Deviations of the forelimbs and clinical management in cattle

Question 1

Posture

Definition

Answer 1

Relation of the head, neck and legs of the fetus to its trunk

Question 2

Posture

Normal

Answer 2

• flexed (ONLY: during pregnancy)

* extended (ONLY: during parturition)

Question 3

Posture

Predisposing factors for abnormal postures:

Answer 3

• premature birth
• any types of uterine inertia
• twins
• reduction in the intrauterine space

Question 4

Posture

Abnormal

Answer 4

• forelimbs:

1) Carpal-flexion posture
2) Incomplete extension of the elbow
3) Shoulder-flexion posture = Complete retention of the forelimb
4) Foot-nape posture

Question 5

Abnormal posture

Carpal-flexion posture

Occurrence

Answer 5

• one or both carpal joints are flexed
• advanced, invaded, jammed in or wedged in position
• -Lateral or bilateral

Question 6

Abnormal posture

Carpal-flexion posture

Prognosis

Answer 6

• depends how far the fetus entered into the pelvic cavity

Question 7

Abnormal posture

Carpal-flexion posture

Treatment

Answer 7

1) Non bloody method:
• hand (metacarpus should be pushed dorsally and cranially, hooves should be lifted into the pelvic brim by protecting them with cupped hand)
• hand and obstetrical chains/ snares
• hand and Kühn’s crutch
• hand (metacarpus should be pushed dorsally and cranially, hoofs should be lifted into the
pelvic brim by protecting them with cupped hand) -> PIC
o Foetus can’t damage the birth canal

2) Bloody method:
• partial fetotomy (at least one bone row should remain)
o 3 bones layers on carpus -> Leave 1 layer

Question 8

Abnormal posture

Incomplete extension of the elbow

Cause

Answer 8

abnormal traction, the two joints (elbow and shoulder) remain flexed, large fetus, weak uterine activity

Question 9

Abnormal posture

Incomplete extension of the elbow

Occurrence

Answer 9

calves

Question 10

Abnormal posture

Incomplete extension of the elbow

Diagnosis

Answer 10

head is beyond the hoofs

Question 11

Abnormal posture

Incomplete extension of the elbow

Prognosis

Answer 11

relatively good, if not wedged in

Question 12

Abnormal posture

Incomplete extension of the elbow

Treatment

Answer 12

1) Non bloody method:
• head is repelled, two legs should be pulled
• hand
• hand and obstetrical chains/ snares
• hand and Kühn’s crutch

2) Bloody method:
• partial fetotomy

Question 13

Abnormal posture

Shoulder-flexion posture

Cause

Answer 13

shoulder joint remains flexed

Question 14

Abnormal posture

Shoulder-flexion posture

Occurrence

Answer 14

• relatively seldom
• often in piglets and puppies -> Easy to solve

But in Ru, large animal it’s a nightmare

Question 15

Abnormal posture

Shoulder-flexion posture

Diagnosis

Answer 15

no legs in the birth canal

Question 16

Abnormal posture

Shoulder-flexion posture

Prognosis

Answer 16

good if fetus is small and maternal pelvic cavity is large

Question 17

Abnormal posture

Shoulder-flexion posture

Treatment

Answer 17

1) Non bloody method:
in two phases (creating carpal flexion first)
• Carpal traction after carpal flexion
o hand
o hand and obstetrical chains/ snares
o hand and Kühn’s crutch
o in small fetuses also traction without reposition (piglets, puppies)

2) Bloody method:
• partial fetotomy (head and one leg together)

Question 18

Abnormal posture

Foot-nape posture

Answer 18

Head in birth canal under the feet

Traction can’t be performed -> Stucked

Question 19

Abnormal posture

Foot-nape posture

Cause

Answer 19

long extremities

Question 20

Abnormal posture

Foot-nape posture

Occurrence

Answer 20

foals, small ruminants (goat, sheep), calves

Question 21

Abnormal posture

Foot-nape posture

Diagnosis

Answer 21

legs above the head /neck

Question 22

Abnormal posture

Foot-nape posture

Prognosis

Answer 22

doubtful, bad usually