Dystocia and Pregnancy and Puerperium Problems Flashcards
What are the stages around parturition?
Pre-parturient stage (predome) - Parturition - Puerperium (recovery of genital tract) - Postpartum period
What happens in the three stages of parturition?
1 - positioning of foetus, dilation of cervix, exposure of foetal membranes through vulva
2 - Expulsion of foetus
3 - Expulsion of placenta
Which stage of parturition, if not completed properly, is most likely to cause dystocia?
Stage 1
What are the three categories of dystocia?
Maternal - Foetal - Foeto-maternal
What are the maternal factors that cause dystocia?
Problems with expulsion - Problems with the birth canal
What are the foetal factors that cause dystocia?
The foetal size - Displacement of foetus
When is there a foeto-maternal disproportion that causes dystocia?
Inadequate pelvic diameter mixed with a foetus which is either too large or a monster
What are the problems that cause a) expulsion problems and b) birth canal problems in dystocia? Why do these happen?
a) Uterine inertia (primary or secondary) - calcium/oxytocin deficiency
b) Not a proper environment for straining
When met with a dystocia on a farm, what should you do first?
Get a history (term, straining begin, water bag, what’s been done so far) - General exam (dam’s status) - Adequate restraint of dam
When doing a specific exam of a dystocia case, what should you look for?
Vulva, vagina & cervix - dilation? injury? lubrication?
Foetus - presentation, posture, position - number - alive? - size
What is the main objective when facing a dystocia case?
To save the mother
In a traction forced extraction, what is essential to do?
Coordinate pulling with mother’s contractions - Once head is born rotate calf 90 degrees to allow hips to pass
What should be done differently when the calf is in caudal presentation?
Manual dilation of vulva and vagina - Check umbilical cord isn’t trapped between legs
How would you be able to check the pulse of a calf during parturition?
Umbilical pulse - Feel for heartbeat through ribs
Define what the presentation of the foetus is?
Relationship between longitudinal axis of foetus and dam and proportion of foetus entering birth canal (anterior = normal, posterior, transverse)
Define what the position of the foetus is?
Relationship between dorsal surface of foetus (vertebrae) and surface of birth canal (dorsal = normal, ventral, lateral)
Define what the posture of the foetus is?
The disposition of movable appendages of foetus (limb and neck flexions, head displacement)
What can cause incorrect disposition of foetus?
Weak uterine contractions - Delayed foetal reflexes - Weak foetal movements - Competition in uterine space - Oversized calf - Ankylosis of joints
After parturition, what is essential in dystocia patients?
Check for trauma and bleeding - Administer antibiotics/oxytocin/NSAIDs
How can you tell if embryonic loss was early or late?
Early mortality leads to a regular return to oestrus - Late leads to irregular return to oestrus
What would severely decrease the pregnancy rate in first service after parturition of a cow?
Loss of body condition score
True or false, most early pregnancy loss is due to infectious agents?
False
What can happen after foetal loss? (>42 days)
Maceration - Mummification - Abortion (152-270 days) - Still birth (born dead/ survived less than 24 hours)
What is hydrops? How is it treated?
Oedema of placenta - Cull/induce parturition/foetotomy
