Dystocia

Question 1

Define dystocia and eutopia

Answer 1

• dystocia any birth that involves any intervention from farmer or vet
• eutopia completely natural birth

Question 2

What are the stages around parturition?

Answer 2

• prodrome (pre-parturition)
• parturition
• puerperium (post-partum)

Question 3

What may occour in puerperium?

Answer 3

• NEB
• mastitis
• LDA/RDA

Question 4

What are the 3 stages of parturition itself?

Answer 4

1. positioning of foetus. cervical dilation, exposure of foetal membranes and possible rupture
2. foetal expulsion
3. placental expulsion

Question 5

Are retained placental membranes a big problem in cows?

Answer 5

No, rarely goes systemic

Question 6

See lecture for duration of each stage in spp.

Question 7

What is the first sack to exit the birth canal?

Answer 7

Allantochorion

Question 8

When should you interfere with calving?

Answer 8

~2hours without progress

Question 9

How common is dystocia in mares, cows, ewes, does, sows, bitches and queens?

Answer 9

mares: 1-2% ponies, 10% draught
cow: 3-4% diary, beef higher
ewe: 2-3%
doe: 1-2%
sow: <1% feral, high in brachycephalics

Question 10

Causes of dystocia? Broad categories?

Answer 10

> Maternal
- expulsion (1/2 uterine inertia; defective or inadequate straining)
- birth canal (failure of relaxation; torsion; inadequate pelvic diameter)
foetal
- size (large; monster)
- disposition (abnormal presentation, position or posture)

Question 11

What Qs should be asked in the history of a dystocia case?

Answer 11

• full term/early/overdue?
• primigravida/multigravida
• problems in pregnancy
• when did straining begin?
• water bag? foetal fluids? foetus?
• Tx so far

Question 12

What equipment would you need to take to a dystocia case?

Answer 12

• parturition gown etc.
• halter
• head and leg snares or chains
• lubrication
• soap disinfectant cotton wool
• syringes, local anaesthetic
• ABx
• calcium (tx uterine inertia)

Question 13

Which animals usually stand to give birth and which lie dowm?

Answer 13

Sow lies down, cows mares and ewes generally stand

- not set in stone and more effort can be put into straining if lying down

Question 14

What should the vulva, vagina and cervix be checked for on PE?

Answer 14

• dilation, lubrication, injury - prive you didn’t do it!

Question 15

What should the foetus be checked for on PE?

Answer 15

• PPP (presentation, posture, position)
• number and structure of foetal parts
• live or dead? beware hypoxic foetuses will have dulled reflexes, feel for heart beat, pulses or eyeball tone
• size relative to dam

Question 16

How should a dead calf be removed?

Answer 16

Foetotomy not ceasar (will -> peritonitis)

Question 17

What forms of anaesthesia may be used?

Answer 17

• none
• epidural
• paravertebral
• inverted L
• line block
  > sedation
  > GA
• though these may cause cwo to lie down, difficult to do a ceasar

Question 18

What does the calves legs crossing over during parturition indicate?

Answer 18

• pelvis too small

Question 19

How can a viable birth be decided v ceasar? How is this differnet in double muscled calves?

Answer 19

• carpal joint 10cm outside cow with 2 people pulling = viable
• double muscled calf only 1 person pulling as back end with be larger

Question 20

What position should the calf be put in once head is out?

Answer 20

Rotate 90 degrees for pelvis

Question 21

What effect does pulling the calf have on the calf itself?

Answer 21

Bradycardia and acidosis

-> give breaks!

Question 22

How does delivery of caudal presentation differ?

Answer 22

• manually dilate vulva and vagina a lot
• check umbilical cord as may -> asphyxia if squashed
• hock 10cm outside with 2 people pulling = viable
• deliver ASAP and pull DORSALLY

Question 23

What is the presentation of the calf?

Answer 23

• relationship of longitudinal axis of foetus and dam
• longitudinal anterior (normal)
• longitudinal posterior
• transverse (both sets of legs coming out together)

Question 24

What is the position of the calf?

Answer 24

• relationship of dorsal surface of the foetus with surface of birth canal
• dorsal
• ventral
• lateral

Question 25

What is the posture of the calf?

Answer 25

- disposition of movable appendages of the foetus - limb flexions - neck flexions - head displacements

Question 26

Why may incorrect disposition occour?

Answer 26

- weak uterine contractions - delayed foetal reflex development - weak foetal movements - competition uterine space - oversized calf - ankylosis of joints

Question 27

What after care is required for the mother?

Answer 27

- check for trauma - ABx - oxytocin (strip udder to release OT and encourage milk let down, helps expulsion of uterus) - NSAIDS

Question 28

What after care is requiredfor the calf?

Answer 28

- navel dipping | - check colostrum supply