Reproduction: Dystocia Flashcards
- What is the 1st stage of labour
- How long does it take?
- What are the signs?
- Dilation of the cervix
- 3-6 hours
- Seperated, appetite decreased, unsettled, mucus string, some abdominal straining
- What happens during 2nd stage of labour?
Delivery of the calf
* Appearance of membranes at vulva (bag)
* Several hours
* Water bag ruptures
* Straining
- What is the 3rd stage of labour?
Expulsion of placenta
RFM- over 12 hours
What are ideal calving facilities?
- 12 feet by 12 feet
- Alone
- Easy to clean
- Calving gate
- Milking facility
- Well bedded
- Dry
- Good water, lighting, well ventilated
When should you intervene?
- No progress after 1 hour of water bag showing
- Not progressed to snd stage after 6 hours
- Extreme discomfort
- Significant bleeding
What are common causes of dystocia?
- Malpresentatino
- Oversize- large calf, fat dam
- Congenital abnormality
- Schmallenberg
What should be checked on vaginal examination?
- Lesions or haemorrhage
- Position of uterus and calf
- Relaxation and dilation of vulva, vagina, cervix
- Signs of live from calf
- Extraction?
- Position of umbilical cord
What ‘tricks’ may help with dystocia?
- Position down hill
- J-lube
- Pump water/lube into uterus
- Sink plunger
- Epidural anaesthesia
- Clenbuterol- relaxes uterus
When should you phone a friend?
- Too big
- True breech
- Twisted uterus
- Doesn’t make sense
- Lots of bleeding
- No progress within 20 mins
What are the adv/dis of placing ropes above/below fetlock?
Above fetlock- higher risk of fracture
Below- higher risk of slipping off
Double- minimal chance of leg fracture slipping off
How can you decide whether the calf is too big?
- Head easily lifted into pelvis
- Forelimbs crossing over shows insufficient room
- Easily bring calf so fetlocks near vulva
In anterior presentation what can be assessed for decision making?
- Space by sliding hand over tail head
- Two people should be able to exteriorise limbs
- Check position of umbilical cord- if round hock consider caesar
- What is an episotomy?
- When is it more commonly used?
- What should be done first?
- Incision between vagina and anus
- Heifers- 5-10%, when vuvla not fully slackened
- Caudal epidural
Can breakdown, distorted vulva conformation
What is required for embryotomy?
- Sufficient space for embrotome and arms
- Cadual epidural
- Clenbuterol
- Sufficient lubrication
- Good well maintained equipment
- What are the indications for full embrotomy?
- What are the indications for a partial embryotomy?
- Large dead calf, abnormal calf
- Hip locked, head back- unable to correct, leg back- unable to correct
What are the methods of placing the wire for embryotomy?
Passing
* Pass wire by hand around appendage/area of calf
* Where appropriate attach curved snare
* Thread wire through each side of embryotome
Cleat
* Place chain on limb
* thread wire
* Place the loop of wire in-between cleats on leg aiming to remove
* Advance the embryotome laterally up the limb
* Unhook wire- pass chain throug loop
* Check position
What are fetotomy complications?
- Uterine tears
- Cervical tears
- Vaginal tears
- RFM
- Metritis
What are risk factors for uterine torsions?
- Poor rumen fill
- Space in the abdomen
- Hilly land
- Process of standing/lying
How does a uterine torsion present?
What is found on clinical exam?
Presentation
* Appear to start calving and stop
* No straining
* May just slightly raise tail
* Cow off colour
Examination
* Vaginal exam- corkscrew
* Feel lip infront of cervix
* Per rectum- torsion palpation
What are the different correction methods for uterine torsions?
- Swing calf with coordinated ballottment of abdomen to flip the calf and uterine horn back into the correct position
- Twist legs
- Roll the cow- left lateral to back to right- or opposite (place calving rope or use plank to hold calf)
- Caesarian- unable
What are complications of uterine torsions?
- High degree torsion can secclude blood- friable tissue
- Can be difficult to untwist during caesar
What are indications for caesar?
Major
* Foetal oversize
* Irreducible torsion
* Insufficient cervical dilation
Minor
* Foetal malpresentation
* Abnormal calf
* Dead empyhesmatous calf
* Constricted vagina and vestibulum
What restraint and anaesthesia is required for caesar?
Adequate restraint
* Halter to gait
* Stocks
* Head yolk/crush
* Sedatoin
* Secure tail
Anaesthesia
* Caudal epidural
* Paravertebral nerve block
What pre-op caesar is indicated?
- Clenbuterol
- NSAID
- AB
- Sedation
- Calcium- if appropriate
Don’t forget lighting
What is the technique to caesar?
- Left flank
- Localise horn and exteriorise
- Incise
- Remove calf
- Check for twins
- Remove membranes
- Close uterine incision
- Clean contamination form uterus, rume
- Routine closure of body wall and skin
- Oxytocin, calcium
- Check calf
How is an emphysematous calf dealt with?
- Paramedian incision
- Very low flank incision
- Exteriorise horn
- Sedation
What are caesarian section complications?
- Haemorrhage
- Peritonitis
- Localised adhesions
- RFM
- Metritis
- Wound infections
What is the technique for replacing a uterine prolapse?
- Caudal epidural ± clenbuterol
- Protective cover under uterus
- Remove foetal membranes
- Apply lube- feed uterus in
- One replaces ensure horns in normal position
- Give oxytocin, NSAIDs, ABs, calcium
- Suture?
What is the technique for replacing a uterine prolapse?
- Caudal epidural ± clenbuterol
- Protective cover under uterus
- Remove foetal membranes
- Apply lube- feed uterus in
- One replaces ensure horns in normal position
- Give oxytocin, NSAIDs, ABs, calcium
- Suture?
