Diseases of PP ewe dystocia metritis, vaginal prolapse, mastitis Flashcards
Problems for ewes
- metabolic/ nutritional diseases = TLD (pregnancy toxaemia), hypomagnesia, hypocalcaemia
- prolapses
- dystocia
- mastitis
- metritis
the lambing ewe, options…
- Vaginal Delivery, Caesarian, Embryotomy, Euthanasia
What questions would you ask farmer with dystocia
- Age, number, Hx, how long lambing for, what interventions already
Examination dystocia ewe
- General (to assess heath of ewe and is she fit enough to undergo further interventions
– BCS
– Systemic illness dull, depressed
– Anaemic?? Haemorrhage
– Signs of toxaemia
– Recumbent
How to deal with dystocia?
- Wear gloves
- Keep Clean as Possible
- Lots of lubrication
- use NSAIDS
- BEFORE start
- Use EPIDURALS
- Use ANTIBIOTICS – 3days
- Give Lamb Colostrum
causes of dystociainidcations of c section
- Oversized lamb
- Ringwomb- failure of cervix to dilate, lamb can’t get out
- Vaginal Prolapse
- Foetal monster (NOT if smelly lamb)
- Malpresentation
prep of c section
– Broad spectrum long-acting antibiotic (5 days coverage)
– NSAID (cascade from cattle: - meloxicam)
– Lateral recumbency (left side up)
– Clip left flank, scrub, local anaesthetic
– Drape
C section anaesthesia
- local infiltration procaine (plus adrenaline) (40ML TOTAL) down incision
- inverted L block
- Paravertebral (T13, L1, L2,L3) 5ML PROCAINE per site
- Sacro-coccygeal epidural (with xylazine)to reduce straining and provide additional analgesia
- Half way between Last rib and wing of ileum ½ way, 10-15 cm below transverse processes
- 10- 15 cm incision
- Skin
- Sub-cutaneous tissue
- (Scissors)
- External internal abdominal oblique and then lift transverse muscle, peritoneum before incise, these are thin so don’t puncture rumen – lift layers up
Causes of metritis?
- Opportunist infections environmental bacteria including Clostridium tetani which causes tetanus
– Often after Dystocia - Poor hygiene
- Dead lambs
– Post abortion
Clinical signs metritis
– Dull, depressed, recumbent
– Toxaemia congested mucous membranes suggesting toxaemia
– Red/brown or purulent vaginal discharge
How to treat metritis
- Antibiotics (e.g i.v oxytetracycline, NSAIDS
- Guarded prognosis, esp toxaemic
- May affect milk production monitor lambs
- Prevention
– Review lambing hygiene measures (gloves), dystocia management, and environmental hygiene and vaccination policy
when do we see vaginal prolapse
last 4 weeks of pregnancy 1-2%
* Vagina or vagina and cervix, may include bladder, uterus, rectum. Can be v servere
causes of vaginal prolapse
– Prolific breeds> hill breeds
– Litter size inc
– Age older ewe = damage to pelvic floor
– History 35-40% will re-prolapse
– Nutritional factors
* Obesity
* bulky feeds poor quality forages
* Hypocalcaemia
* lack of trough space – gorging on food and bloating
– Stocking rates
– lack of exercise
– Slopes lie facing uphill = constant pressure on pelvic floor
Treatment of vaginal prolapses
– Mild and uncomplicated cases, can use
o Retention devices - Discomfort, irritation mucosa, secondary infection
o Harnesses – external support, Careful positioning, Avoid pressure sores, Need to check
o Spoon is intravaginal which can stimulate straining and risk of infection
o NSAIDs (not for pain but to reduce swelling of tissues and infection)
o LA antibiotic
surgical treatment prolapse
- Epidural anaesthesia
– Straining and Analgesia
– Sacrococcygeal or 1st intercoccygeal space
– give 1.75 ml 2% procaine (LA) for short action
– or 1.75 ml procaine + 0.25ml 2% xylazine (sedative) for longer action stop straining (24h+)
– risk recumbency during this period
– NSAIDS
– Antibiotic 3-5 days
treating prolapse
- Clean and assess tissue
– Mild antiseptic e.g. chlorhexidine - Replace the prolapse
– Gently palm of hand
– Raise back end of ewe - Suture
– Obstetrical tape which isn’t suture material
– Purse string (leave 1.5cm opening)
– Buhner – insert needle at bottom, run under skin till comes out of top and same on other side. Tie in bow at bottom - Mark ewe, remove sutures before lambing
Mastitis
common prevalence often higher than we think
Per acute/ gangrenous mastitis
- Immediately post lambing, but often 4-8 weeks post lambing when ewe is in peak lactation when under highest metabolic stress
- Ewe sick, toxaemia, tachycardia, rumen stasis, inappetant, lame, recumbent, dull, depressed
- Lambs hungry
- Udder swollen, cold blue, clear boundary between diseased and healthy tissue, well eventually slough
- Milk severely discoloured
- Lame
Gangrenous mastitis will eventually fall off
Acute mastitis
- Less severe than gangrenous
- Immediately post lambing, but often 4-8 weeks post lambing when ewe is in peak lactation
- Ewe fever, lame, lambs hungry
- Udder red, painful swollen
- Milk abnormal appearance, discoloured, clots, watery
Chronic mastitis
- Chronic udder infection
- Often detected when ewe is dry at weaning or culling time, but maybe when ewe lambs and udder being checked
- Ewe not systemically ill
- Udder abscesses, swollen or light purulent discharge from teats
main organism involve in sheep
- Most common in UK are:-
– Staphylococcus aureus- FROM teat skin - – Mannheimia haemolytica- FROM lambs mouths
- Also see
– Strep spp.? Environmental???
– E. Coli ? Environmental
– A pyogenes - Other ones to think about
– Maedi -visna
– Leptospira interogans var hardjo
– Mycoplasma agalactiae- notifiable and rare in UK
– MILK SAMPLE FOR BACTERIOLOGY CAN HELP DIFFERENTIATE and determine source of infection to help taylor tx
Risk factors of mastitis
- nutrition
- concurrent Disease
- prolific
- Age
- Udder confirmation
- udder abscess/ chronic infection
- teat lesions
- genetic factors lamb and ewe
- hygeine
- milking practices in dairy sheep
Tx mastitis
- Prompt
- Gangrenous
– Euthanasia (prognosis so poor) - Acute
– Systemic antibiotics - Based on culture and sensitivity
- First line going in blind try amoxicillin minimum 5 days
- Tilmicosin is licensed product for M in sheep (vet only)
– Stripping of udder to remove toxins and bacteria
– NSAIDs
– Oral or IV fluids
– Supportive care for ewe and lamb - Chronic
– Culling
– Udder damaged, won’t be able to feed lambs properly
