Post-partum Diseases In Cattle

Question 1

How long does uterine involution take?

Answer 1

3-4 weeks

Question 2

When is a pregnancy most at risk of failure?

Answer 2

In the first 42 days of gestation

Question 3

What leads to failure of fertilisation or embryonic loss?

Answer 3

Poor AI technique
Poor locate quality / health 
Abnormal uterine environment 
BVD
BHV1 
Leptospirosis
Campylobacter 
Metabolic disease in the dam 
Genetic abnormality in embryo

Question 4

When do you need to address retained foetal membranes? How? And what effect does RFM have on production?

Answer 4

If foetal membranes are retained longer than 12h
- oxytocin, calcium, NSAIDs

Reduced milk yield and increased time for uterine involution

Question 5

What are the main pathogens that cause uterine infections?

Answer 5

E.coli
Trueperella pyogenes
Dichelobacter nodsus
Fusobacterium necrophorum 
BHV4

Question 6

Define metritis.

Answer 6

Uterine enlargement and purulent discharge that can be detected in the vagina less than 21d post partum

Question 7

What are the different grades of metritis?

Answer 7

Grade 1:
Uterus enlarged and pus detected in the vagina
Cow systemically well

Grade 2: cow systemically ill
Temperature over 39c, reduced milk yield, reduced appetite

Grade 3: toxic metritis - cold extremities and dull

Question 8

What is the clinical presentation of pyometra and how can you treat it?

Answer 8

Enlarged uterus
Presence of CL
Pus in uterus and closed cervix

Dx ultrasound
Tx prostaglandin

Question 9

Define endometritis?

Answer 9

Pus in the vagina more than 21 days post calving

Cow systemically well

Question 10

How can you grade vaginal discharge in endometritis?

Answer 10

0 - clear
1 - flecks of pus
2 - less than 50ml exudate and less than 50% pus
3 - more than 50ml of exudate and containing purulent material or blood

TREAT GRADES 2 AND 3

Question 11

What are the risk factors for uterine infection?

Answer 11

Multiparous
Dystocia 
Twins 
Milk fever - reduced uterine clearance 
Induction
Abortion 
Retained foetal membranes 
SARA 
Ketosis 
Mastitis - delays uterine involution 
LDA

Question 12

What is sub clinical endometritis and what are the risk factors for it?

Answer 12

Immune cells in uterus when flushed with saline

Risks: NEB, ketosis, metritis

Question 13

How does a follicular cyst present?

Answer 13

Anoestrus –> nymphomania

Fluid filled structure
Over 25mm internal diameter
Thin walled <3mm
Present for more than 10d

Can also diagnose by progesterone profiling

Question 14

How does a luteal cyst present?

Answer 14

Anoestrus

Greater than 25mm external diameter
Wall thicker than 3mm
Fluid filled lacunae
Persists longer than 10 days

Can also diagnose by progesterone profiling

Question 15

What production losses does endometritis cause?

Answer 15

Increased time to cyclicity

Reduces the chance of a a successful pregnancy

Question 16

How should you treat endometritis?

Answer 16

If there is a CL over 20mm - prostaglandin
No CL - Cefapirin (metricure, 1st gen cephalosporin)

Other current treatments:
Oxytetracycline pessaries - can give prophylactic ally after a difficult calving (nil milk withhold)
Citric acid on organic farms

Treat grades 2 and 3

Question 17

How should you treat toxic metritis?

Answer 17

Flunixin IV
Amoxicillin clavulanate (synulox, noroclav, combiclav) systemic
Or 1st generation cephalosporin ceporex
5L hypertonic saline IV initially
Then 4 x 15L buckets of water to rehydrate

Question 18

How should you treat non toxic metritis?

Answer 18

Antibiotics with nil milk withold
Amoxicillin (systemic)
Cefalexin (Ceparex) - 1st gen ceohalosporin

Ceftiofur (Excenel or Naxcel) - 3rd gen cephalosporin AVOID

Give a 4 day course to clear the pus,
Immune system will do the rest

Question 19

How should you manage post- calving haemorrhage?

Answer 19

Clamp the vessel and suture haemostats to wall of vagina
- leave for 4-8hours

Please a ligature cranial to where the blood is coming out

Make a tampon out of tights and cotton wool and leave in vagina

Blood transfusion if short of clotting factors (10L)

Question 20

When does toxic metritis occur in relation to calving?

Answer 20

Usually 2-3 days post- calving

Question 21

When will you notice a cow become sick with peritonitis due to a uterine tears?

Answer 21

A few days post calving

Question 22

When using hypertonic saline, what % of the fluid deficit should you give to restore blood volume?

Answer 22

1/8 of the fluid deficit

Follow up with lots of buckets of water the cow can drink or pump her water

Question 23

How should you treat toxic mastitis?

Answer 23

Fluids - hypertonic saline bolus (1/8 of deficit) (usually just give a 5L bag) followed by 4 farm buckets of water

Anti-inflammatories - flunixin, ketoprofen, meloxicam, carprofen

Strip out udder q 4-6h, given oxytocin to help with this

Antibiotics, intra-mammary and IV
Potentiated sulphonamide IM, oxytetracycline IV
Or aminoglycoside IM

Question 24

What usually causes pyelonephritis post-calving?

Answer 24

Ascending infection with e.coli

Vaginitis – cystitis – pyelonephritis

Question 25

How can you diagnose pyelonephritis? And how should you treat it?

Answer 25

Pain response on rectal palpation of the kidneys
Vaginal discharge
Urine sample - cystocentesis via vagina or catheterisation of bladder

Tx: amoxicillin

Question 26

What are the causes of vaginitis?

Answer 26

E.coli
Arcanobacter pyogenes
Campylobacter
BHV 2

Question 27

When should you check a cow for endometritis?

Answer 27

28 day post calving check

If off colour and low milk production 21 days post calving

Question 28

What are indications for antibiotics in uterine infections?

Answer 28

Production is not increasing like it should
Off colour and Pyrexic
Smelly vaginal discharge