Bovine - Postpartum Disease Flashcards
What are the most common issues that can happen postpartum?
uterine prolapse, retained placenta, metritis/endometritis, and pyometra
What is uterine prolapse?
expulsion of the uterus
When does uterine prolapse typically occur?
within 4 hours post-calving
How common is uterine prolapse?
it occurs in less than 1% of all calvings
What are the predisposing factors to uterine prolapse?
dystocias with assistance, reduced uterine contractility, obese, breed predilections (Herefords), retained fetal membranes, or paresis
What can cause reduced uterine contractility?
hypocalcemia and oxytocin receptor not functioning at its peak
What complications are associated with uterine prolapse?
ruptured vessels, tears in the uterus, loss of caruncles, decreased fertility, and 18-20% mortality
What vessel are we most worried about rupturing?
the middle uterine artery
Are uterine prolapses emergent?
yes - it is a true emergency
What is the treatment for uterine prolapse?
put it back in quickly - epidural, clean uterus, and complete inversion of uterine tips
If a cow is down, what position should the cow be in to replace the uterus?
sternal recumbency with the legs pulled back
When putting the uterus back into the cow, what must you make sure not to use?
do not use your fingertips - the uterus is very friable and if you use your fingertips you may cause a tear in the uterus
What stich should you use to keep the uterus in place?
Buhner stich
What tool is helpful to get complete eversion of the uterine tip?
a probate
How long post partum is retained fetal membranes considered a retained placenta?
greater than 12 hours post partum
What is retention of the placenta primarily due to?
failure for cotyledonary villi detaching from maternall crypts of the caruncle
What other factors can lead to retained placenta?
endocrine, structural, immunological, vascular, and/or contractile changes
What are some prolonged issues that cows that had a retained placenta have?
fertility issues, poor milk production, and an increased risk of metritis
What are some ways to treat retained placenta?
manual removal - be careful, antibiotic (none are labeled), antiseptics, collagenase, hypertonic saline - yes, lavaging is important
Overall, what is the best treatment for retained placenta?
lavage and systemic antibiotics
All retained placenta animals should be re-evaluated _____ days after removal or elimation. Make sure to assess ______.
20-30, involution
What is metritis?
inflammation of all layers of uterine tissue
What type of discharge is associated with metritis?
fetid, watery-brown discharge with systemic illness
What is endometritis?
inflammation of only the endometrium
What are the two types of endometritis?
clinical vs. subclinical
What type of discharge is associated with endometritis?
purulent discharge
When is there a higher incidence of metritis/endometritis?
in cases of dystocia, twins, retained fetal membranes, trauma, and nutritional deficiencies - all it takes is a slight depression of the immune system
What pathogens are associated with metritis/endometritis?
F. necrophorum, T. pyogenes, Bacteroides, Clostridials, E. coli, proteobacteria
What pathogen typically causes the most severe endometritis?
T. pyogenes - usually 2 weeks post calving
When do clinical signs associated with metritis/endometritis typically show up?
within 2 weeks post-calving
What clinical signs can be associated with metritis/endometritis?
fever, anorexia, lethargic, fetid discharge, reduced milk yields, etc.
How is metritis/endometritis diagnosed?
history and clinical signs, true definitive diagnosis, and on-farm diagnosis
How do you get true definitive diagnosis of metritis/endometritis/
biopsy and culture, and cytology +/- vaginoscopy
How do you get an on-farm diagnosis of metritis/endometritis?
palpation or discharge categorizing
What will the uterus feel like on palpation if it has metritis?
large flaccid uterus without rugae, large amounts of fetid brown discharge when milked out by hand
What will the uterus feel like on palpation if it has endometritis?
enlarged horns but have identifiable thickening and fluid
What is pyometra?
a collection of purulent exudate within the lumen of the uterus, with a persistent CL, and stoppage of the estrous cycle
When does pyometra typically develop?
in females that cycle prior to contamination elimination post-partum
How is pyometra diagnosed?
visual discharge, palpation/ultrasound
What is the treatment for pyometra?
prostaglandin
