CAL: normal parturition in large animals Flashcards
Age of sexual maturity in the : goat pig sheep cow horse alpaca
- 4-8 months in goats
- 6-8 months in pigs
- 6-15 months in sheep
- 7-18 months in cows
- 12-24 months in horses
- 14-24 months in alpacas
Gestation length: alpaca horse cow goat sheep pig
- Alpaca – 343 days
- Horse – 330 days
- Cow – 280 days
- Goat – 150 days
- Sheep – 145 days
- Pig – 114 days
What are the 2 terms for parturition in alpacas?
• Alpacas – depends on user preference, American term is criating, Australian term is unpacking
Signs of 1st stage parturition in cow/doe/ewe
- Slackening of pelvic ligaments
- Change in mammary secretion from transparent secretion to colostrum
- Fall in temperature of 0.6°C around 54 hours before birth (Ewbank 1963)
- Signs of abdominal pain
- Occasional straining
- Irregular rumination
- ‘lowing’ and kicking at the belly
- May stand with back arched and tail raised
- May go down and rise again frequently
Signs of 1st stage parturition in sows
- Most farrow at night
- Swelling of vulva 4 days prior
- Mammary growth 1-2 days prior
- Milk expressed 24 hours prior
- Sows in late pregnancy tend to mostly be asleep in lateral recumbency
- Within 24 hours of birth of the first piglet there is a marked restlessness and nest-making activity
- Intensely active period is followed by recumbency and rest
- Intermittent clawing and champing of the bedding
- Periods of activity and rest alternate
- In the hour preceding the birth of the first piglet the sow will settle into lateral recumbency
Signs of 1st stage parturition in hembra (alpaca)
- Majority of normal births occur during daylight (usually 6am to 2pm)
- Udder development
- Relaxation of pelvic ligaments
- Female often separates herself from herd
- Stand up and lie down frequently
- Legs may be put out to the side
- May urinate frequently
Signs of 2nd stage parturition - cow/ewe/doe
- Straining more frequent
- Animal often remains standing initially
- Typically lays down during passage of head through vulva
- Remains recumbent until calf/lamb/kid is born
Signs of 2nd stage parturition - sow
- Cannot distinguish 2nd and 3rd stage labour in sow; placentas of adjacent piglets are often fused and may be expelled between piglets
- Usually remain recumbent; can stand, or change sides after initial births
- Intermittent straining with leg paddling movements
- Before each birth a small amount of foetal fluid will be passed together with tail twitching
- The most parturient effort is made to expel the first piglet
Signs of 2nd stage parturition - hembra (alapaca)
- Female usually remains standing; can lay down and get up frequently
- If recumbent will usually stand when head and legs have passed through vulva
- Female may have short rests once the head and forelimbs are passed
Placenta type - cow/sheep/goat
Cotyledonary - Epitheliochorial
Placenta type - horse/pig/alpaca
Diffuse - Epitheliochorial
Why might there be mortality or morbidity in cases of eutocia?
secondary to prematurity, dysmaturity, congenital defects and infectious processes
What does resuscitation in cattle tend to focus on? 2
focuses on establishing breathing and correction of acid-base abnormalities
What is the maximum time you should hold a calf upside to to clear its airways?
90 seconds
How can you stimulate respiration? 2
MECHANICAL: rub, finger in nose, acupuncture points on muzzle, cold water, positive pressure ventilation, mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose, avoid air travelling down oesophagus, place digital pressure over oseophagus to divert air to trachea
PHARMACOLOGICAL: Doxapram hydrochloride but unlikely to have a positive effect in calveswith profound CNS depression, secondary to hypercapnia
