Parturition

Question 1

When can you perform abdominal palpation on a bitch?

Answer 1

1 month after mating

Question 2

When can you perform an abdominal palpation on a queen?

Answer 2

21 - 30 days after mating

Question 3

When can you use foetal heartbeats to diagnose pregnancy in a queen and bitch?

Answer 3

both in late pregnancy

Question 4

What hormone do you use to diagnose pregnancy?

Answer 4

relaxin

Question 5

When can you use x-ray to diagnose pregnancy in the bitch?

Answer 5

day 30 shows uterine enlargement

day 45 shows mineralisation of foetal skeleton

Question 6

When can you use x-ray to diagnose pregnancy in the queen?

Answer 6

Day 30 shows uterine enlargement

Day 40 shows mineralisation of foetal skeleton

Question 7

When can you use ultrasound to diagnose pregnancy in the bitch?

Answer 7

Day 28 can show the foetuses.. the heart beat can be seen

Question 8

When can you use ultrasound to diagnose pregnancy in the queen?

Answer 8

Day 12 - conceptuses seen

day 14 - foetal tissue can be seen - same as the heart beat

Question 9

What causes the release of oestrogen in late pregnancy?

Answer 9

by the release of glucocorticoids from the adrenal gland

Question 10

What is the effect of the oestrogen?

Answer 10

• assist in the production of contractile proteins

- may also be a signal for prostaglandin release from uterine wall

Question 11

What is the function of prostaglandins?

Answer 11

• increases power of the contractions of the uterus = foetus into pelvic cavity = oxytocin release
• causes regression of corpus lute = lowering of progesterone levels
• increases sensitivity of uterus to oxytocin

Question 12

When is oxytocin released?

Answer 12

when progesterone falls

Question 13

What is the function of oxytocin?

Answer 13

causes the contraction of smooth muscle in myometrium

Question 14

What are the stages of parturition?

Answer 14

first stage - dilation stage
second stage - expulsion stage
third stage - placental stage

Question 15

What is the sequence of the first stage of labour?

Answer 15

• cervix dilates as the foetuses push on it
• uterine contractions
• waters break (choroallantois ruptures and releases allantoic fluid)
• more oxytocin released = more contractions
• uterus contracts, stimulates more contractions
• more oxytocin
• contractions spread from top to bottom to expel
• cervix dilates more

Question 16

What are the signs of stage 1 labour in the bitch and queen?

Answer 16

restlessness
panting/shivering
nest making
anorexia/vomiting
tachycardia/pnoea
decreased body temp
mammary discharge
dilation of the cervix
spongy vulva
(the queen will also seek isolation and you'll be able to palpate contractions)

Question 17

Whats the process of the second stage of labour?

Answer 17

increased uterine contractions
foetus born, head first through the vagina
once born the mother will stimulate creating and chew through the umbilical cord

Question 18

What are the signs of the second stage of labour in the bitch and queen?

Answer 18

forceful abdominal straining 
vocalisation/crying
amnion often seen
gives birth lying down
(the queen will remain standing until the last minute)

Question 19

Whats the process of the third stage of labour?

Answer 19

placenta passed
quick and easy
placenta comes away from the wall of the uterus
bleeding is controlled by rapid contraction of the muscles around the blood vessels

Question 20

What are the signs of the third stage of labour in the bitch and queen?

Answer 20

bitch
- green coloured vulval discharge 
- will eat the placentas and membranes
queen
- brown coloured vulval discharge
- will eat the placentas and membranes

Question 21

What is puerperium?

Answer 21

the period where the reproductive tract returns to normal

starts involution - may have vulval discharge for up to 6 weeks

Question 22

How is maternal behaviour stimulated?

Answer 22

olfaction and audition

• hearing distress calls causes mother to build a nest
• smelling the pups with increase licking but not nest building

Question 23

What hormones influence nest building?

Answer 23

progesterone before birth

prolactin after birth

Question 24

What hormone is responsible for maintaining maternal behaviour?

Answer 24

oestrogen

Question 25

What are the possibilities of infertility?

Answer 25

• mating wrongly timed
• mated in the wrong conditions
• physiological abnormalities
• anatomical abnormalities of the genital tract
• foetal resorption
• abortion
• low fertility in the stud animal
• infection of the urogenital tract
• unwillingness accept the stud animal during mating
• poor libido

Question 26

Define eutocia

Answer 26

normal birth

Question 27

Define dystocia

Answer 27

difficult birth

Question 28

What is primary uterine inertia?

Answer 28

absence of uterine contractions and therefore the first stage of parturition.
untreated and the foetus will die

Question 29

What is secondary uterine inertia?

Answer 29

cessation of uterine contractions after they have started - possibly due to exhaustion

Question 30

What could cause obstruction of the birth canal?

Answer 30

pelvic bone or soft tissue abnormalities

reproductive tract abnormalities

Question 31

What can cause foetal dystocia?

Answer 31

oversize
abnormalities
malpresentation

Question 32

How would you conduct post partum care?

Answer 32

clean bitch esp. perineum as more comfortable
allow to urinate/defecate/exercise
clean up soiled bedding
offer food - very little as may vomit, make sure nutritional
5/6 small meals per day