Final Lecture 4

Question 1

What will you see 1-2 weeks before parturition

Answer 1

Small amount of clear/tan vulvar discharge
Anorexia/panting
May see mammary development
“Nesting” behavior
P4 less than 2 means 12-48 hours away
Body temp drop
GI peristalsis on fetal US

Question 2

What are the three stages of canine parturition

Answer 2

Preparation
Fetal expulsion
Placental passage

Question 3

What are the rules of dystocia

Answer 3

Prolonged gestation
Stage 1 more than 12 hours
Stage 2 more than 4 hours with no pup
Stage 2 with hard contractions more than 30 min
More than 2 hours since pup was born
Bitch is systemically ill
Frank vulvar hemorrhage
Green vulvar discharge before pups
Obvious abnormal presentation

Question 4

What is uterine inertia?
Primary?
Secondary?

Answer 4

Inability for uterine muscle to contract
Primary is when the passage is fine but pups still aren’t coming

Secondary is obstructive

Question 5

What are maternal causes of dystocia

Answer 5

Inadequate size of birth canal (breed dispositions, vaginal strictures or septae)

Uterine torsion or rupture “acute abdomen”

Question 6

What are fetal causes of dystocia

Answer 6

Fetal oversize (singletons, hydrocephalus/anasarca)

Abnormal presentation or posture (transverse, breech, deviation of head, neck, or limbs)

Question 7

What type of dystocia can you see oxytocin with?

Answer 7

Primary.

NEVER secondary

Question 8

What are some causes of primary uterine inertia

Answer 8

Hypocalcemia

Hypoglycemia

Question 9

What are the components of your dystocia workup

Answer 9

Thorough but quick exam and history
Digital exam of vagina
Bloodwork
US
Fetal HR- 2-2.5x bitch
Rads

Question 10

What anesthetic drugs should you avoid during C section

Answer 10

Ketamine
Methoxyflurane
Xylazine
Acepromazine

Question 11

How to time an elective C section

Answer 11

Between 63-65 days post LH peak
Daily P4 monitoring (cut when P4 is less than 2)
Fetal HR monitoring (cut when HR is less than 180)

Question 12

What can corticosteroids do to fetuses

Answer 12

Induce final fetal maturation

Can give day before or morning of elective c section

Question 13

Elements of neonatal resuscitation

Answer 13

Vigorous rubbing to stimulate breathing- NOT SWINGING
Suction airway
Oxygen
Keep dry and warm
May administer dextrose, doxaprame, or epi under the tongue

Question 14

What to look for on neonatal exam

Answer 14

Cleft palate
Limbs and toes
Functional anus
Umbilical hernia
Gender

Question 15

When should uterus be involuted

Answer 15

3 months post partum

Question 16

What is lochia

Answer 16

Vulvar discharge

Can be seen up to 12 weeks post partum as long as bithc is healthy and it isn’t smelly

Question 17

What is agalactia

Answer 17

Lack of milk production or let down

Question 18

What are common complications with post partum bitch

Answer 18

Mastitis
Metritis
Hypocalcemia
SIPS

Question 19

Who does hypocalcemia usually affect and when

Answer 19

Small breed 1-4 weeks post partum

*can supplement calcium during lactation

Question 20

What is SIPS

Answer 20

Sub involution of placental sites (fetal cells live at placental sites of the uterus)

Question 21

Describe cat dystocias

Answer 21

Usually cats don’t have dystocia
Can have very long parturitions that are still normal
May have all the same problems as dogs (metritis, mastitis, hypocalcemia, agalactia, SIPS, uterine prolapse)