PATHOLOGY - Pre-Partum Conditions Flashcards
What are some of the main pre-partum conditions seen in cattle?
Vaginal prolapse
Hydrops
Abortion
Milk fever (hypocalcaemia)
What are the risk factors for a vaginal prolapse in cattle?
Breed predispositions
High body condition score (BCS)
Weak sacrotuberous ligament
Previous perineal trauma
Which breed of cow is predisposed to vaginal prolapse?
Hereford
What is a grade I vaginal prolapse?
Intermittent prolapse only when the cow is lying down, with healthy vaginal tissue
What is a grade II vaginal prolapse?
Continuous prolapse, urinary bladder may or may not be trapped
What is a grade III vaginal prolapse?
Continuous vaginal prolpase with a trapped urinary bladder. The vaginal tissue will begin to become compromised
What is a grade IV vaginal prolapse?
Continuous vaginal and cervical prolpase with a trapped urinary bladder. The prolapsed tissue will be devitalised/necrotic and infected, with potential sepsis and peritonitis
How do you treat a vaginal prolapse?
- Caudal epidural
- Clean the prolapsed tissue
- Use plenty of lubricant and gently push the tissue back into the body
- Do a Buhner’s stitch with uterine tape
- Administer NSAIDs and a broad spectrum antibiotic
- Mark for culling
How do you carry out a caudal epidural in an adult cow?
- Lift the tail up and down whilst palpating the tail head to identify the junction between the sacral vertebrae (last stationary vertebra) and the coccygeal vertebra (first mobile vertebra)
- Clean and surgically scrub the site
- Insert an 18g, 1.5 inch needle between either S5 and C1 or C1 and C2 at a 90° angle
- Carry out a ‘hanging drop’ or attach the syringe with the local anaesthetic to the needle. The drug should inject with no resistance if you are in the right place
What is the ‘hanging drop’?
Place a few drops of the local anaesthetic into the needle and see if the liquid flows into the needle hub and into the patient with minimal resistance, if it does, your needle is in the correct place
Which dose of local anaesthetic should you use for caudal epidurals for the adult cow?
1ml/100kg
Which local anaesthetics are licensed in cattle in the UK?
Procaine and adrenaline preparations
(T/F) Epidural administration of local anaesthetics is not licensed in cows
TRUE. However epidural administration of local anaesthetics is used very commonly in cattle under the cascade
What is the prognosis for vaginal prolapse?
Vaginal prolpase has a high rate of recurrence so culling is indicated
What are the two classifications of a hydrops?
Hydroallantois
Hydroamnios
What is a hydroallantois?
A hydroallantois is a progressive, excessive accumulation of fluid within the allantois associated with placental disease
What is a hydramnios?
A hydroamnios is a progressive, excessive accumulation of fluid within the amnion
What are the clinical signs of a hydrops?
Abdominal distension
‘Downer’ cow
± Systemic clinical signs
How will a hydroallantois feel on rectal palpation?
On rectal palpation of a hydroallantois you won’t be able to palpate the placentomes as the allantois will be so stretched out
How will a hydroamnios feel on rectal palpation?
On rectal palpation of a hydroamnios you will be able to palpate the placentomes but the calf will likely be dead
What is the prognosis for a hydroallantois?
A hydroallantois has a high rate of recurrence so culling is indicated
What is the prognosis for a hydroamnios?
The calf will likely be dead however a hydroamnios has a low rate of recurrence so there is no indication to cull the cow
What is the normal gestation period of a cow?
280 ± 10 days
What is an early embryonic death?
Death between 0 to 17 days of gestatiom
What is late embryonic death?
Death between 17 to 42 days of gestation
What is an abortion?
Death between 42 and 270 days of gestation
What is a stillbirth?
Born dead after 270 days of gestation
What is neonatal death?
Born alive but dead between 0 to 2 days post-calving
What is perinatal mortality?
Death between 270 days of gestation and up to 2 days post-calving
(T/F) Abortion is a notifiable disease
TRUE. Abortion can be caused by zoonotic diseases and thus abortion cases should be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
When is reporting abortion to APHA indicated in beef cattle?
Reporting to APHA is indicated for every beef cow abortion
When is reporting abortion to APHA indicated in dairy cattle?
Reporting to APHA is indicated for a dairy cow abortion if they are not regularly screened by herd bulk milk samples
