41. Deviations of the head and clinical management in cattle.

Question 1

Deviations of the head and clinical management?

Answer 1

Deviations of the Head and Clinical Management

1. lateral deviation of the head
2. downward deviation- vertex position
3. downward deviation- breast-head position
4. upward deviation of the head

Question 2

Lateral deviation of the head?

Answer 2

Cause: dilation failure of the cervix

Abnormal traction

Occurrence: calves; left sided deviation more often

Diagnosis: one forelimb ends more caudal

Trachea turns to one side

Nape can be palpated

Head of calves can be reached but not of foals

Prognosis: calves; good

Foals; doubtful/bad, usually occurs with ankylosis

Small ruminants: good if cervix can be passed through investigators hand

Question 3

Treatment of lateral deviation of the head?

Answer 3

Treatment:

A.non bloody methods

• Hand-muzzle and orbital
• Mandible snare loop (dangerous, can break mandible)
• Gagny loop- hard due to nose
• Eye hooks
• Kühns crutch – foals
• Korey schöttler double hooks- dead foals

B. bloody methods

• Partial fetotomy- foetus must be dead, amputation of the head and removal of control arterial front leg
• C-section

Question 4

Downward deviation of the head?

Answer 4

2,3. Downward Deviation of the Head

Types: 1. Vertex posture

2.Brest-head (nape) posture

Cause: dilation failure of the cervix

Abnormal traction

Diagnosis: vertex; the head can not enter the pelvic cavity, the two legs are inside

Breast-head; can be misdiagnosed as lateral deviation

Prognosis: vertex: good

Breast-head; depends on- how much abnormal pains can be switched off

How close the foetus head will be to the pelvic inlet after the dam is put into dorsal recumbency

Question 5

Treatment of downward deviation of head?

Answer 5

Treatment:

A.non bloody method

• Hand- repelling the foetus, muzzle turned laterally, one fl can be flexed into carpal or complete shoulder

flexion

• Breast-head: dam should be laying down in dorsal position, hind part should be elevated, Kühns crutch, eye

hooks (foal)

B. bloody method

• Partial fetotomy- amputation of the head, flexion of one fl can be beneficial
• C-section

Question 6

Upward deviation of the head?

Answer 6

4.Upward Deviation of the Head

Cause: dilation failure of the cervix

Abnormal traction

Occurrence: rare, mostly in foals

Diagnosis: trachea turns dorsally btw the two legs

Prognosis: bad

Treatment:

A.non bloody method

• Hand- reposition, only in small foetuses if the head can be easily reached
• Including lateral deviation of the head

B. bloody method

• Partial fetotomy: amputation of the head
• C-section