8- Principles in the post-partum period Flashcards
Name 3 postpartum conditions
Haemorrhage
Trauma/laceration
Prolapse
Placental retention
Metritis
Recumbancy/nerve damage
What is postpartum haemorrhage?
Blood passage after parturition
Profuse bleeding after parturition can be due to what 2 things?
Breakage of the umbilicus & blood leaking from placenta
Uterine/vaginal laceration
What structures are affect in a second degree laceration/trauma?
Deeper laceration involving muscle of perineal body
What structures are affected in a third degree laceration
Torn vagina and rectal wall (creating a cloaca)
What is a recto-vaginal fistula
Penetration from the vaginal cavity into the rectum but not continuous distally
e.g. foal putting foot into rectum creating a hole
Bladder prolapse
Bladder moves through tear in the vagina or large urethra
What happens In prolapse of the uterus in a cow/ewe?
Complete eversion of previously pregnancy horn
Common causes of uterine prolapse
Multiparous cows
Uterine inertia
Hypocalcaemia - risk factor
What type of treatment method is used with placental retention in mares?
Torsion method - rotate placenta applying a broader tension
How to treat uterine prolapse
Epidural and establish a ‘frog-leg’ position in cow
Push components close to vulval lips first and gradually replace
need to ensure complete inversion
What can be the consequences of retained foetal membranes in mare
metritis can lead to laminitis- can be severe
What colour discharge is seen in a bitch that has retained placenta?
Persistence of green coloured discharge
Treatments used for metritis
Fluids, NSAIDs, intra-uterine/parenteral antibiotic, drainage of fluids using oxytocin, calcium, uterine lavage
What happens during prolapse of uterus in sow, bitch and queen
eversion of one horn
sow- infrequently happens
Bitch/ queen- rare
What happens during prolapse of uterus in mare
eversion of the whole of the uterus
Describe how you would treat retained foetal membranes in cow
gentle removal (triple glove)
parenteral antibiotics if clinically ill
Giving ebolics (a drug or agent that hastens labour or abortion) has little to no effect - as not many receptors left after birth
What is metritis associated with
dystocia
assisted parturition
placental retention
What nerve damage is common in cows during parturition
Gluteal paralysis
obturator paralysis
Describe how to treat cow with nerve damage
NSAIDs
hobbling
provision of firm footing
general nursing
attention to mammary glands is important
