Lecture 1: General Equipment

What is a fetotome and threader used for?

• Used to disarticulate a dead fetus to aid in removal from the dam in the case of a dystocia

• An OB wire is passed through to protect the dams delicate vaginal, cervical and uterine tissues as the saw is worked back and forth

fetotome and threader

Why is cleaning the fetotome essential?

failure to clean may make it difficult to use in the next emergency

fetotomy saw wire aka OB wire or gigli wire

What is the fetotomy saw wire and what is it used for?

a rough cable-like material that cuts through soft tissue and bone as is it worked back and forth through the fetotome used to aid in disarticulation of the dead fetus for removal

What are these and what are they used for?

wire cutters for cutting gigli wire

What are these and what are they used for?

wire saw handles that allow a handler to hold the gigli wire and protects hands form getting cut during a fetotomy

What are these and what are they used for?

obstetrical (OB) wire guides that help guide the wire to the appropriate area for cutting

What is this?

Haupter OB wire guide

What are these and what are they used for?

Krey (OB) hook to hold onto fetus while performing fetotomy → when a chain is attached to the rink and pulled it closes the krey hook so that it grabs tissues to hold the fetus

What is this and what are they used for?

fetotomy (palm) knife designed to fit into the palm of the hand allowing protection of the dams tissues when introducing the knife → used to aid in disarticulation and removal of a fetus during a fetotomy

What are these and what are they used for?

• OB handles and chains used to assist in the delivery of a calf

• chains are place around limbs to hold fetus and assist in pulling from uterus

• handles hook onto chain at desired location to aid in optimal direction and pulling power

How are OB chains properly placed

• place loop above and halfhitch below fetlock joint

• connecting chain should be on the top of the leg

  

What is this and what is it used for?

• head snare assists in the delivery of a fetus

• nylon coated cable equipped with a locking device that will not tighten down on the body part to which it is attached (usually the head)

What is being used here?

head snare

What are these and what are they used for?

eye hook - aids in holding the fetus while doing a fetotomy

What are these and what are they used for?

obstetrical forceps - can be used in smaller animals to aid in removal of fetus during a dystocia

What is this and what is it used for?

“cornell” detorsion rod - aids in rotating the fetus/uterus in the event of a dystocia due to uterine torsion

What is this and what is it used for?

• calf jack that assists in the delivery of a calf

• stap on brace is placed over hips of cow → OB chains attached to legs of calf and to ratchet on shaft of jack → ratchet is a come-along which aids in pulling a calf out when used appropriately with the contractions of the cow and at correct angles

What are these and what are they used for?

buhner needle and umbilical tape used to place a purse-string suture in the vulva of a cow to prevent a vaginal or uterine prolapse from recurring

What is this and what is it used for?

• electroejaculator (EE) aids in semen collection from a bull, ram, or camelid

• appropriate sized probe placed in rectum of male (remove feces and lube) with the stimulators placed ventrally to stimulate accessory sex glands of male and allow ejaculation and evaluation of seminal sample to determine fertility status

What are the indications of ultrasound in theriogenology?

Aid in evaluation of reproductive tracts of males and females

Can evaluate:

• Pregnancy status

• Uterus and ovaries

• Accessory sex glands of males

• Testicular tissue

• Fetal viability

• Fetal sexing

What is the gold standard for sperm concentration?

manual count