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Module 18: Ruminant Production > Mechanics of Ewe Obstetrics & Perinatal Conditions > Flashcards

Mechanics of Ewe Obstetrics & Perinatal Conditions Flashcards

1
Q

What are problems at lambing time

A

abortion

metabolic disease

dystocia

prolapses

metritis

mastitis

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2
Q

what are common themes of preventing lambing problems

A

Good Treatment of ewes/lambs

Selecting replacements

Strict culling policy

Good hygiene

Good nutrition

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3
Q

what are the pros of outdoor lambing

A

Usually more hygienic

Ewes more relaxed

Less mismothering

Less labour (1 shepherd to 600-1000 ewes)

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4
Q

what are the cons of outdoor lambing

A

Harder to catch ewes and lambs

Predation/crows

Risk of hypothermia

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5
Q

what are the pros to indoor lambing

A

Easier to handle ewes and lambs

Close monitoring day and night

Nutrition easier to manage

Less reliant on weather

Hypothermia is less common

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6
Q

what are the cons to indoor lambing

A

Increased risk of infectious disease

Poor ventilation = more pneumonia

Ewes can lie on lambs

More labour (1 sheered to 250-300 ewes)

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7
Q

what is the start of 2nd stage labour

A

Pass water bag (2nd stage labour)

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8
Q

how do you decide when to intervene

A
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9
Q

how do you minimize damage to the ewe

A

Lots of lubrication

Don’t hurry

Gentle manipulation

Avoid excessive traction

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10
Q

what situations can fetal manipulation and manual extraction be used for (4)

A
  1. correctable malpresentations/positions/posture
  2. tangled multiple lambs
  3. no fetomaternal disproportion (may change when corrected)
  4. no severe deformities
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11
Q

what situations can fetotomy be used for (2)

A

often not feasible in sheep

unless rotten lambs falling apart

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12
Q

what situations can caudal epidural, manual extraction be used for (4)

A
  1. ewe appears painful
  2. significant manipulation required
  3. dead lamb with only slight disproportion
  4. episiotomy needed
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13
Q

what situations can caesarean section be used for (7)

A
  1. no progress with lambing with 15 mins
  2. fetomaternal disproportion
  3. large lamb in posterior presentation or ewe with small pelvis
  4. vaginal prolapse – non reducable/swelling impeding pelvis
  5. severe deformities of ewe or lamb
  6. unresponsive ringwomb
  7. unresponsive uterine torsion
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14
Q

what situations can euthanasia be used for (2)

A
  1. dead putrid lamb(s) and sick ewe (can try fluids and meds)
  2. caesarean section but client not willing
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15
Q

what are causes of dystocia

A
  1. abnormal fetal placement
  2. maternal structural/functional factors
  3. fetomaternal disproportion
  4. deformities
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16
Q

what are fetal malpresentations (4)

A
  1. anterior
  2. posterior
  3. transverse
  4. verticle
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17
Q

what are fetal positions (3)

A
  1. dorsal
  2. ventral
  3. left or right lateral
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18
Q

what are postural abnormalities

A

head and limbs

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19
Q

what are signs of fetomaternal disproportion

A
  1. anterior presentation: forelimbs crossed in birth canal, head deviation
  2. posterior presentation: pelvis doesn’t fit into birth canal
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20
Q

what are maternal functional factors (3)

A
  1. uterine interia: lack of energy, lack of calcium, over-stretching of uterus
  2. uterine torsion: rare in sheep, often don’t see water bag, try rolling to correct
  3. ringwomb
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21
Q

what are possible causes of ringwomb

A

Prematurity/abortion

Disturbance in 1st stage labour

Malpresentation

Calcium deficiency

Exogenous estrogens (ex. fungal Fusarium in feed)

Inflammation/scarring from prolapse/historical injuries

Poor initiation of parturition by lamb?

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22
Q

what is ringwomb

A

cervix less than 5cm dilated 2 hours into 2nd stage labour

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23
Q

how is ringwomb treated

A

Attempt manual dilation, but risk trauma

Calcium injection

Hormonal (prostaglandin but CARE!)

