Post-partum Diseases In Cattle Flashcards
How long does uterine involution take?
3-4 weeks
When is a pregnancy most at risk of failure?
In the first 42 days of gestation
What leads to failure of fertilisation or embryonic loss?
Poor AI technique Poor locate quality / health Abnormal uterine environment BVD BHV1 Leptospirosis Campylobacter Metabolic disease in the dam Genetic abnormality in embryo
When do you need to address retained foetal membranes? How? And what effect does RFM have on production?
If foetal membranes are retained longer than 12h
- oxytocin, calcium, NSAIDs
Reduced milk yield and increased time for uterine involution
What are the main pathogens that cause uterine infections?
E.coli Trueperella pyogenes Dichelobacter nodsus Fusobacterium necrophorum BHV4
Define metritis.
Uterine enlargement and purulent discharge that can be detected in the vagina less than 21d post partum
What are the different grades of metritis?
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
What is the clinical presentation of pyometra and how can you treat it?
Enlarged uterus
Presence of CL
Pus in uterus and closed cervix
Dx ultrasound
Tx prostaglandin
Define endometritis?
Pus in the vagina more than 21 days post calving
Cow systemically well
How can you grade vaginal discharge in endometritis?
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
What are the risk factors for uterine infection?
Multiparous Dystocia Twins Milk fever - reduced uterine clearance Induction Abortion Retained foetal membranes SARA Ketosis Mastitis - delays uterine involution LDA
What is sub clinical endometritis and what are the risk factors for it?
Immune cells in uterus when flushed with saline
Risks: NEB, ketosis, metritis
How does a follicular cyst present?
Anoestrus –> nymphomania
Fluid filled structure
Over 25mm internal diameter
Thin walled <3mm
Present for more than 10d
Can also diagnose by progesterone profiling
How does a luteal cyst present?
Anoestrus
Greater than 25mm external diameter
Wall thicker than 3mm
Fluid filled lacunae
Persists longer than 10 days
Can also diagnose by progesterone profiling
What production losses does endometritis cause?
Increased time to cyclicity
Reduces the chance of a a successful pregnancy
How should you treat endometritis?
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
How should you treat toxic metritis?
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
How should you treat non toxic metritis?
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
How should you manage post- calving haemorrhage?
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)
When does toxic metritis occur in relation to calving?
Usually 2-3 days post- calving
When will you notice a cow become sick with peritonitis due to a uterine tears?
A few days post calving
When using hypertonic saline, what % of the fluid deficit should you give to restore blood volume?
1/8 of the fluid deficit
Follow up with lots of buckets of water the cow can drink or pump her water
How should you treat toxic mastitis?
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
What usually causes pyelonephritis post-calving?
Ascending infection with e.coli
Vaginitis – cystitis – pyelonephritis
How can you diagnose pyelonephritis? And how should you treat it?
Pain response on rectal palpation of the kidneys
Vaginal discharge
Urine sample - cystocentesis via vagina or catheterisation of bladder
Tx: amoxicillin
What are the causes of vaginitis?
E.coli
Arcanobacter pyogenes
Campylobacter
BHV 2
When should you check a cow for endometritis?
28 day post calving check
If off colour and low milk production 21 days post calving
What are indications for antibiotics in uterine infections?
Production is not increasing like it should
Off colour and Pyrexic
Smelly vaginal discharge
