BSE in Females

Question 1

Why do we do breeding soundness exams?

Answer 1

• Document normality (BSE)
• Estimation of breeding time
• Confirm of pregnancy
• Detect abnormality (cause of infertility)
• Management of parturition

Question 2

What important questions should be asked before a BSE?

Answer 2

• Has the animal previously been pregnant?
• Could the animal currently be pregnant?
  ○ Is it possible that it is too early to detect?
  ○ If this is possible you must consider this during your exam - don’t breach the cervix
• Is there a zoonotic risk?
• Have they had pre-mating vaccinations?

Question 3

What should be included in previous breeding records?

Answer 3

• Establish previous and current cyclicity:
• Reached puberty?
• Inter-oestrus intervals
  ○ Normal?
  ○ Prolonged?
  ○ Shortened?

Question 4

What are the 3 venereal pathogens in mares/stallions?

Answer 4

Klebsiella
Pseudomonas
Taylorella (cause of contagious equine metritis)

Question 5

What virus should be screen in cats?

Answer 5

FeLV - Feline leukaemia virus

Question 6

What vaccinations are important in ewes and pigs to prevent disease in neonates?

Answer 6

Clostridia

Question 7

Why do we carry out a general clinical exam?

Answer 7

• To ensure that there are no diseases or defects that preclude from getting pregnant / successfully taking pregnancy to term
  ○ Body size/body condition
  ○ Dentition, feet (predisposition to disease)
  ○ Ventral hernia
• And to rule out hereditary defects
  ○ Hip dysplasia in dogs etc

Question 8

What is involved in mammary gland examination?

Answer 8

• Correct number of teats
• Evidence of stage of oestrus cycle
• Presence of current disease
• Evidence or previous disease

Question 9

What is involved in perineum examination?

Answer 9

• Normal alignment of the vulval lips
• Evidence of venereal pathogens
  ○ Coital exanthema in mares (Equine herpes 4)
  ○ Infectious pustular vulvovaginitis of cows (Bovine herpes virus 1)

Question 10

What is normal conformation in horses?

Answer 10

Vulva is flat underneath perineum

Poor conformation is caused by loss of fat and muscle around perineum - vulva pulled back over pubis

Question 11

What does examination of the cervix tell you?

Answer 11

Stage of cycle
Estimation of cervical opening at parturition
Trauma
Discharge

Question 12

How can you examine the uterus?

Answer 12

• Trans-rectal palpation
• Trans-abdominal palpation
• Radiographic examination (small animals)
• Ultrasonographic examination
• Uterine cytology / microbiology
• Endoscopic examination
• Uterine biopsy

Question 13

Why is uterine examination useful?

Answer 13

○ Stage of the cycle
○ Pregnancy
○ Status of involution
○ Infection (endometritis / pyometra / metritis)

Question 14

What aspects of the uterus is assessed?

Answer 14

Shape
Size
Positition
Tone

Question 15

What can radiography of the uterus detect?

Answer 15

Size
Position
Opacitiy
Useful for:
○ Uterine enlargement (displacement of bowel)
○ Pregnancy detection (after mineralisation)
○ Counting foetal number / confirming retention
○ (confirming foetal death but signs take few days to establish)

Question 16

What can ultrasonography of the uterus detect?

Answer 16

Shape
Size
Contents
Useful for:
○ Stage of cycle
○ Diagnosis of pregnancy (especially early)
○ Uterine pathology
(Foetal development / foetal well-being)