  • Pushing against a closed cervix can cause uterine ruptures

Caesarean section

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24
Q

what are maternal structural issues/deformaties

A

Pelvis narrow or shallow

Abnormal bony protuberances into canal

Previous damage (ex. pelvic fracture)

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25
what are fetal structural issues/deformities
Genetic Infectious (Schmallenburg virus) Teratogenous plants, medicines etc
26
what are essential equipment for lambing
Lubricant Disinfect and clean warm water Clean lambing ropes Antibiotics Anti-inflammatories Calcium (injectable) Twin lamb drench Local anesthetic Clean needs (19 gauge, 1 inch) Syringes (2ml, 5ml, 10ml, 50ml) Surgical kit IV fluids and giving set Obstetrical tape Post-mortem needle or Buhner suture needle Lamb head snare 5 amp electrical cable x 1 meter Lamb stomach tube Replacement colostrum Navel dip (10% iodine solution)
27
how do you do manual extraction
Gentle Lubrication Steady Angle of lamb Check for more lambs * 2nd, 3rd, 4th Meconium
28
what leads to a good outcome of c section
Lambs alive or freshly dead Ewe healthy No excessive trauma of ewe
29
what are the differences between elective CS and vaginal delivery
Ewe and lamb survival similar Lamb growth rates similar Subsequent year reduced lamb #s after CS
30
what medications are given before C section
Antibiotic cover (min 5-7 day course) Anti-inflammatory Local anesthesia
31
what are meds given after c section
oxytocin
32
what analgesia and anesthesia is used for c section
Procaine — minor surgeries only Lignocaine — equine license * Quicker onset, longer duration, more potent Sedations — on cascade from cattle license NSAIDs — on cascade * Meloxicam 1mg/kg (double cattle dose)
33
what do you need to be careful of when using procaine and lignocaine
take care not to overdose
34
what local anesthetic methods can be used
35
how is the lumbosacral extradural injection done
1ml per 4.5kg 2% lignocaine Warm solution Inject over 20 seconds Must keep head and thorax up * Don’t want anesthetic going up the spinal canal and causing anesthesia of the thorax and brain Lay ewe on left hand side for 5 mins Good visceral relaxation Prevents straining May be off legs for 4 hours
36
what should you do in lamb aftercare
Check breathing * Remove membranes * Rub chest vigorously * Stick straw up the nose * DO NOT swing * Dislodge stomach contents and can aspirate * DO NOT give mouth to mouth navel treatment colostrum meconium
37
what should you tell the farmer to about after care for c section
Colostrum to lambs Ensure ewe can stand Ask farmer to: Check for vaginal discharges and retained fetal membranes Monitor for wound swelling Suture out after 2-3 weeks
38
how do you decide whether or not antibiotics should be given after c section
39
how is dystocia prevented with nutrition
Target BCS 2.5-3.5 Don’t under or overfeed in last trimester Feed space: ensure all ewes can feed at the same time
40
how is dystocia prevented using selection
Cull ewes with difficult lambing Don’t keep daughters for breeding Select rams for easy lambing traits
41
what are periparturient diseases
prolapses metritis mastitis pre pubic tendon rupture
42
what are the types of prolapses
vaginal uterine
43
when do vaginal prolapses occur
Within the last month of pregnancy can occur post lambing
44
what are risk factors of vaginal prolapses
Body condition: * Excessive or inadequate condition * Gaining weight from start of mating to scanning Low blood calcium Breed predisposition Lack of exercise Steep sloping fields Short tail docking (illegal) Multiple fetuses Older ewes Lameness Bulky feed? (root veg)
45
how are vaginal prolapses treated
Check for damage (early intervention best) Lift to allow urination; check for lambing Medication: * Caudal epidural (lignocaine 1-2ml, xylazine 0.25ml) * Antibiotic and NSAIDs Wash prolapse with dilute disinfectant Replace gently — flat parts of hands (check for lambing again) Apply buhner suture * 5mm nylon tape * Leave 1.5cm opening Mark for culling
46
what is the aftercare of vaginal prolapses
Close monitoring for lambing to open suture Monitor for excessive straining Potentially continued anti-inflammatories Warm cervix may not open fully * May need caesarean section
47
what are other forms of retention in a vaginal prolapse besides buhner stitch
