Dystocia & Neonatal Critical Care Flashcards
How long is the gestation period usually?
65 days
What does dystocia mean?
Difficulty giving birth.
What two types of non-obstructive dystocia are there?
Primary uterine inertia & secondary uterine inertia
Clinical signs of primary uterine inertia
Signs of parturition
No progression with parturition
Green discharge
Treatment for primary uterine inertia?
Administer oxytocin to stimulate uterine contractions.
When may secondary uterine inertia happen?
Can develop after a bitch has given birth to some puppies but then contractions stop.
Clinical signs of secondary uterine inertia
No progression with parturition.
What are some maternal causes of dystocia?
Uterine torsion/rupture
Congenital malformations of uterus
Soft tissue abnormalities
Narrow pelvic canal
What are some foetal causes of dystocia?
Oversized foetus’
Mal-presentations
Malformations
Foetal death
What are some mal-presentations?
2 foetuses trying to come out at same time.
Lateral presentation
Posterior presentation
Breech presentation
Sideways deflection of head
Downward deflection of head
What are some common malformations?
Cyclopia - enlarged head & eyes close together
Hydrocephalus
Failure of abdominal wall to close
Clinical signs of foetal caused dystocia
No progression with parturition.
Low plasma progesterone
Low rectal temp
Green discharge
Unproductive straining
Palpation of foetus
What is metritis?
A bacterial infection of the uterus.
Clinical signs of metritis?
Purulent vulvar discharge
Lethargy
Anorexia
Sub-normal temp
Dehydration
Straining
Clinical signs of haemorrhage?
Bitch will be unsettled initially, then depressed, will then start showing signs of shock.
Clinical signs of retained foetus/placenta.
Green discharge from vulva
Restlessness by bitch & avoidance of sucking her puppies
Signs of sepsis
Clinical signs of mastitis?
Hot, swollen & painful mammary glands.
Acute septic mastitis - what is it? Signs?
Introduction of bacterial infection.
Hot, swollen, painful mammary glands, lethargy, Pyrexia, abscess formation in mammary glands.
What is hypocalcaemia/eclampsia? Clinical signs?
Low calcium in blood - known as milk fever - occurs from lowered serum concentration of calcium.
Excitability of neuromuscular tissue, facial rubbing, behaviour changes, possible seizures.
