Diseases of PP ewe dystocia metritis, vaginal prolapse, mastitis

Question 1

Problems for ewes

Answer 1

1. metabolic/ nutritional diseases = TLD (pregnancy toxaemia), hypomagnesia, hypocalcaemia
2. prolapses
3. dystocia
4. mastitis
5. metritis

Question 2

the lambing ewe, options…

Answer 2

• Vaginal Delivery, Caesarian, Embryotomy, Euthanasia

Question 3

What questions would you ask farmer with dystocia

Answer 3

• Age, number, Hx, how long lambing for, what interventions already

Question 4

Examination dystocia ewe

Answer 4

• General (to assess heath of ewe and is she fit enough to undergo further interventions
  – BCS
  – Systemic illness  dull, depressed
  – Anaemic?? Haemorrhage
  – Signs of toxaemia
  – Recumbent

Question 5

How to deal with dystocia?

Answer 5

• Wear gloves
• Keep Clean as Possible
• Lots of lubrication
• use NSAIDS
• BEFORE start
• Use EPIDURALS
• Use ANTIBIOTICS – 3days
• Give Lamb Colostrum

Question 6

causes of dystociainidcations of c section

Answer 6

• Oversized lamb
• Ringwomb- failure of cervix to dilate, lamb can’t get out
• Vaginal Prolapse
• Foetal monster (NOT if smelly lamb)
• Malpresentation

Question 7

prep of c section

Answer 7

– Broad spectrum long-acting antibiotic (5 days coverage)
– NSAID (cascade from cattle: - meloxicam)
– Lateral recumbency (left side up)
– Clip left flank, scrub, local anaesthetic
– Drape

Question 8

C section anaesthesia

Answer 8

• local infiltration procaine (plus adrenaline) (40ML TOTAL) down incision
• inverted L block
• Paravertebral (T13, L1, L2,L3) 5ML PROCAINE per site
• Sacro-coccygeal epidural (with xylazine)to reduce straining and provide additional analgesia
• Half way between Last rib and wing of ileum ½ way, 10-15 cm below transverse processes
• 10- 15 cm incision
• Skin
• Sub-cutaneous tissue
• (Scissors)
• External internal abdominal oblique and then lift transverse muscle, peritoneum before incise, these are thin so don’t puncture rumen – lift layers up

Question 9

Causes of metritis?

Answer 9

• Opportunist infections environmental bacteria including Clostridium tetani which causes tetanus
  – Often after Dystocia
• Poor hygiene
• Dead lambs
  – Post abortion

Question 10

Clinical signs metritis

Answer 10

– Dull, depressed, recumbent
– Toxaemia congested mucous membranes suggesting toxaemia
– Red/brown or purulent vaginal discharge

Question 11

How to treat metritis

Answer 11

• Antibiotics (e.g i.v oxytetracycline, NSAIDS
• Guarded prognosis, esp toxaemic
• May affect milk production monitor lambs
• Prevention
  – Review lambing hygiene measures (gloves), dystocia management, and environmental hygiene and vaccination policy

Question 12

when do we see vaginal prolapse

Answer 12

last 4 weeks of pregnancy 1-2%
* Vagina or vagina and cervix, may include bladder, uterus, rectum. Can be v servere

Question 13

causes of vaginal prolapse

Answer 13

– Prolific breeds> hill breeds
– Litter size inc
– Age  older ewe = damage to pelvic floor
– History 35-40% will re-prolapse
– Nutritional factors
* Obesity
* bulky feeds poor quality forages
* Hypocalcaemia
* lack of trough space – gorging on food and bloating
– Stocking rates
– lack of exercise
– Slopes  lie facing uphill = constant pressure on pelvic floor

Question 14

Treatment of vaginal prolapses

Answer 14

– Mild and uncomplicated cases, can use
o Retention devices - Discomfort, irritation mucosa, secondary infection
o Harnesses – external support, Careful positioning, Avoid pressure sores, Need to check
o Spoon is intravaginal which can stimulate straining and risk of infection
o NSAIDs (not for pain but to reduce swelling of tissues and infection)
o LA antibiotic

Question 15

surgical treatment prolapse

Answer 15

• Epidural anaesthesia
  – Straining and Analgesia
  – Sacrococcygeal or 1st intercoccygeal space
  – give 1.75 ml 2% procaine (LA) for short action
  – or 1.75 ml procaine + 0.25ml 2% xylazine (sedative) for longer action stop straining (24h+)
  – risk recumbency during this period
  – NSAIDS
  – Antibiotic 3-5 days

Question 16

treating prolapse

Answer 16

• Clean and assess tissue
  – Mild antiseptic e.g. chlorhexidine
• Replace the prolapse
  – Gently palm of hand
  – Raise back end of ewe
• Suture
  – Obstetrical tape which isn’t suture material
  – Purse string (leave 1.5cm opening)
  – Buhner – insert needle at bottom, run under skin till comes out of top and same on other side. Tie in bow at bottom
• Mark ewe, remove sutures before lambing

Question 17

Mastitis

Answer 17

common prevalence often higher than we think

Question 18

Per acute/ gangrenous mastitis

Answer 18

• Immediately post lambing, but often 4-8 weeks post lambing when ewe is in peak lactation when under highest metabolic stress
• Ewe sick, toxaemia, tachycardia, rumen stasis, inappetant, lame, recumbent, dull, depressed
• Lambs hungry
• Udder swollen, cold blue, clear boundary between diseased and healthy tissue, well eventually slough
• Milk severely discoloured
• Lame

Gangrenous mastitis will eventually fall off

Question 19

Acute mastitis

Answer 19

• Less severe than gangrenous
• Immediately post lambing, but often 4-8 weeks post lambing when ewe is in peak lactation
• Ewe fever, lame, lambs hungry
• Udder red, painful swollen
• Milk abnormal appearance, discoloured, clots, watery

Question 20

Chronic mastitis

Answer 20

• Chronic udder infection
• Often detected when ewe is dry at weaning or culling time, but maybe when ewe lambs and udder being checked
• Ewe not systemically ill
• Udder abscesses, swollen or light purulent discharge from teats

Question 21

main organism involve in sheep

Answer 21

• Most common in UK are:-
  – Staphylococcus aureus- FROM teat skin
• – Mannheimia haemolytica- FROM lambs mouths
• Also see
  – Strep spp.? Environmental???
  – E. Coli ? Environmental
  – A pyogenes
• Other ones to think about
  – Maedi -visna
  – Leptospira interogans var hardjo
  – Mycoplasma agalactiae- notifiable and rare in UK
  – MILK SAMPLE FOR BACTERIOLOGY CAN HELP DIFFERENTIATE and determine source of infection to help taylor tx

Question 22

Risk factors of mastitis

Answer 22

1. nutrition
2. concurrent Disease
3. prolific
4. Age
5. Udder confirmation
6. udder abscess/ chronic infection
7. teat lesions
8. genetic factors lamb and ewe
9. hygeine
10. milking practices in dairy sheep

Question 24

Tx mastitis

Answer 24

• Prompt
• Gangrenous
  – Euthanasia (prognosis so poor)
• Acute
  – Systemic antibiotics
• Based on culture and sensitivity
• First line going in blind try amoxicillin minimum 5 days
• Tilmicosin is licensed product for M in sheep (vet only)
  – Stripping of udder to remove toxins and bacteria
  – NSAIDs
  – Oral or IV fluids
  – Supportive care for ewe and lamb
• Chronic
  – Culling
  – Udder damaged, won’t be able to feed lambs properly