Puerperium & Mammary Disease

Question 1

what steps must be taken for postnatal care of the neonate

Answer 1

1. physical exam
   - check respiration
   - check for congenital defects
2. umbilical cord dip
3. colostrum

Question 2

colostrum

Answer 2

first milk that is rich in immunoglobulins

required by specie with epitheliochorial placentas (ruminants, horses, pigs, camelids)

still beneficial for endotheliochorial placenta species (dogs, cats)

Question 3

colostrum content

Answer 3

• IgG
• fat soluble vitamins
• fat
• protein
• other nutrients

Question 4

what can you use to measure the IgG content of colostrum

Answer 4

specific gravity

Question 5

what can you use to measure the IgG concentration in the neonate

Answer 5

total protein of neonate serum

Question 6

how is colostrum absorbed

Answer 6

open neonatal gut - allows large Ig proteins to be absorbed

risk for pathogens to be absorbed - want to give colostrum quickly to induce earlier closure

Question 7

failure of passive transfer

Answer 7

insufficient immunoglobulin transfer to neonate via colostrum

causes:
1. insufficient Ig concentration
2. insufficient intake/absorption

Question 8

what are reasons why colostrum might have a low concentration of Ig

Answer 8

• parity
• leakage before parturition
• length of dry period
• mastitis

Question 9

what are reasons why colostrum might be inadequately ingested or absorbed

Answer 9

• malformed/obstructed teats
• ineffective maternal bonding
• weak neonate
• insufficient volume/quality

Question 10

possible sequelae to failure of passive transfer

Answer 10

1. sepsis
2. omphalophlebitis
3. death
4. poor lifetime performance

Question 11

what are common prepartum problems that occur in the dam

Answer 11

1. ketosis in small ruminants
2. uterine torsion
3. vaginal prolapse
4. rupture of prepubic tendon
5. udder edema

Question 12

puerperal hypocalcemia

Answer 12

low calcium at or after parturition

dogs: tetany at peak lactation
ruminants: paresis immediately post parturition

Question 13

when does ketosis occur in cows vs small ruminants

Answer 13

cows: occurs postpartum due to heavy metabolic demand of lactation

small ruminants: occurs prepartum due to larger litter sizes requiring high energy

Question 14

reproductive tract tears

Answer 14

can occur in the cervix, uterus, rectovaginally, perineum, or uterine artery/vein

• uterine A/V tears can bleed into abdomen or into broad ligament

Question 15

when are retained fetal membranes considered pathologic in horses vs ruminants

Answer 15

horses: should expel within 3 hours
ruminants: should expel within 12-24 hours

Question 16

what are possible sequelae to retained fetal membranes

Answer 16

uterine contamination and infection

endometritis –> septic metritis –> chronic metritis –> postpartum pyometra –> adhesions and abscesses

Question 17

postpartum metritis

Answer 17

systemic illness - fever, septicemia, dehydration, anorexia, foul smelling discharge

occurs <10 days postpartum

treat with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and supportive care

Question 18

endometritis

Answer 18

inflammation of the endometrium
- NO systemic clinical signs

can become a long term cause of infertility

Question 19

delayed uterine involution

Answer 19

prolonged period between parturition and subsequent first cycle

Question 20

uterine involution

Answer 20

period during which there is a decrease in uterus size and volume, expulsion of loch, and endometrial repair
- myometrium contracts
- ovarian function resumes

Question 21

lochia

Answer 21

degraded blood/tissue/mucus that is normally discharged post-parturition

varies in color by species

Question 22

what are the stages of lactation

Answer 22

1. mammogenesis
2. lactogenesis
3. galactopoiesis

Question 23

mammogenesis

Answer 23

mammary gland development

Question 24

lactogenesis

Answer 24

initiation of lactation

Question 25

galactopoiesis

Answer 25

maintenance of lactation

Question 26

what is the length of the normal lactation cycle in NON DAIRY animals

Answer 26

from parturition to weaning

Question 27

what is the length of the lactation cycle in DAIRY CATTLE

Answer 27

lactation: 305+ days
drying off: 60 days; ends with next parturition

Question 28

agalactia

Answer 28

lack of milk production

horses & cattle: fescue toxicity
pigs: postpartum nutritional deficiency

Question 29

galactorrhea

Answer 29

inappropriate lactation
- pseudopregnancy (dogs)
- precocious lactation (small ruminants; nullparious)
- gynecomastia (some buck goats)

Question 30

mammary fibroepithelial hyperplasia

Answer 30

progesterone induced hyperplasia and fibrosis

occurs in cats

Question 31

mastitis

Answer 31

inflammation of the mammary gland

most commonly from bacterial infection

usually affects a single gland/lobe

Question 32

diagnosis of mastitis

Answer 32

somatic cell count
california mastitis test
clinical signs
milk culture

Question 33

somatic cell count

Answer 33

counts the nucleated cells in the milk

normal: macrophages, mammary epithelial cells, FEW neutrophils (<400,000)

abnormal: >400,000; indicates high levels of neutrophils corresponding to infection

Question 34

milk composition in mastitis cases

Answer 34

decreased: casein, Ca, lactose, fat

increased: albumin, Na, Cl, Igs, lactoferrin

can appear grossly normal or abnormal

Question 35

subclinical mastitis

Answer 35

normal appearance of milk
normal palpation of mammary gland
elevated SCC
decreased overall production
culture positive

Question 36

clinical mastitis

Answer 36

peracute: severe systemic signs, gross pathologic change, bloody milk

acute: localized to mammary gland, abnormal milk

chronic: abscessation/fibrosis (“hard bag” mastitis)