Final Lecture 6 Flashcards
Describe the first stage of labor in the cow
Lasts 2-6 hours
Calf rotates to upright position
Uterine contractions begin
Cow will be restless, isolated from the herd, and tail raised
What will you see at the end of stage 1 and beginning of stage 2?
Choriallantoic fluid (watery brown/yellow) Amniotic fluid next (thick, clear/white fluid)
What is the second stage of parturition in cows
Delivery
15- 90 min long (45 min average)
Fetus enters birth canal
Front feet and head protrude first
Third stage of parturition
2-12 hours
Cleaning/ expulsion of fetal membranes
If it has been 12 hours in third stage of parturition, what are you thinking? What should you not do
Retained fetal membranes and increased risk of metritis
Give oxytocin because the placentomes have no muscular tissue
Main causes of dystocia
Size disproportion between calf and dam Abnormal presentation, position, or posture of calf Twins Abnormal calves Other (weather, metabolic)
What are the cardinal rules of obstetrics?
Cleanliness and lubrication but not with soap because that will erode the natural oils
How to test if the calf is alive
Anterior- suckle, palpebral, and pedal reflex
Posterior- anal and pedal reflex
*both presentations you can feel pulse on umbilicus
What is presentation
Relation of spinal axis of the fetus to the dam and orientation
Longitudinal or transverse
Orientation is anterior or posterior in longitudinal or dorsal or ventral in transverse
What is position
Relation of the dorsum of the fetus in the longitudinal or head of the fetus in transverse to the maternal pelvis
Sacral, right ileal, left ileal, pubic
What is the posture
Relation of the fetal extremities to its own body
Flexed, extended, retained
What presentation, posture, and position is needed for eutocia
Longitudinal anterior or posterior
Dorso sacral
Normal position
What must you do before attempting to vaginally deliver a calf
Spend at least 10 minutes dilating the vulva, vagina, and cervix
How do you know if the calf can fit through the vagina when in anterior position?
Posterior position?
If pasterns are 10-15 cm (6-7 inches) beyond the vulva, the shoulders will have passed the iliac shaft
If both hocks appear at the vulva, the greater trochanters will have passed the iliac shaft
What do you have to do after the first half of the calf has come out to insure it can fit?
Rotate to dorso ilieal so the calf’s pelvis can fit through the dam
