Eutocia and Dystocia Flashcards
What are some prepartum changes that occur in pregnant animals?
- Udder edema and milk production about 2 weeks before
- Relaxation of the pelvic ligament and raised tail head
What is the biggest signal for the fetus to be released/ for birth to happen?
- The fetus releases cortisol ***
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What are the 3 stages of parturition?
- Stage 1: initiation of myometrial contractions –> baby starts to get in position to be expelled
- Stage 2: expulsion of the fetus –> chorioallantois is broken and baby comes out
- Stage 3: expulsion of the fetal membranes –> everything else comes out ** important for some species (horses!), not so much for other ones (cows)**
What is Ferguson’s Reflex?
- When the baby gets to the cervical canal, it puts pressure on the cervix and cause oxytocin to be released
What are the 3 Ps of Eutocia?
Presentation –> what are you presented with
Position –> where is the fetus spine in comparison to dams spine
Posture –> think about appendages when you think of posture, Want head and neck to be extended. Need to specify which joints are being retained to know how much work you need to do
What is the normal orientation of the cow in the birth canal?
Dorso - sacral
What is dystocia?
- Abnormal/ difficult birth
- Common in primiparous
What are the types of dystocia?
- Maternal causes –> Primary uternine intertia, secondary uterine inertia, abnormalities of the birth canal
- Fetal causes –> abnormal presentation, position, and posture, fetal monsters, fetal oversize
What is a fetotomy?
- Take a Gigli wire into the uterus and cut off pieces of the calf in order to remove it
What is anasarca?
When the fetus forms like a marshmallow, excessive soft tissue
What is fetopelvic dysproportion?
- When a heavily muscled or abnormal anatomically set animal has very difficult pregnancy –> usually has planned C-section
