18 days

- if do not rid the cow of metritis, endometritis, ect the cow will likely get a pyometra

When is the first postpartum ovulation in a dairy cow? Why is this important with a pyometra?

- around 30 days

Normal gross uterine involution (shinkage) is complete when?

- endometritis

What does a cow have if it has a purulent discharge without a corpus luteum or progesterone?

- at routine reproductive herd health visit

- history or complaint of unobserved estrus

- no estrus after 60 days (voluntary waiting period)

- rectal exam

How do you diagnose a pyometra in cattle?

- give PGF2a to remove the CL

- fair to good, but don't breed on the first heat back

How do you treat a bovine pyometra? What is the prognosis?

- the presence of a placenta greater than 12 hours post partum

What are the characteristics of a bovine retained placenta/fetal membrane?

- benign neglect

- abx if acting ill

- ecbolics (oxytocin or PGF2a) but questionable value

- collagenases into the umbilical artery = most promising therapy but not approved in the USA

How do you treat a bovine retained placenta/fetal membrane?

- brahmans and crosses due to extra skin are most likely to get them

- heritable in herefords and shorthorns --> Cull them!!!!!!!

What are the etiologies of vaginal prolapse in cattle?

- usually pre-partum due to rise in estrogen

When does a vaginal prolapse normally occur and why?

- buhner technique until she is close to calving

How can you treat a vaginal prolopse?

- uterine

______ prolapse is not genetic and cows do not need to be culled for it.

- not related to vaginal prolapses

- not genetic = no culling

- due to a parturient accident, hypocalcemia, uterine inertia, straining

- begins with inversion of one uterine horn

What are uterine prolapses like in all species?

- uterine artery rupture --> hypovolemic shock --> QUICK DEATH = lost cause

- septicemia

- hypothermia

- strangulation of other abdominal viscera

- reperfusion injury

What are the sequella for uterine prolapses in all species?

- TRUE EMERGENCY

- need to travel to farm so cow does not rupture artery

- minimize stress

What do you need to consider when dealing with a uterine prolapse in cattle?

- epidural

- clean and debrite it

- reduction, make sure the horns are completely severed

- once reduced give oxytocin to prevent recurrence

- paranternal Ca

- abx

- +/- vulvar retention sutures

- amputation of the uterus cranial to cervix = last resort

How do you treat uterine prolapse in cattle?

- depends on initial systemic state

- recurrence is no more likely than any other cow

- long-term potential for metritis and subfertility

What is the prognosis of a uterine prolapse in a cow?

- 18 days PP first ovulation, usually silent

- 35 days PP to max 45 days first observed estrus

What is the postpartum return to estrus like in a normally involting adequately nourished dairy cow?

- the presence and the calf suckling

Why does return to estrus normally take longer in beef cattle?

- expulsion of lochia

- return to nongravide size and relative symmetry

- normally complete around 30 days

What does uterine involution grossly look like?

- necrosis and removal/expulsion of excess maternal tissue

- epithelialization of placental sites

- normally completed by 45 days

What does uterine involution histologically look like? When is it normally complete?

- yes = normal

Is this a normal lochia?

no = abnormal (too thin and watery)

Is this a normal lochia?