Parturition: Dystocia’s (Cram)

True or false: Generally outside interference in a normal parturition should be avoided.

True. If an owner is concerned they should observe the birth, remove afterbirth if it is obstructing the airway, ensure the newborn can suckle, and maybe disinfect the navel

Feet of uniparous feti appear with each contraction and disappear after each contraction, without any progress of the fetus through the passage. What could be the problem?

The fetus could be stuck in a hip or shoulder lock. Assistance is warrented

Fill in the blank: If there’s no progress ___ hour(s) after the rupture of the amnionic water bag, assistance is warrented in farm animals.

1

Fill in the blank: Assistance is warranted when the first stage of labour extends beyond ___ - ___ hours in sow, ewe, or cow. Or beyond ___ hours in mare

6, 12, 4

Fill in the blank: Assistance is warranted when the second stage of labour is more than ___ - ____ hours in the sow, ewe, or cow. Or beyond ___ - ___ minutes in the mare.

2, 3, 20, 30

Term for the earliest stools of a neonate

Meconium

Note: Black, green, or yellow

Meconium is sometimes expelled into the amniotic fluid prior to birth or during labor and delivery. What can this indicate?

Usually a sign of fetal distress

What is this condition called in mares? It involves premature placental separation

Red bag

Note: This occurs when the allanto–chorion fails to break before delivery of the foal

What needs to be done in the case of a mare with red bag?

The allanto-chorion will need to be cut through to deliver the foal. This needs to be done ASAP, as the tissue is ischemic and the mare can suffer permenant damage

Term for the birth of offspring from more than one sire in the same pregnancy

Superfecundation

Term for a condition where a pregnant female with one or more live fetuses, comes into heat again, is bred again, and another conception occurs

Superfetation

Note: This looks like the simultaneous occurrence of more than one stage of developing embryo in the same animal

True or false: Superfetation is relatively common in sheep and goats.

False. It is VERY RARE in all species except marsupials. It most commonly occurs in embryo transplantation

Term for false pregnancy. It is a display of maternal behavior and physical signs of pregnancy by a non–pregnant female

Pseudocyesis

Note: Most commonly occurs in dogs and mice, sometimes in cats

Term for a condition where the embryo or zygote is free in the abdomen at a very early stage in development and it develops a relationship with an organ other than the uterus and undergoes some embryonic development

Extra-uterine pregnancy

Term for the condition where the fetus starts out with a normal endometrial relationship and then escapes from the uterus. It is usually the result of uterine rupture

Secondary–uterine pregnancy

Term for a condition characterized by a gradual enlargement or filling of the placental membranes and/or fetus with excessive fluid

Hydrops

What are the two types of hydrops?

1. Hydrops allantois
2. Hydrops amnion

Which type of hydrops is more likely to result in death of the fetus?

Hydrops amnion

What condition could this goat have?

Rupture of the prepubic tendon

Note: The tendon of the rectus abdominus muscle can tear away from the pubis

True or false: Hydrops and rupture of the prepubic tendon both have a poor prognosis. Treatment options are limited.

True

Which outcome of fetal death is this? The only external sign is a return to heat. It is the result of very early embryonic death

Reabsorption

Which outcome of fetal death is this? The only external sign is prolonged period of anestrous, and the passage of a ‘mummy’ upon termination of pregnancy

Mummification

Which outcome of fetal death is this? Externally evidenced by sight of the fetus in a non-decomposed or completely decomposed state

Abortion (with or without maceration)

Fill in the blank: One cause of abortions in domestic animals may be the use of some _____ ____ virus vaccines.

modified live

Term that means present at birth

Congenital

What is wrong with the brain to the left? What is the causative infectious agent of this congenital defect?

Cerebellar hypoplasia, caused by bovine viral diarrhea

What are the four causes of congenital defects?

1. Inheritance
2. Infectious Agents
3. Drugs
4. Nutritional Deficiencies

True or false: Cleft palate can be hereditary or caused by toxic plants the mother ingested, or viruses

True

Examples: Locoweed, lupine, tobacco, poison hemlock, akabane virus, bluetongue virus

Term for the condition where the uterus become twisted on its long axis. This can be due to violent movement or falls

Uterine torsion

In cattle and llamoids, uterine torsion might occur at term. In which species can torsion occur at around 7–9 months gestation?

Mares. They are always corrected by laparotomy

Note: Cattle torsions may be corrected by a detorsion rod

What condition is this?

Vaginal prolapse

Vaginal prolapse has a hereditary componant, which breed of cattle is especially prone to this conditon?

