Parturition

Question 1

List four things that occur in the onset of parturition.

Answer 1

Loss of appetite. 
Nest making. 
Shivering/shaking. 
Obvious mammary development. 
Rectal temperature falls 1-3C, 8hours prior to parturition in queens and bitches. 
Restlessness-pacing.

Question 2

What happens in the stage of preparation and how long does it last?

Answer 2

1-3 days.
Colostrum present in mammary glands.
Relaxation of vaginal and perineal tissues.
Nest making.

Question 3

What happens in the first stage of parturition and how long does it last?

Answer 3

1-12 hours. 
Onset of contractions. 
Restlessness. 
Panting. 
Nest making. 
Queens vocalise and groom. 
Water bag appears at vulva.

Question 4

What happens in the second stage of parturition and how long does it last?

Answer 4

3-12 hours.
Contractions.
Water bag is seen at the vulva.
Dam ruptures water bag to release fluid.
Puppy/kitten is born.
Dam licks away the remains of water bag to stimulate puppy/kitten.
Umbilical cord breaks.

Question 5

What happens during the third stage of parturition?

Answer 5

2nd and 3rd stages overlap in bitches and queens when multiple foetuses are born.
Minimal intervention.
Pet should he observed during these stages.

Question 6

What happens in the fourth stage of parturition?

Answer 6

Uterine involution.
Bleeding stops after 1 week.
Dams temperature returns to normal after 1 week.
Rest of reproductive tract returns to normal.

Question 7

What happens in the end of parturition?

Answer 7

All placentas are delivered.
No heavy bleeding.
Puppies/kittens are warm, dry, vigorous and suckling.

Question 8

Name three problems that could happen during parturition.

Answer 8

Puppy/kitten not born within 30 minutes of seeing water bag.
Unproductive straining for one hour (dystocia).
Dam becomes weak.
Red/green vaginal discharge seen.
More than 2 hours between foetuses.

Question 9

What happens in primary uterine inertia?

Give two reasons why it could happen.

Answer 9

Contractions are absent.

Reasons:
Insufficient stimulation. 
Over stretching of uterine muscles. 
Inherited problems. 
Overweight dam. 
Overanxious dam.

Question 10

Give two treatments of primary inertia.

Answer 10

Calm the dam.
Small amount of exercise.
Manual stimulation of vaginal wall.
Seek veterinary surgeons advice.

Question 11

What happens in secondary inertia?

Answer 11

Exhaustion of uterine muscles.

Due to obstruction in birth canal.

Question 12

What are the foetal causes of obstruction?

Answer 12

Malpresentation.
Foetal oversize.
Foetal malformation.
Foetal death.

Question 13

What are the maternal causes of obstruction?

Answer 13

Narrow pelvic canal.
Abnormalities in birth canal.
Uterine malformation.
Congenital malformation of uterus.

Question 14

Management of obstructions:

Manual manipulation of the foetus: how do you do it?

Answer 14

Restrain dam. 
Asepsis vital. 
Lubricate hands, foetus and dam. 
Hold only the torso of foetus, not the limbs. 
Can lead to caesarean.

Question 15

List three reasons for a caesarean.

Answer 15

Uterine inertia. 
Foetal malposition. 
Foetal oversize. 
Foetal death. 
Excess of deficiency of foetal fluids. 
Birth canal deformity.

Question 16

Explain how to resuscitate a puppy/kitten.

Answer 16

Free airway. 
Swab away excess fluid. 
Gently swing puppy/kitten in an arc using a towel. 
Massage chest. 
Drugs.