SA Postpartum Disorders

Question 1

Normal vulvar discharge in the bitch

Answer 1

• 3-4 weeks post-partum
• green – reddish brown
• watery-mucoid
• no odor

Question 2

Peak lactation in the bitch

Answer 2

2-4 weeks postpartum

Question 3

Normal vulvar discharge in the queen

Answer 3

only visible up to 4 days, no odor

Question 4

Proper nutrition prevents against what?

Answer 4

metabolic diseases (pregnancy toxemia, etc.)

Question 4

Retained placenta usually occurs with ____ and predisposes to ____

Answer 4

retained placenta usually occurs with large litters and predisposes to metritis

Question 5

Clinical signs of retained placenta

Answer 5

persistence of green vulvar discharge (bitch), restlessness, no systemic illness

Question 6

Treatment of retained placenta

Answer 6

• spontaneous break-down and passage in lochia
• no prohylactic antibiotics

only treat if metritis is present

Question 7

acute metritis

Answer 7

uterine infection with inflammation of the endometrium and myometrium within the first 7-14 days post-partum

Question 8

most common cause of acute metritis

Answer 8

E.coli

Question 9

clinical signs of metritis

Answer 9

malodorous, red-brown, or purulent vulvar discharge

dams will be systemically ill

Question 10

treatment of metritis

Answer 10

evacuate infected material from uterus
* medical – prostaglandin (side effects and narrow therapeutic index)
* OHE
antibiotics
NSAIDS

Question 11

Subinvolution of placental sites

Answer 11

usually occurs in young primiparous bitches

Question 12

Clinical signs of SIPS

Answer 12

serosanguinous vulvar discharge up to 8-16 weeks postpartum

Question 13

Treatment of SIPS

Answer 13

spontaneous remission

Question 14

Uterine prolapse is more common in what species

Answer 14

queen <48 hours post partum

Question 15

Galactostasis

Answer 15

accumulation of milk in the mammarry glands without infection

Question 16

Acute mastitis

Answer 16

can occur anytime during lactation, more common in the bitch

Question 17

Mastitis is most commonly caused by …

Answer 17

ascending infections

Question 18

Treatment of mastitis

Answer 18

• antibiotics based on C/S from milk
• NSAIDs
• cooling and stripping glands

do NOT allow to nurse on abscessed/gangrenous glands

Question 19

Agalactia/hypogalactia

+ clinical signs

Answer 19

absent or insufficient milk production to meet neonatal demands that will cause puppies and kittens to have insufficient weight gain

Question 20

Primary agalactia

Answer 20

caused by an anatomical abnormality of the gland or lack of response to stimuli

Question 21

Secondary agalactia

Answer 21

mastitis, metritis, hypocalcemia, stress, poor nutrition

Question 22

Treatment of agalactia

Answer 22

• treat underlying cause
• dopamine D2 receptor antagonists

Question 23

Hypocalcemia

Answer 23

occurs in bithces within first 4 weeks postpartum

blood ionized calcium of <0.80mmol/L

Question 24

Treatment for hypocalcemia

Answer 24

• emergency treatment with IV 10% calcium-gluconate slowly (watch ECG)
• short term control with SQ 10% calcium gluconate
• long term control with PO calcium tablets through lactation
• regular checks
• correct dams nutrition

Question 25

Bitches with hypocalcemia often have concurrent

Answer 25

hypoglycemia