Hereford cattle

Term for a vaginal prolapse that only occurs when the animal is lying down

Dynamic vaginal prolapse

What is this condition in dogs? It is different from vaginal prolapse

Canine vaginal hyperplasia

Note: If it doesn't regress on its own, amputation may be needed

Which species is most prone to mammary neoplasia. 45% of these tumors are malignant

Dogs

Which species, while not as frequently affected as dogs, will have mammary tumors with a 90% chance of being malignant

Cats

When should you spay your dog to drastically reduce the likelyhood of mammary neoplasia?

Before their first estrus. This reduces the risk of mammary neoplasia to 0.5% of the risk in intact bitches

Note: Ovariectomy after 1st estrus will only reduce the risk to 8% of that in intact bitches

Which species is most likley to get a vaginal prolapse postpartum?

Dogs

Treatment of vaginal prolapse can involve caudal epidurals, sutures, or raising the hindlimbs of a patient. What is a method of reducing vaginal edema that utilizes a common pantry item?

Sugar can be used to reduce edema by osmotic pressure

Which is more serious (a true veterinary emergency!): A vaginal, or uterine prolapse?

Uterine prolapse

Note: These usually occur during the first day or postpartum

Why is a uterine prolapse so dangerous and potentially deadly?

There are large arteries inside the uterus that may rupture as the cow moves around. This would result in the cow bleeding to death internally. Replacing the uterus back into the animal needs to occur ASAP for the best outcome!

This mare is old and thin, she has faulty closing of the vulvar lips. What condition could result?

Pneumovagina (ie. windsucking)

Note: This condition can also affect mares with good conformation because of an injury doing foaling/breeding

What surgery is used to treat pneumovagina?

Caslick's surgery

You see a pregnant ewe go down. She is weak, and unable to stand. What could be causing this?

Pregnancy toxemia. The ewe has a negative energy balance and has gone into ketosis trying to sustain her pregnancy (breaking down fat stores as energy)

True or false: Lambing should be induced (or C–section performed) in ewes with pregnancy toxemia.

True. She should also recieve glucose IV, and increased energy rations

You see a cow in sternal or lateral recumbancy. She is excited, drowsy, or at worst comatose. What nutritional deficiency can cause these clinical signs?

Hypocalemia (ie. Milk fever)

Note: Also called parturient paresis

How does the temperature change in cattle suffering from 2nd or 3rd stage milk fever?

They become hypothermic, especially their extremities. Despite the name milk "fever"

What stage of milk fever is this?

Stage 2

What stage of milk fever is this?

What stage of milk fever is this?

What position should a cow be in for the treatment of milk fever?

Sternal. Then deliver IV (slow), or SQ calcium

What type of hay is ideal for lactating cattle for the prevention of milk fever?

Alfalfa (high in calicum and potassium)

Which species typically have the least occurence of dystocias?

Cats

Defined as the lack of normal physiologic uterine contractions during or after parturition

Uterine inertia

Note: Primary inertias can be caused by disease, obesity, lack of hormone release, or stress due to confinment. While secondary inertias occur due to long unproductive labour

This hereditary condition of the fetus can be a cause of dystocia, what is it called?

Arthrogryposis (ie. twisted joints)

This hereditary condition of the fetus can be a cause of dystocia, what is it called?

Schistosomus reflexus

This condition of the fetus can be a cause of dystocia, what is it called?

Hydrocephalus

This condition of the fetus can be a cause of dystocia, what is it called?

Anasarca

Defined as those operations by which a fetus is returned to anormal presentation, position and posture

Mutation

Note: Mutations are not often possible in cats and dogs due to size limitations

Consists of pushing the fetus out of the pelvis, into the abdominal cavity where more room is available for adjustments

Repulsion

Defined as the turning or rotating of the fetus on its long axis

Rotation

Defined as the rotation of the fetus on its transverse axis

Version

Fill in the blank: In the anterior presentation, when both ______ [joints] are out of the vulva about ___ [#] hand’s distance, both shoulders should be in the pelvis. Extraction is possible.

fetlocks, 1

Fill in the blank: In the posterior presentation, if the _____ [joints] are out of the vulva, the hips have entered the pelvis. Extraction is possible.

hocks

True or false: There are no conseqeunces for indiscriminate assisted vaginal delivery in cattle.

False. If the assistance isn't warrented you risk fracturing the cow's pelvis, or obturator nerve paralysis. The calf can have degloved limbs or dislocated vertebrae

Name some indications for C-section

Uterine inertia, pregnancy toxemia, obstructive dystocia, and rupture of the uterus

Defined as those operations performed on the fetus for the purpose of reducing its size by division or removal of certain of its parts

Fetotomy. This can be complete or partial depending on how many cuts have to be made to extract the fetus