Female Tract

Question 1

What does examination of the Mammary glands involve?

Answer 1

1. Correct number of teats?
2. Shows evidence of the oestrus cycle
3. Presence of current disease?
4. Evidence of previous disease?

Question 2

What does examination of the perineum involve?

Answer 2

1. Observing conformation of vulva
2. Evidence of vulval swelling?
3. Presence of any discharge?
4. Evidence of venereal pathogens?

Question 3

What venereal pathogens affect the perineum and can be found during the examination of perineum?

Answer 3

Coital exanthema in mares (Equine herpes 4)

Infectious pustular vulvovaginitis of cows (Bovine herpes virus 1)

Question 4

What does examination of the vulva involve?

Answer 4

1. Is it normal or abnormal? Previous injury or surgery?

2. Presence of normal or abnormal discharge?

Question 5

What are some examples of normal vulva discharge observed at different times of the bitch cycle?

Answer 5

Oestrus - Clear/straw coloured discharge or haemorrhagic discharge
Metoestrus - Mucoid discharge
Proestrus - Haemorrhagic discharge
Also normal for bitch to have mucoid discharge during pregnancy

Question 6

What are some examples of abnormal discharge?

Answer 6

Rabbit uterine cancers produce haemorrhagic vulval discharge

Purulent discharge in bitch with pyometra

Question 7

What are the differentials for a purulent vaginal discharge in the bitch?

Answer 7

Vaginitis, pyometra and metritis

Question 8

What are the differentials for a haemorrhagic discharge in the bitch?

Answer 8

Cystitis, vaginal ulceration and urinary tract neoplasia

Question 9

What are the differentials for haemorrhagic discharge in the bitch during pregnancy?

Answer 9

Abortion

Placental separation

Question 10

What are the different methods to exam the vestibule, vagina and cervix?

Answer 10

Direct visualisation
Blind palpation
Manual scooping of contents and later inspection

Question 11

When oestrogen is dominated what happens to the cervix and uterus?

Answer 11

Cervix is broad and soft (patent)

Uterus is large and oedematous (soft)

Question 12

When progesterone is dominated what happens to the cervix and uterus?

Answer 12

Cervix is hard and narrow (closed)

Uterus is small and has increased tone

Question 13

What are the different methods of examination of the uterus?

Answer 13

Trans-rectal palpation 
Trans-abdominal palpation
Radiography
Ultrasound
Endoscopy 
Uterine biopsy

Question 14

What is palpation of the uterus useful for?

Answer 14

Stage of cycle
Pregnancy
Status of involution
Infection (endometritis, pyometra and metritis)

Question 15

What is radiography of the uterus useful for?

Answer 15

Uterine enlargement (displacement of bowel)
Pregnancy detection (After mineralisation)
Counting foetal number/ confirming retention
Confirming fetal death but signs take few days to establish

Question 16

What is ultrasonography useful for?

Answer 16

Stage of cycle
Diagnosis of pregnancy (early)
Uterine pathology
Foetal development/ well being

Question 17

What are uterine swabs useful for?

Answer 17

Screening for pathogenic organisms

Selection of appropriate therapeutics

Question 18

What is uterine endoscopy useful for?

Answer 18

Diagnosis of uterine pathology- e.g. endometrial cysts, fibrosis in mare.
Selected biopsy
Treatment of some lesions - laser/ cautery

Question 19

What is biopsy of the uterus useful for?

Answer 19

Documentation of pathology

Prognosis for fertility (mare)

Question 20

What are some methods used to examine the uterine tubes?

Answer 20

Inspection of papilla via uterine endoscopy - mare
Phenol-sulphonphthalein tests
Laparotomy/laparoscopy
Trans-rectal palpation

Question 21

What is rectal examination of the ovaries useful for?

Answer 21

Confirmation of normality
Detection of cyclicity
Estimation of the stage of the cycle
Prediction of ovulation
Detection of pathology

Question 22

What is ultrasound of the ovaries useful for?

Answer 22

Confirmation of normality
Detection of cyclicity
Estimation of the stage of the cycle
Prediction of ovulation
Detection of pathology

Question 23

What methods can be used to confirm functioning pitutary and ovary?

Answer 23

Oestrus- signs of oestrus and secondary effect.
Measurement of progesterone by ELISA
Administration of GnRH stimulates pituitary to produce LH and FSH in anoestrus
Administration of hCG will stimulate rise in oestrogen in anoestrus
Vaginal smear