Cats Abortion, Spontaneous (Early Pregancy Loss) Flashcards

1
Q

Definition of Abortion

A

Loss of pregnancy at any time prior to the fetus ability to survive out of utreas.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Definition of early pregancy loss

A

Loss of pregancy and death of a conceptus within three first half of gestation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Definition of conceptus

A

theembryoin theuterus, especially during the early stages of pregnancy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Pathophysiology

A

Non-infectious causes are more common
Infectious causes such as direct infection of the embryo, uterus, placenta or fetus or indirectly by systemic infection.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Systems affected

A

Reproductive
Endocrine
Other systems resulting in debilitating illness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Definition of Debilitating

A

making someone very weak andinfirm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Genetics

A

Higher incidence in purebred or closed
research catteries with closely related
individuals; heritability of susceptibility to
feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV)
suspected to be high.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

INCIDENCE/PREVALENCE

A

Difficult to determine, as pregnancy may not
be diagnosed early. Loss or resorption of one
or two conceptus within a litter is not
uncommon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

SIGNALMENT

A

Increased incidence in queens >5 years old;
increased risk in purebred cats with high
inbreeding.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

SIGNS General Comments

A

Frequently no clinical symptoms other than
lack of pregnancy or reduced litter size.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Signs historical finding

A

Failure to deliver kittens at expected due date,
return to estrus sooner than expected
(approximately 45 days), discovery of fetal
tissues or placenta, behavior change, systemic
illness.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Signs Physical Examination Findings

A

Signs range from normal to dehydration,
fever, abdominal straining, and discomfort to
presence of purulent, mucoid, watery, or
sanguineous vaginal discharge.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

CAUSES
Infectious

A

• Bacterial—organisms implicated in causing
abortion via ascending infection through the
vaginal vault and cervix include E. coli,
Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp.,
Chlamydia spp., Pasteurella spp., Klebsiella spp.,
Pseudomonas spp., Salmonella spp., Mycoplasma
spp., and Ureaplasma spp. • Protozoal—
Toxoplasma gondii. • Viral— feline leukemia
virus (FeLV), feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1),
FIP, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV),
feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Non infectious cause

A

• To rule out anovulatory cycle, confirm
progesterone >2ng/mL one week following
mating. • Hypoluteoidism—serum
progesterone level <1.0ng/mL prior to
abortion indicates luteal failure. • Disorder of
sexual development—evaluate external
genitalia, karyotype, and histopathology of
reproductive tract and gonads

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Imaging

A

Abdominal ultrasound—most specific;
pregnancy confirmed after 25 days.
Re-ultrasound every 1–2 weeks for high-risk
queens. Confirm fetal heart rates and assess
fetal fluids and placenta in late gestation
(normal fetal heart rates >200bpm).
Visualization of fetal kidney and intestinal
peristalsis indicates fetal maturity.
• Abdominal radiographs—after 45 days, can
evaluate fetal number, relative size, and
position; also assess fetal death (gas pockets)
or fetal malformation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES

A

Submit aborted, stillborn, mummified
fetuses and fetal membranes (fresh or
refrigerated on ice) for gross necropsy,
histopathology, cultures, and viral isolation.
Submit culture of reproductive tract or entire
tract if removed (uterus, ovaries, oviducts).
Submit samples from aborted and stillborn
fetus for karyotyping. • Pedigree analysis—
evaluate COI. • Evaluate cattery management
for vaccination protocols, feeding regime,
sanitation procedures, and quarantine
procedures. • Nutrition—nutritional analysis
of diet: of particular importance when queen
is fed homemade and/or raw diet.

17
Q

PATHOLOGIC FINDINGS

A

Variable with etiology.

18
Q

TREATMENT
APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE

A

None, for noninfectious, stable queens;
primary hypoluteoidism—managed on
outpatient basis.

19
Q

Treatment NURSING CARE

A

Inpatient management if systemically ill,
debilitated, severely dehydrated, or for
medical management of ongoing fetal loss or
pyometra.

20
Q

Treatment activity

A

ACTIVITY
• Isolation for queens with infectious disease.
• No activity restrictions for most; restrict
activity as indicated if due to trauma.

21
Q

Diet treatment

A

DIET
• Feed commercially available diet labeled for
use in pregnancy. • Correct diets with
inappropriate taurine or vitamin A concentrations. • Avoid feeding raw meats or
allowing queens to hunt during pregnancy to
reduce risk for ingestion of pathogenic
bacteria and T. gondii

22
Q

Client educational treatment

A

Infectious diseases—verify vaccination
status (vaccinate prior to pregnancy) and
disease surveillance measures; ensure use of
quarantine facilities for pregnant queens and
new arrivals. • Breeding management—keep
detailed records of reproductive performance,
pedigree analysis, and social behavior of
queens (including when not receptive to male).
• Nutrition—advise feeding commercial cat
food during pregnancy. • Genetic disease—
discuss COI and value of introducing new
genetics. • Discuss risk of zoonotic disease
from T. gondii.

23
Q

Treatment SURGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

A

Ovariohysterectomy (OHE) may be
considered if queen is systemically ill from
uterine infection or deceased fetuses. If
valuable breeding animal, Cesarean section
can be performed to remove deceased fetuses.