Pregnancy Complications

Question 1

Does fertilisation often fail?

Answer 1

No 90% successful - losses are due to early embryonic loss

Question 2

What are the 3 potential causes of pregnancy loss?

Answer 2

> early embryonic mortality
- before maternal recognition of pregnancy or first return to oestrus, regular returns (18-25d or 37-48d returm to oestrus)
> late embryonic mortality
- after MRP, irregular returns (26-36d)
- before completion of organiogenesis 
> foetal loss
- after 42d cow - irregular returns

Question 3

What factors affect pregnancy rate?

Answer 3

> physiological
pathological
- genetic
- environmental

Question 4

How do heifers embreyos differ to cows?

Answer 4

^% chromosomal abnormalities

Question 5

How does BCS affect service success?

Answer 5

BCS loss 5 weeks postpartum
- 1 = 17%
1st service PregRate

Question 6

How does protein affect service/conception rate?

Answer 6

• high protein -> ^ no. services needed for conception

Question 7

Which infectious agents are responsible for pregnancy losses?

Answer 7

• leptospira hardjo
• ureaplasma diversum
• campylobacter fetus
• BHV1 (IBR)
• BVDV
• neospora caninum

Question 8

How does feeding protein to reindeer affect them?

Answer 8

Kills them by urea poisoning

Question 9

What is discharge from the vagina most commonly seen with?

Answer 9

• non specific uterine infection (endometritis)

Question 10

How does ACTH affect repro?

Answer 10

v LH concentrations

Question 11

Why may US be better than manual palpation of the pregnant cow?

Answer 11

^ manipulation -> ^ pregnancy losses esp with membrane slip tested

Question 12

What are the 4 main iatrogenic factors to cause preg losses?

Answer 12

• corticosteroids >225d
• PGs
• oestrogens and mycotoxins
• OT

Question 13

What may happen to the foetus if lost >42d?

Answer 13

• maceration
• mummification (CL persists)
• abortion (between d152-270d)
• still birth if born dead >270d or survives less than 24hours

Question 14

4 common complications of late pregnancy?

Answer 14

• hydrops
• uterine torsion
• vaginal prolapse
• uterine prolapse

Question 15

What is hydrops?

Answer 15

> placental oedema

• hydropsamni (hydramnios)
• hydropsallantois (hydrallantois)

Question 16

When is hydrops commonly seen? Clinical signs? Tx?

Answer 16

• last 3 months pregnancy
• large swollen abdomen
• induce parturition, carry out 2 stage ceasar
• or cull
• check for second calf!!*

Question 17

What other complications are assoiciated with hydrops?

Answer 17

• retained foetal membranes always

Question 18

What forms of hydrops may occour in the calf?

Answer 18

• hydroancephalus
• ascites
• anasarca (monster)

Question 19

Tx of foetal hydrops

Answer 19

• partial foetotomy

- C sec

Question 20

When does uterine torsion occour?

Answer 20

• end of term cattle

- ~9 months in the mare

Question 21

Clinical signs of uterine torsion

Answer 21

• mild colic in the mare
• spiralling vaginal folds cow
• unable to get hand intravaginally
• broad ligaments feel tight and twisted on rectal

Question 22

Is uterine torsion common?

Answer 22

Yes 50% dystocias

- heifers more common

Question 23

Which direction is most common for uterine torsion?

Answer 23

anticlockwise

Question 24

What will occour when the uterus is untwisted?

Answer 24

Lots of foetal fluid expelled!

Question 25

Is cervical vaginal prolapse common?

Answer 25

very common esp. sheep

Question 26

What causes vaginal prolapse?

Answer 26

• vaginal wall relaxed and capable of eversion
• relaxed vagina and vestibule
• forceto displace relaxed organs

Question 27

Predisposing factors for cervical vaginal prolapse

Answer 27

• High/low BCS
• high roughage diet/high rumen fill
• twins
• ^ oetrogens
• lack of exercise
• urinary retention
• breed
• age (will repeat)
• inherited

Question 28

What are the consequences of cervical vaginal prolapse?

Answer 28

> infection (caudal/cranial genital tract)
lethargy and inappetance
- urinary retentiaon
- rupture of dorsal/lateral wall with visceral eventration

Question 29

Tx of vaginal prolapse?

Answer 29

> definitely necessary due to pain and infection risk
- caudal epidural (procain or xylazine longer lasting)
to stop straining and welling
- harness/spoon/buhner

Question 30

is uterine prolapse an emergency?

Answer 30

YES

Question 31

When does uterine prolapse occour and what is the most common cause? Potential conseuences?

Answer 31

• immediately pp
• hypocalcaemia
  > uterine a. tear or uterine tear

Question 32

Tx of uterine prolapse?

Answer 32

• remove foetal membranes by grabbing intersection and ‘milking’
• epidural
• frog position with legs splayed to encourage organs back in
• use of sugar to v oedema
• bottle to push further in a nd prevent microprolapse within the uterus
  > NSAIDs
  > Buhner
  > Ca