Bovine - Gestational Issues Flashcards by Jessica Carson

What are the three main gestational issues that cattle have?

vaginal prolapse, hydrops, and dystocia

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When does vaginal prolapse typically happen?

prior to calving

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What can accompany vaginal prolapse?

cervical and bladder prolapse/eversion

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Anatomically, what leads to vaginal prolapse?

weaking of the vaginal floor structure

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What are possible causes of vaginal prolapse?

genetic, increase intra-abdominal pressure in late gestation, extremely cold weather, excessive perivaginal fat, previous injury, hormones, or metabolic

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What breeds of cattle are predisoposed to vaginal prolapse?

Herfords (polled), Charolais, Limousin, and Shorthorns

Bos indicus have a predisposition

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What can cause an increase in intra-abdominal pressure in late gestation?

a big calf or intake of large amounts of poor digestible roughage

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What causes over-conditioned females?

excessive perivaginal fat

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What hormone can be a cause of vaginal prolapse?

estrogen - in increasing concentrations

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What metabolic imbalance can cause vaginal prolapse?

an imbalance of calcium and phosphorus (hypocalcemia)

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What is a grade 1 vaginal prolapse?

small, intermittent protrusion of the vagina, only noticed when lying down

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What is the treatment for a grade 1 vaginal prolapse?

retention sutures or purposeful neglect

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What is a grade 2 vaginal prolapse?

small, continuous protrustion, +/- the eversion of the urinary bladder

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If a grade 2 vaginal prolapse is untreated for a period of time, what can happen?

it can turn into a grade 3

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What is the treatment for a grade 2 vaginal prolapse?

retention suture, +/- neglect

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What is a grade 3 vaginal prolapse?

when the entire vaginal mucosa and cervix is continuously protruded +/- the urinary bladder is trapped

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What is a grade 3 vaginal prolapse also known as?

cervico-vaginal eversion

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What is the treatment for a grade 3 vaginal prolapse?

retention sututre

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What is a grade 4 vaginal prolapse?

a grade 3 prolapse with duration causing necrotic and fibrotic tissue

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What is the treatment for a grade 4 vaginal prolapse?

cleaning/debridement, eliminate edema, + retention sutures

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What sutures can be used fo vaginal prolapses?

Caslicks, Buhner stitch, bootlace technique, and horizontal/vertical mattress

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Which grade of vaginal prolapse can the Caslicks suture be used for?

grade 1 only

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Are retention sutures temporary or permanent?

temporary - you need to make sure to remove prior to parturition

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What are some permanent vaginal prolapse treatments?

Minchev vaginopexy, modified Minchev vaginopexy, winkler cervicopexy

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What are the two types of hydrops?

hydroallantois and hydroamnios

What is the most common form of hydrops?

hydroallantois (85-95%)

What is a hydroallantois?

when there is a 10 fold increase of fluid in the allantoic sac - can provide up to 200L

What is the normal amount of fluid in the allantoic sac?

8-12 L

When is there a higer incidence of hydroallantois?

in IVP/CLONED CALVES

What condition is associated with hydroallantois?

placental dysfunction (adventitious placentation)

What fetal anomalies is hydroamnios associated with?

hydrocephalic calves, bulldog calves, contracted muscles (?), and excessive fluid in the fetus

What is the rate of development of hydroallantois and when does it happen?

rapid development (1 month) in the 3rd trimester

What clinical signs/features are associated with hydroallantois?

tense abdomen, small fetus (except in IVP calves), and refilling is fast

What is the outcome of hydroallantois?

abortion/maternal death

is there a chance of recurrance in hydroallantois cases?

yes because of the dam

What is the rate of development of hydroamnios?

slower development (several months)

What clinical signs/features are associated with hydroamnios?

piriform (non-tense) abdomen, fetus is malformed (big abdomen), and refilling does not occur

What si the outcome of hydroamnios?

abortion or dead at term/maternal survival

What are the 3 P's associated with parturition (and helpful in dystocia cases)?

