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
How do you stimulate cardiac resuscitation/circulation?
Generally not undertaken in animals without a heartbeat. Successful resuscitation is unlikely in these settings. In foals, the likelihood for revival is approximately 50% if cardiac resuscitation is begun before development of a non-perfusing rhythm. Survival of less than 10% is expected when resuscitation efforts begin after asystole. In calves that are profoundly bradycardic, epinephrine (0.2 mL/kg of 1:10,000 solution IM or 0.1 mL/kg of 1:10,000 solution IV or intracardiac) can be administered. This produces a rapid tachycardia; however, the calf is still likely to require intubation and its ventilation assisted.
How much colostrum should you give and when?
It is recommended that to ensure adequate Ig intake it is important to administer two feedings of colostrum (2 L each) containing at least 50 g Ig/L. Ideally feed 2 L at birth and another 2 L 12 hours later. If adequate stores of colostrum are available then a further 2L could be fed before the 24 hours passes.
List some possible post-partum complications
- Hypocalcaemia
- Hypomagnasaemia
- Hypophosphataemia
- Combinations of the above
- Post parturient paralysis
- Metritis
- Endometritis
- Uterine tears
- Vulval tears
- Uterine prolapses
- Mastitis
- Retained foetal membranes
- Peritonitis
- Complications post-surgery (caesarean)