Spoons Harness * Bought * Home made (baler twine)
48
how are vaginal prolapses prevented (5)
Nutrition Effective housing to allow exercise Breeding: cull and don’t keep daughters to breed Lameness control — five point plan Shearing?
49
how can nutrition prevent vaginal prolapses
Scan ewes to enable targeted feeding Target BCS 2.5-3.5 Maintain blood calcium (pre-lambing) Avoid root crops in late pregnancy
50
when should shearing be done to prevent vaginal prolapses
In 3 months prior to breeding Second half pregnancy (indoor sheep)
51
what are possible sequelae in vaginal prolapses
Abortion Urinary retention — uremia Infection/necrosis of vaginal wall Incomplete cervical dilation (ringwomb) Evisceration through a tear Death of lambs Death of ewe
52
what are the costs associated with vaginal prolapses
Labour and treatment Veterinary fees (if needed) Abortion of lambs Caesarean section if needed Death of ewe
53
how are uterine prolapses fixed
Position ewe — frog legs Replacement of prolapse Check Clean Gentle Ensure full inversion
54
what medication is given to uterine prolapses
Antibiotics for 3-5 days NSAID Calcium Oxytocin * Promote uterus to contract and reduce the change of re-prolapsing
55
are uterine prolapses likely to recur
no no need to cull
56
what are risk factors of metritis
Causative agents — environmental contaminants! Unhygienic lambing Dead lambs Some abortive agents Uterine prolapse
57
what are signs of metritis
Signs of toxemia * Depression * Inappetance * Congested mucus membranes Vulval discharge: * Red/brown/purulent * Smelly Vulval swelling Hungry lambs (decreased milk production, ewe unwilling to stand)
58
how is metritis treated
Oral or IV fluids * Shock rate of fluids Systemic antibiotics (min 5-7 days) NSAID or corticosteroids
59
is the response to treatment of metritis good or poor
Response normally good unless concurrent disease: Retained fetus or membranes Mastitis Vaginal rupture and peritonitis
60
what causes malignant edema
clostridial
61
what is malignant edema
Severe swelling of perineum Purple/black/red discolouration Oozing blood tinged discharge from vulva wall and skin Often die rapidly
62
how do you prevent metritis
Avoid unnecessary interference at lambing Gentle handling of reproductive tract Good hygiene Give antibiotics after difficult lambing
63
what are signs of mastitis
Abnormal gait Sick ewe: * Inappetance * Isolation * Depression Udder: * Hot or cold * Swollen +/- hard * +/- discolouration Hungry lambs Milk: * Watery * Clotted * Blood tinged
64
what are predisposing factors of mastitis
Most within first 3 weeks of lactation Inadequate nutrition Hungry lambs * Orf Teat trauma Poor hygiene Cold winds Poor udder conformation Young ewes
65
what is poor conformation of udders
Teat size Teat position Teat angle Udder drop
66
what are common causative agents of mastitis
Mannheimia hemolytica * Found in mouths of lambs * Especially if lambs suckling multiple ewes Staphylococcus aureus Staphylococcus spp (coagulase negative
67
what are less common causative agents of mastitis
* Streptococcus spp* * E. coli* * Leptospira interogans var. hardjo* (ewes appear healthy; poor milk production) * Maedi-visna virus* (indurative mastitis) * Mycoplasma agalactiae* —not in UK (notifiable)
68
what are the types of mastitis
sub clinical acute chronic gangrenous
69
what are the treatment options of mastitis
Prompt! Saves lives Clean and milk out Antibiotics * Long acting amoxicillin * Tilmicosin Anti-inflammatories Intramammary Feed the lambs! Gangrenous mastitis * IV fluids? * Euthanasia?
70
what are prevention of mastitis
Nutrition/BCS Good hygiene Orf prevention Cull/select ewes * Mark at the time to cull later * Pre-breeding check for lumps Prevent cold exposure Feed lambs when low milk
71
what are costs of mastitis
Ewe (++) and lamb deaths Reduced lamb growth rates Unplanned culling of ewes Treatment
72
what is prepubic tendon rupture
Older multigravid ewes in late pregnancy Swelling of lower left abdomen, cranial to pubis
73
what are the signs of pre pubic tendon rupture
Difficulty moving/feeding Prone to pregnancy toxemia Extensive ventral edema Ventral displacement of uterus Most require assistance with lambing
74
what is the treatment of pre pubic tendon rupture

Module 18: Ruminant Production (25 decks)

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