Pregnancy and Parturition

Question 1

oestrous cycle - dog

Answer 1

pro-oestrus - 10 days
oestrus - 10 days
luteal phase - 2 months (same if pregnant)
anestrus - 4.5 months

Question 2

PD in dog

Answer 2

endocrine -
plasma relaxin - day 25

palpation -
from 21 days
21-32 days - chain of walnuts
32 days - sausages
50 - direct palpation of puppies

ultrasound -
day 17 - foetal structures
day 20 - kidneys
day 24-28 - heart beat
can’t tell how many but can measure size roughly

radiography -
day 41 - foetal calcification
day 50 - size, number and positions

changes in the mother -
weight gain
abdominal enlargement
relaxation of perineal tissue
teat and mammary glands changes - reddening, enlargement, secretions
increased HR

Question 3

PD in cats

Answer 3

return to oestrus

day 21 - reddening mammary glands
day 50 - enlarged mammary glands

palpation - day 21-25

relaxin - day 25

ultrasound - 3 weeks post mating

radiography - day 40 - mineralisation of skeleton

Question 4

predicting parturition - dog

Answer 4

progesterone and LH

behaviour -
restlessness
seeking seclusion or being very needy
inappetence
nesting behaviour
shivering

clinical signs -
relaxation of pelvic, perineal and abdominal muscles
increased HR
decline in body temp - parturition within 12 hours

imaging -
ultrasound - foetal dimensions
radiography - skeleton at day 42, skull 45-49, pelvic bones 53-57, teet 58-63

Question 5

predicting parturition - cat

Answer 5

no significant temperature reduction
ovulation 24-36 hours after mating
mean pregnancy length 65-66 days

Question 6

pseudopregnancy

Answer 6

long luteal phase
clinical signs associated with prolactin
hyperemia of nipples, behavioural signs

usually self limiting, can give prolactin inhibitors

do not spay

Question 7

pyometra

Answer 7

in luteal phase
bacterial colonisation at oestrus
open or closed
common in middle aged and elderly bitches
can be iatrogenic

Question 8

indications for termiantion

Answer 8

unwanted mating
size mismatch
age
high risk of dystocia
medical indications

Question 9

options for termination

Answer 9

<5 days - oestrogens - act on uterus to alter transit time of zygote

1-45 days - anti-progestogens (alizin) - compete with progesterone

> 20 days - prostaglandins, needs repeated treatments

30-40 days - dopamine agonists

Question 10

stages of normal parturition

Answer 10

preparation -
relaxin - relaxation of pubic symphysis, vulval and perineal tissues

first stage -
start of contractions, restlessness, nesting, temperature drop

second stage -
expulsion of foetus

third stage -
expulsion of placenta and foetal membranes

puerperium

Question 11

reasons for dystocia

Answer 11

inadequate expulsive forces -
defects in uterine contractility
nervous voluntary inhibition
failure of contraction deue to mineral or hormone imbalance
exhaustion of muscle or depletion of oxytocin

size of birth canal -
incomplete cervical dilation
obstruction
pelvic malconformation

foetal presentation

foetal size

Question 12

primary inertia

Answer 12

failure of contraction due to mineral or hormone imbalance

exercise to stimulation contractions
digital stimulation - stimulates endogenous oxytocin
calcium borogluconate IV
oxytocin
c-section

Question 13

secondary inertia

Answer 13

exhaustion of muscle or oxytocin depletion

correct cause of dystocia
calcium, oxytocin, c-section

Question 14

investigation - 2nd stage parturition

Answer 14

weak irregular straining for more than 2-4 hours

strong irregular straining more than 20-30 mins

greenish dischrage but no puppy in 2-4 hours

2nd stage for more than 12 hours

Question 15

investigation - 3rd stage parturition

Answer 15

if all placenta not passed in 4-6 hours

rectal temp over 39.5

severe genital haemorrhage

putrid or foul smelling

general condition of bitch abnormal

Question 16

interventions

Answer 16

vaginal exam

transabdominal ultrasound-
foetal distress if hr<180bpm, immediate intervention <150bpm

radiography - malposition, malformation or large foetuses

manual repositioning

traction - pull out with vectic forceps

oxytocin - not if obstruction

calcium gluconate

c-section - if inertia unresponsive, rupture or torsion, if foetal malposition can’t be corrected or size too big, if foetal death with remaining viable butdistressed foetuses

Question 17

after delivery

Answer 17

check no other foetuses

check lacerations or perforations

pelvic fractures, mastitis

normal -
slightly elevated temperature
sersanguinous discharge for 3-6 weeks
uterine involution at 12-15 weeks

abnormal -
temperature over 39.5
thick dark vaginal discharge
more than a drop of hamorrhagic discharge
serosanguinous discharge for more than 6 weeks

Question 18

foeto-maternal disproportion - cattle

Answer 18

dam factors - age, weight, parity, BCS, nutrition
calf factors - gestation length, breed, sire

herd level significance

bone or soft tissue in the way

Question 19

obstruction - cattle

Answer 19

normal - undilated cervix - just not ready yet
abnormal - undilated cervix when it should be
uterine torsion
pelvic abnormalities

Question 20

intervention - cattle

Answer 20

is progress being made with current intervention in 10-15 mins

alternative strategy
c-section
fetotomy
euthanasia
slaughter certificate

Question 21

neonate management - cattle

Answer 21

start breathing - shock, rubbing or positioning, assited ventilation, correct acidosis
iodine on naval
colostrum
ID

Question 22

post calving management of dam

Answer 22

check for tears and additional calves
rehydration
nutrition
managing stress

Question 23

challenges post calving

Answer 23

retained foetal membranes
nerve damage
tears or bleeding
uterine prolapse
hypocalcemia
trauma

Question 24

PD cows

Answer 24

transrectal ultrasound - >28 days - detect twins, assess foetal viability and heart rate,
sex emryos from 55-60 days

palpation - >35 days

PAG testing
progesterone monitoring
knocking
non-return to oestrus

Question 25

not been seen bulling

Answer 25

actually not bulling vs not been sene

hormonal interventions -
prostaglandins - care not actually pregnant
synchronisation protocols

cystic ovaries
uterine disease - endometritis, pyo, mucometra

Question 26

metritis

Answer 26

purulent discharge
systemic illness - fever, inappetence, depression

systemic antibiotics
NSAIDs
fluid therapy
propylene glycol - energy

related to -
metabolic status
immune status
dystocia
management and hygiene
retained foetal membranes

Question 27

endometritis

Answer 27

around 21 days in milk
white purulent discharge
no systemic effects

diagnosis - vaginal exam, metricheck, ultrasound

treatment - prostaglandins or washout