presentation, position, and posture

What is the definition presentation (in reference to parturition)?

relationship of spinal axis of fetus to spinal axis of dam

What is longitudinal presentation?

cranial or cauldal (anterior/posterior)

What is transverse presentation?

dorsal or ventral

What is the normal presentation of a calf in parturition?

cranial longitudinal

What is the definition of position (in reference to parturition)?

relationship of the dorsum of the fetus to the quadrants of the pelvis

What are the quadrants of the pelvis?

sacrum, right and left ilum, and pubis

What is the normal position of a calf in parturition?

dorsosacral

What is the definition of posture (in reference to parturition)?

decribes the relationship of the extremities of the fetus to its own body

What are the different types of posture a calf could have?

flexed or extended, retained to the left or right, retained dorsal or ventral

What is considered a normal posture in parturition?

forelegs and head extended

What is the breech presentation (3 Ps)?

posterior longitudinal, dorsal sacral, with hindlimbs flexed underneath

What must you do to the calf in a breech presentation?

you need to get the calf as narrow as possible, so you need to get the hind limbs in an extended position

When using OB chains, is one loop or two loops better?

two (one loop and a 1/2 hitch) - the pressure is distributed better

What joint should the OB chains be oriented around?

the fetlock joint

How do you tell the difference between the forelimb and the hindlimb of a calf when feeling around in the womb?

the first two joints in the forelimb bend towards the abdomen of the calf (or caudally) and only the fetlock of the rear limb points caudally - you can also palpate for the calcanean tendon in the rear limb

To get a neck extended, what can you do?

put a chain around the poll of the head and then through the mouth - remember you do not want to pull on it, you just want to keep tension so that it stays extended

If there is one forelimb presenting, the head is out, but another forelimb is in flexion, what do you do?

You need to essentially push the calf back in and elevate the forelimb up until you can get to the bottom of the foot. Then you want to hold onto that hoof so that it does not tear the uterus - continue to readjust to get it extended

What is the largest (widest) point of the calf?

the hips

When using a fetal extractor or OB chains, what anatomic structure do we want to mimic to be successful?

the delivery arc - the calf, when born naturally, esentially does a uturn in the birthing canal

What are the causes of torsion of the uterus?

large fetus, breed predilection (Brown Swiss), and anatomy and stage of gestation

What part of the anatomy allows for torsion of the uterus?

the ventral attachment of the broad ligament is at the lesser curvature of the uterine horn, leaving the greater curvature free

What are the clinical signs of torsion of the uterus?

contractions without progression, no dilation of the cervix, and sometimes mild colic

How do you diagnose torsion of the uterus?

you can sometimes feel the twist in the posterior vagina (66%) or you palpate the broad ligament

What is uterine torsion based on?

the degree of the twist

How do you correct uterine torsion?

Planking the flank (you roll the cow around the uterus - roll in the same way of the torsion) or use a torsion rod (attach chains to a calf, attach to the rod, and rotate in the opposite direction)

What are the indications for a Cesarean section?

big calf, little cow/heifer, valuable calf, vaginal prolapse, disease control, injured cow, malformed calf or sschistosoma reflexus, uterine torsion, or easier on cow, calf, and clinician

What are the approaches to a C-section?

standing left or right flank (avoid), ventral midline approach, or paramedian

What is the approach of a c-section dependent on?

methods of restraint available

Why do you want to avoid a right flank approach for a c-section?

because when you cut on the right side, all of the intestines like to fall out of the incision

What pattern do you want to use to close up the abdomen?

utrech suture pattern - inverting and buries our sutures

Before doing a fetotomy, what must you confirm?

that the fetus is non-viable

How many cuts are involved in a full fetotomy?

5-6 cuts

What are the 5-6 cuts in a full fetotomy?

head +/- a forelimb, second forelimb, trunk (possible 2), and split pelvis

Most fetotomies are _____.

partial