Bovine obstetrics (Galvao)

Question 1

Stages of Labor

Answer 1

1. Stage 1 (lasts 2-6 hours)
   
   • 2-6 hours
   • calf rotates upright
   • Uterine contractions begin
   • restless, tail raised
   • cow isolates from herd
2. Stage 2 (lasts 15-90 minutes)
   
   • Rupture of choriallantoic membrane (not commonly seen)
     
     • ​watery brown or yellow fluid
   • expulsion of amniotic sac (usually what people perceive first)
     
     • thick, clear, white fluid
   • similar for cows/heifers (heifers more likely to have dystocia)
3. Stage 3 (lasts 2-12 hors)
   
   • ​Expulsion of fetal membranes
   • RFM > 12 hours

Question 2

For expulsion of fetal membranes

Answer 2

• Collagenase required to break bond between caruncle and cotyledon
• Immune system must recognize placenta as foreign
• Retained placenta = immune malfunction
  
  • prostaglandin and oxytocin don’t help
  • placentomes have no muscle tissue on which oxytocin can act

Question 3

Main causes of dystocia

Answer 3

1. Size disporportion between calf and dam
2. Abnormal presentation, position, posture of calf
3. Twin calves
4. Abnormal calves (monsters)
5. Other causes
   
   • heat stress
   • metabolic problems
   • hypocalcemia…?

Question 4

Obstetrical Examination

Vaginal exam

cardinal rules

Answer 4

• Vaginal Examination
  
  • Animal standing (preferable)
  • Proper restraint
• Cardinal Rules of Obstetrics
  
  • cleanliness
  • lubrication

Question 5

Vaginal exam of fetus

Answer 5

• alive or dead
• presentation
• position
• posture

Question 6

Determining if calf is alive or dead

Answer 6

• anal reflex
• suckle
• cause pain to make it move

Question 7

Presentation

Answer 7

• Relation of spinal axis of fetus to dam
  
  • longitudinal
    
    • anterior
    • posterior
  • transverse (not common in normal calves)
    
    • dorsal
    • ventral

Question 8

Position

Answer 8

• Relationship of dorsum of fetus in longitudinal
• Relationship of head in transverse
  
  • ​Sacrum
  • Right ileum
  • Pubis
  • Left Ileum

Question 9

Posture

Answer 9

• Relationship of fetal extremeties (head, neck, limbs) to own body
  
  • flexed
  • extended
  • retained beneath, left or right of fetus

Question 10

Recap

Answer 10

1. Know presentation, position, posture
2. Know what happens in different stages of pregnancy