Deviations of the head and clinical management in cattle Flashcards
Posture
Definition
Relation of the head, neck and legs of the fetus to its trunk
Posture
Normal
- flexed (ONLY: during pregnancy)
* extended (ONLY: during parturition)
Posture
Predisposing factors for abnormal postures:
- premature birth
- any types of uterine inertia
- twins
- reduction in the intrauterine space
Posture
Abnormal
head: 4 directions normally
1) Lateral deviation of the head
2) Downward displacement of the head (Vertex posture, Breast-head posture, nape
presentation
3) Upward displacement of the head
Abnormal Posture
Lateral deviation of the head
Cause
- dilatation failure of the cervix
* abnormal traction
Abnormal Posture
Lateral deviation of the head
Occurrence
Almost all animals ( + puppy )
• calves: left sided deviation more often
• foals: head can be deviated until the pelvic area
• foals: sometimes together with ankylosis
• sheep and goats: also occurs
Abnormal Posture
Lateral deviation of the head
Diagnosis
Manual palpation • one front leg ends more caudal • trachea turns to one side • nape can be palpated • head of calves can be reached, but not of foals
Abnormal Posture
Lateral deviation of the head
Prognosis
- calves: good
- foals: doubtful/ bad
- small ruminants: good, if cervix can be passed through the investigator’s hand
Abnormal Posture
Lateral deviation of the head
Treatment
1) Non bloody method:
For Short headed animals
• hand (muzzle, orbitae)
• mandibula snare loop
• Gagny-loop
• eye hooks
o Lateral deviation
o Can damage tissues and can modified head position
o Good for dead foetus
• Kühn’s crutch (foals)
• Krey-Schöttler double hook (foals)
2) Bloody method:
2 options :
Cut down head with one frontal leg
Cut down head itself at the entrance of the thorax
• partial fetotomy
o (onlyindeadfetuses!)
o (amputation of the head)
o (removal of the contralateral front leg)
• caesarean section
Abnormal Posture
Downward deviation of the head
Types
• Vertex posture -> Head itself can’t enter pelvic cavity but 2 legs inside
• Breast-head posture
Difference : How deeply head is deviated downward
Abnormal Posture
Downward deviation of the head
Cause
- dilatation failure of the cervix
* abnormal traction
Abnormal Posture
Downward deviation of the head
Occurrence
in foals, lambs more frequent
Abnormal Posture
Downward deviation of the head
Diagnosis
- Vertex posture: the head can not enter into the pelvic cavity, the two legs are inside
- Breast-head posture: can be misdiagnosed as the lateral deviation of the head
Abnormal Posture
Downward deviation of the head
Prognosis
• Vertex posture: good
• Breast-head posture: depends on:
o how complete abnormal pains can be switched off,
o if after putting the dam into dorsal recumbency, how close the head will
o be to the pelvic inlet
Abnormal Posture
Downward deviation of the head
Treatment
Non bloody method:
• hand (repelling the fetus, muzzle turned laterally; orbitae; one foreleg can be flexed into carpal or complete shoulder flexion)
• in Breast-head posture: dam should be layed down into dorsal position, Hind part should be
elevated
• Kühn’s-crutch (foals)
• eye hooks
Bloody method:
• partial fetotomy (amputation of the head, flexion of one foreleg can be beneficial)
• caesarean section
Vertex posture
Head can’t be eleviated up
Need partial fetotomy
Foetus often not alive anymore
