Dystocia/Postpartum Disorders

Question 1

What length of time with weak contractions and no parturition of a puppy is considered dystocia?

Answer 1

(4 hours)

Question 2

Greater than what time between puppies is considered dystocia?

Answer 2

(2 hours)

Question 3

Greater than what time with active contractions and straining without parturition of a puppy is considered dystocia?

Answer 3

(30 minutes)

Question 4

What colors of vulvar discharge during parturition and no puppy being produced are considered signs of dystocia?

Answer 4

(Black or excessive green vulvar discharge)

Question 5

What amount and type of blood coming from the vulva is considered a sign of dystocia?

Answer 5

(Large amounts of frank blood)

Question 6

What is the major determinant on whether medical versus surgical management is necessary in a case of dystocia?

Answer 6

(If the ferguson’s reflex is present or not; if it is present, medical management will be more successful, if it is not present, medical management will not work)

Question 7

What class of drugs is appropriate to send a post C-section mother home on for pain management and that is safe for the puppies?

Answer 7

(NSAIDs, Dr. Cecere specifically mentioned they send home a short course of carprofen)

Question 8

You should intervene with parturition in a mare if there is no evidence of strong contractions and/or no progression in the delivery process within how many minutes of chorioallantois rupture?

Answer 8

(10 minutes)

Question 9

(T/F) Foals should be encased in a sac containing fluid when they are expelled from the mare.

Answer 9

(F, this is called red bag (placental detachment) and is abnormal, must cut the placenta open so the baby can breathe)

Question 10

What is the 30 minute rule used in ruminant parturitions?

Answer 10

(The dam should be making some progress every 30 minutes)

Question 11

Piglets should be delivered within what time frame after the onset of labor?

Answer 11

(1-2 hours)

Question 12

What is the longest you should be comfortable waiting between piglet deliveries before intervention is deemed necessary?

Answer 12

(An hour)

Question 13

In camelids, you should intervene if the first stage of labor exceeds how long (in hours) with increasing signs of discomfort?

Answer 13

(6 hours)

Question 14

You are performing your vaginal exam of a cow who the farmer is concerned is showing signs of dystocia. The vagina ends abruptly at the pelvic brim with the mucosa drawn into tight, spiral folds, what abnormality is indicated?

Answer 14

(A uterine torsion)

Question 15

If you are unable to manipulate the fetus due to contractions, what can you do?

Answer 15

(Perform a caudal epidural with 2% lidocaine)

Question 16

What is the purpose of rotating the neonate to its side after the cranial portion is out?

Answer 16

(To prevent hip lock)

Question 17

You should send a mare for a c-section if you are unable to correct a dystocia in a mare in what time period?

Answer 17

(15 minutes)

Question 18

Oxytocin and/or calcium gluconate can be administered to sows/gilts only after confirming what two things about the cervix?

Answer 18

(First that the cervix is open and second that the open cervix is not blocked by a fetus)

Question 19

Why should you not induce a camelid unless there is a medical justification to do so?

Answer 19

(They naturally have a long and highly variable gestation length so owners just need to be patient)

Question 20

Camelids should be taken to have a C-seciton if the fetal heart rate is less than what value?

Answer 20

(Less than 50 bpm)

Question 21

What can be administered postpartum to stimulate uterine involution, placental expulsion, and milk letdown?

Answer 21

(Oxytocin)

Question 22

What is the difference in the clinicals signs associated with ascending placentitis versus systemic placentitis?

Answer 22

(Systemic placentitis typically presents with abortion whereas ascending placentitis presents with premature signs of parturition)

Question 23

You are called to a barn where a mare recently aborted her fetus; upon your exam you note that she has uveitis, what bacterial disease would be at the top of your differential list?

Answer 23

(Leptospirosis)

Question 24

You are called to a barn where a mare recently aborted her fetus; upon your examination of the placenta you notice lesions on the body and base of the horns but nowhere else, what bacterial disease would be at the top of your differential list?

Answer 24

(Nocardioform placentitis)

Question 25

What is one of the most important questions you need to ask a mare’s owner when you are working her up for a case of placentitis?

Answer 25

(What stage of gestation is she in)

Question 26

Of the times when uterine torsions occur in horses, mid to late term or peripartum, which is more common?

Answer 26

(Mid to late term)

Question 27

When does rupture of the uterine artery more commonly occur in relation to gestation/parturition in a mare?

Answer 27

(Postpartum)

Question 28

If the uterine artery ruptures and leaks within what structure, a hematoma forms and stops the bleeding naturally?

Answer 28

(The broad ligament, if it ruptures and leaks into the abdomen you’ll get unrestrained hemorrhage)

Question 29

Why is a full thickness uterine tear an emergency?

Answer 29

(Bc you will get contamination of the peritoneum)

Question 30

During what stage of estrus are cervical tears best assessed (once the mare comes back into her cycle after foaling)?

Answer 30

(During diestrus)

Question 31

The mare should pass the placenta within how many hours post foaling?

Answer 31

(Within 3 hours)

Question 32

Which of the horns of the placenta is more likely to be retained in a mare?

Answer 32

(The non-gravid horn)

Question 33

Do you start systemic antibiotics earlier or later in cases of a retained placenta?

Answer 33

(Later (when it is lasting hours to days), there are other txs to pursue for early on retained placentas such as oxytocin, uterine lavage, placenta weights)

Question 34

What is the burns procedure, used in later retained placentas?

Answer 34

(Where you fill the placenta with fluid and tie the membranes to keep it closed, this can sometimes help stimulate contractions to aid in clearing out the entire placenta)