Pregnancy and parturition in small animals Flashcards
Earliest to diagnose pregnancy via abdominal palpation for bitch and queen
28-35 days- Bitch
21-35 days- Queen
Earliest to diagnose pregnancy via Ultrasound for bitch and queen
Foetal heartbeat detectable from 24-28 days- Bitch
30 days-Queen
Earliest to diagnose pregnancy via Radiography for bitch and queen
Usually from day 40-42
Most accurate method of determining number and position of foetuses
Earliest to diagnose pregnancy via Rexlaxin Assay for bitch and queen
3-4 weeks post mating
Physiological changes during pregnancy
Blood volume increases by 40%
Increase is mainly plasma so haematocrit is 30-35%
Increased cardiac output
Oxygen consumption increases by 20%
Reduced functional residual capacity in the lungs
Outline Nutrition during pregnancy-Canine
70% foetal growth will occur after first 5 weeks pregnancy
From day 40 (6 weeks) change to puppy food (more calorific).
Feed several small meals a day (reduced space)
Increase feed by 10% per week from week 6 until parturition
Outline Nutrition during pregnancy-Feline
Swap to kitten food from mating
Cats deposit fat from early pregnancy (to be used during lactation)
By parturition will be eating 50% more
Feed several small meals or ad lib (cats tend to self regulate)
Outline Worming during pregnancy- Canine
They should be wormed before mating and from day 40 until 2 days after whelping daily with fenbendazole.
Puppies should be wormed from 2 weeks of age
Outline Worming during pregnancy- Feline
Cats should be wormed before mating
Cats can be wormed with a single adult dose of fenbendazole during pregnancy
Kittens should be wormed from 2 weeks of age
Behavioural changes close to parturition
Restlessness
Nesting
Anorexia
Shivering
Lactation
How does body temperature change during parturition
Caused by decline in progesterone
Sharp decrease in temp 8-24hrs before parturition
Temp drop to 35C in small breeds/37C in giant breeds
Owners can measure this at home
How does Progesterone measurement change during parturition
Decreases from 12-15nmol/l to below 6nmol/l
What is Ferguson reflex
Foetuses entering the birth canal cause Oxytocin release and abdominal muscle contractions leading to their rapid expulsion
How many minutes between puppies
30-60
Can cats suspend labour?
Can suspend labour for up to 48hrs if disturbed with no apparent complications
When to be concerned?
Stage 2 labour with mild/intermittent straining for 2-3hrs and no pup
Stage 2 labour with strong/frequent straining for >30mins
More than 4hrs since last pup with more to deliver
Foetal fluid passed > 2-3hrs but nothing since
Greenish discharge seen but no puppy withing 2-4hrs
No or slow foetal heart beat (<150bpm) on U/S
Green/black or bloody vulval discharge with no pup
Maternal factors for dystocia
Uterine inertia (primary and secondary)
Pelvic canal too narrow (previous trauma/breed conformation)
Uterine torsion
Metabolic abnormalities (hypoglycaemia/hypocalcemia)
Difference between primary and secondary uterine inertia
Primary – failure to start stage 2 labour
Secondary – occurs after initial normal stage 2 labour
What is uterine inertia
Failure to expel a foetus from the uterus when no obstruction exists
Foetal factors for dystocia
Malpresentation
Malformation
Foetal oversize
Foetal death
Hormone involved in contractions/parturition
Foetal stress release cortisol
What values do I want for a blood test during dystocia
Calcium
Glucose
PCV/TS
Two main categories of dystocia
Obstructive and Non obstructive
What to do when it is an obstructive dystocia
Caesarean section
What to do when it is an nonobstructive dystocia
Calcium gluconate (increases strength of contractions) give with/after oxytocin
Oxytocin (increases frequency of contractions)
Contraindicated with obstruction – can cause uterine rupture
Caesarean
When is Elective Caesarean section indicated
Breed – brachys etc unable to whelp naturally
Size of pup (pups)
Previous pelvic trauma/anatomical issue in the dam
Owner preference
How to position dam when performing Caesarean
Position dam slightly tilted to left side (10-15 degrees) or cranial end raised to reduce pressure on vena cava
Landmarks to incise for caesarean
Ventral midline coeliotmy
Midway from xiphoid and umbilicus to pubis.
Do I remove most cranial or caudal foetus
Remove most caudal foetus first then remove from alternating horns by ‘milking’ the puppies to the hysterotomy
What type of pattern to close the uterine body after a caesarean section
Cushing or lambert
How soon must antibody transfer primarily via colustrum
First 24 hrs/ 16hrs in kittens
Do I need to report a Csection
Caesarean sections should be reported to the kennel club for registered dogs
Reporting is not mandatory but encouraged
What is eclampsia
Life threatening condition caused by hypocalcemia
Clinical signs of eclampsia
Behavioural changes
Salivation
Facial puritis
Stiffness
Ataxia
Hyperthermia
Tachycardia
Tonic clonic muscle contractions
Seizures
Treatment for eclampsia
IV CaGluconate 10% slowly to effect (Monitor Hr/ECG)
Diazepam to control persistent seizures
SC then oral calcium supplementation once seizures controlled
Improve nutrition
Reduce lactational demands (supplement pups)
Outline administration of oxytocin when given as a treatment for nonobstructive oxytocin
Give up to 3 doses (use low doses)
Treatment for mastitis
Drain gland(s)
Hot/cold pack
Pain relief
Systemic Antibiotics
IVFT if required
