Pregnancy and Parturition Flashcards
oestrous cycle - dog
pro-oestrus - 10 days
oestrus - 10 days
luteal phase - 2 months (same if pregnant)
anestrus - 4.5 months
PD in dog
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
PD in cats
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
predicting parturition - dog
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
predicting parturition - cat
no significant temperature reduction
ovulation 24-36 hours after mating
mean pregnancy length 65-66 days
pseudopregnancy
long luteal phase
clinical signs associated with prolactin
hyperemia of nipples, behavioural signs
usually self limiting, can give prolactin inhibitors
do not spay
pyometra
in luteal phase
bacterial colonisation at oestrus
open or closed
common in middle aged and elderly bitches
can be iatrogenic
indications for termiantion
unwanted mating
size mismatch
age
high risk of dystocia
medical indications
options for termination
<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
stages of normal parturition
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
reasons for dystocia
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
primary inertia
failure of contraction due to mineral or hormone imbalance
exercise to stimulation contractions
digital stimulation - stimulates endogenous oxytocin
calcium borogluconate IV
oxytocin
c-section
secondary inertia
exhaustion of muscle or oxytocin depletion
correct cause of dystocia
calcium, oxytocin, c-section
investigation - 2nd stage parturition
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
investigation - 3rd stage parturition
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
interventions
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
after delivery
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
foeto-maternal disproportion - cattle
dam factors - age, weight, parity, BCS, nutrition
calf factors - gestation length, breed, sire
herd level significance
bone or soft tissue in the way
obstruction - cattle
normal - undilated cervix - just not ready yet
abnormal - undilated cervix when it should be
uterine torsion
pelvic abnormalities
intervention - cattle
is progress being made with current intervention in 10-15 mins
alternative strategy
c-section
fetotomy
euthanasia
slaughter certificate
neonate management - cattle
start breathing - shock, rubbing or positioning, assited ventilation, correct acidosis
iodine on naval
colostrum
ID
post calving management of dam
check for tears and additional calves
rehydration
nutrition
managing stress
challenges post calving
retained foetal membranes
nerve damage
tears or bleeding
uterine prolapse
hypocalcemia
trauma
PD cows
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
