Perinatal period in ewes and does

Question 1

Caudal epidural anaesthesia

Answer 1

Anaesthesia of perineum
Indicated for dystocia and needed for prolapse correction
2ml of procaine or lignocaine
Inject at most mobile joint at base of the tail

Question 2

Buhner suture

Answer 2

For vaginal prolapse retention
Insert needle at junction of haired and hairless skin, level with pelvic floor
Should be able to insert a finger below the know to allow space for urination

Question 3

Indications for caesarean

Answer 3

Prolapsing and lambing at same time
Ringwomb (10 minds not sufficient)
Foetal monsters
Oversized lambs
Dystocia in pygmy goats
Dystocias where you are not making progress within 10-20 mins

Question 4

Usual cause of uterine rupture

Answer 4

Rough assistance to dystocias.
Often dorsal
Euthanise

Question 5

What is a high incidence of vaginal prolapse

Answer 5

above 3%

Question 6

Treatment for vaginal prolapse

Answer 6

Epidural, clean, lubricate, replace
Retain with Buhner or harness
NSAIDs and antibiotics

Question 7

Prognosis for vaginal prolapse

Answer 7

Good unless necrotic or lacerated
Likely to recur so cull before next season

Question 8

Vaginal rupture

Answer 8

If evisceration prognosis is helpless - euthanase
otherwise repair surgically

Question 9

Uterine prolapse

Answer 9

Occurs within 24hrs of parturition
Treat same as vaginal prolapse, ensuring horns fully everted
Antibiotics, NSAIDs, calcium, and oxytocin
Good prognosis is treated early, no more likely to happen again

Question 10

Rectal prolapse

Answer 10

If associated with vaginal prolapse should resolve with that, otherwise may need replacement
Purse string suture around anus aids retention

Question 11

Diagnosis of ketosis/twin lamb disease

Answer 11

Often 48hrs after a stressor
Isolation, inappetance, sham drinking, apparent blindness, facial tremors, salivation, terminal convulsions, coma, death.
Elevated BHB levels (>1.1.mmol/l)
PM: fatty change to liver and often fatty infiltration of kidney

Question 12

Treatment of ketosis

Answer 12

Propylene glycol
Palatable feeds
Oral rehydration
If subclinical hypocalcaemia, calcium borogluconate
Poor prognosis

Question 13

Hypocalcaemia

Answer 13

Seen fairly soon after a stressor
Stilted gait, muscle tremors, recumbency etc.
Coma and death in 6-12 hrs
Blood calcium <1.4 mmol/L
Treat with calcium borogluconate

Question 14

Hypomagnesaemia

Answer 14

Usually in early lactation on lush grass
Incoordination, ataxia, hyperaesthesia, increased TPR, collapse, convulsions and death
Treat with magnesium sulphate solution subcut
If unsure if hypoCa or hypoMG then give calcium/magnesium/dextrose (CMD)

Question 15

Acute necrotic/gangrenous mastitis

Answer 15

Most common in early or peak lactation
Dull, anorexic, may appear lame, dehydrated, pyrexic
Udder is red, swollen, painful, hard and hot -> purple, blue/black and cold, secretion is often thin and straw coloured
Treat with systemic antibiosis, NSAIDs, regular stripping
Poor prognosis for return to function, relatively high mortality rate

Question 16

Metritis

Answer 16

Especially in first week after lambing
Ewe sull with signs of septicaemia/toxaemia
Vaginal discharge - foul smelling and fetid
Reduced milk production
Often associated with dystocia, abortion, RFM
Treat with broad spectrum antibiotics, NSAIDs

Question 17

Clostridial diseases

Answer 17

Gangrene most common in ewes and does at lambing time
Vaccinate and avoid risk factors

Question 18

Causative agents of mastitis

Answer 18

Suckling ewes and does: 80% due to M. haemolytica and S. aureus, also E. coli, T. pyogenes etc.
Dairy animals: Mainly S. aureus if clinical or CNS is subclinical

Question 19

Per-acute/gangrenous mastitis

Answer 19

Very sudden onset
Toxaemic, dull, inappetant
Udder becomes red, then purple, then black
Udder secretion is bloody
Discoloured tissue necrosis

Question 20

Acute mastitis

Answer 20

Sudden onset
May appear lame
Inappetant, dull, pyrexic
Udder painful and swollen
Udder secretion altered - clots, blood tinged etc.
May subsequently develop abscesses or scar tissue
Good prognosis if treated promptly

Question 21

Chronic mastitis

Answer 21

May first be detected as lamb not growing well
Decreased milk production - so bigger problem in dairy animals
Milk taint - zoonotic risk
SCC is less reliable in sheep than in cattle
CMT is a good screening identifier

Question 22

Risk factors for teat damage

Answer 22

• Poor body condition
• Stage of lactation
• Udder and teat conformation
• Orf
• Large litters