Mating and Pregnancy - Canine and Feline Flashcards
(126 cards)
1
Q
Is the mating process faster in canines or felines?
A
felines
2
Q
What important routine medication should be given before mating?
A
boosters and wormer
3
Q
How are the male and female cat introduced to each other before mating?
A
female is usually brought to the male as he is more confidant in his own territory, they are usually housed next to each other for a couple of days.
4
Q
How will a male cat respond to the presence of a female in heat?
A
urinate within his environment
5
Q
Describe the process of mating in cats
A
male grabs female by the scruff (neck) and female remains still.
Mounts with fore legs and then hind legs.
Penetration does not last long and ejaculation follows almost immediately.
as male withdraws the queen often vocalises loudly and may turn to attack him due to the barbs on his penis
6
Q
What are the functions of the barbs on the tom cats penis?
A
cause quick release of LH which induces ovulation
7
Q
How many times will cats mate?
A
for 1-3 days can mate every 15-60 minutes
8
Q
When does the mating process between canines need to take place?
A
while the female is ovulating
9
Q
what sort of ovulators are dogs?
A
spontaneous
10
Q
Why is the bitch taken to the stud for mating?
A
territory
11
Q
Why is it better to use at least one experience dog during mating?
A
2 maiden dogs may not be sure what to do, guidance is needed by an experienced dog
12
Q
When is the optimum time for mating in canines?
A
when the bitch is ovulating
13
Q
How does the bitch indicate she is willing to stand?
A
moving tail to the side (flagging and winking)
14
Q
Describe the process of mating in dogs
A
male dog mounts the female (support may be required for the bitch from assistants) and a tie occurs
ejaculation occurs quickly
male and female can remain in a tie for 5-20 minutes but can be up to an hour
15
Q
What is a tie?
A
male is locked into a female by contraction of her vaginal muscles
16
Q
What is the classic tie position?
A
two dogs stand rear to rear but are still locked together
17
Q
why is restraint during the tie needed?
A
to ensure the dogs don’t drag each other around
18
Q
why must bitches be kept away from other dogs for up to a week?
A
possible for litters to have more than one father
19
Q
when does fertilisaition occur?
A
72 hours post mating
20
Q
When does implantation occur?
A
up to 21 days later
21
Q
What is the average gestation period in the bitch?
A
60-70 days
22
Q
when do bitches typically whelp?
A
day 63-65
23
Q
What is the average gestation period in the queen?
A
56-70 days
24
Q
when do queens typically kitten?
A
day 65-67
25
How many days early or late can parturation occur with no effect?
7 days
26
What effect can very early or late parturation have?
small litters
27
What tests can pregnancy be confirmed by?
```
vaginal mucous smears
palpation
radiography
hormone assay
ultrasound
```
28
Whan are foetuses palpable in cats?
15-20 days
29
When are foetuses palpable in dogs?
28 days
30
when can ultrasounds be successful in confirming pregnancy in queens?
15 days
31
when can ultrasounds be successful in confirming pregnancy in bitches?
21 days
32
What is a key sign of pregnancy in cats?
failure to return to oestrus
33
What day of pregnancy do cats teats become more vascular?
21
34
What day of pregnancy do cats abdomens become larger?
35
35
What day of pregnancy can kittens be seen moving though the cats abdomen?
49
36
Should bitches remain active through pregnancy?
yes
37
When should bitches receive a booster vaccine?
pre-mating
38
What does the pregnancy worming routine depend on?
manufactures guidelines and practice policy
39
what week of pregnancy does calorie need increase?
2nd week
40
By how much should calories increase after week 2 of pregnancy?
70%
41
What should the size and frequency of meals be after week 2 of pregnancy?
small and often
42
By how much does energy requirement increase by week after week 6 of pregnancy?
10%
43
What sort food is often fed after week 3/4 of pregnancy?
puppy food as it is 30% higher in protein, fat and multiple soluble vitamins
44
Why is a change of diet needed after week 3/4 of pregnancy?
loss of appetite and nausea are common
45
when should the bitch be introduced to the whelping box?
3 weeks prior to parturition
46
what are the most import features of the area a bitch or queen is to give birth?
quiet
| escape proof
47
at what point prior to parturition does the rectal temperature fall in bitches and queens?
24 hours
48
by how many degrees does a bitch or queens temperature drop before parturition?
1-3 degrees
49
what are the signs of onset of parturition?
```
rectal temperature falls by 1-3 degrees
nest making
shivering/shaking
loss of appetite
vomiting
restlessness/pacing
enlargement of vaginal lips
licking genital area
obvious mammary development (milk in teats)
clear discharge from vulva
```
50
which of the signs of onset of parturition can occur up to 24hours prior to parturition?
fall of rectal temperature
loss of appetite
clear discharge from vulva
51
What are the stages of parturition?
```
preparation
1st stage
2nd stage
3rd stage
4th stage (puerperium)
```
52
how long does the preparation stage of parturition last?
1-3 days
53
what happens during the preparation stage of parturition?
colostrum present in mammary glands
relaxation of vaginal and perineal tissues
drop in rectal temp
nest making
54
what causes the first stage of parturition?
foetus' begin to move
cervix and vagina relax and dilate
intermittent uterine contractions can be seen but no visible straining
55
how long can the first stage of parturition last?
1-12 hours
56
what are the signs of the first stage of parturition?
```
restlessness
onset of slight contractions
panting
nest making
anorexia
shivering
vomiting
queens will vocalise and groom
queens may cry when visiting litter tray
```
57
what can be seen at vulva during the first stage of parturition?
water bag
58
how long does the second stage of parturition last?
3-12 hours
59
what position of the fetuses causes straining?
head of fetus in pelvic area
60
in what position may bitches be during stage 2 of parturition?
lateral recumbancy or standing
61
how long does the second stage of parturition last?
3-12 hours
62
what are the signs of the second stage of parturition?
intense and regular contractions
dam will crouch/stand/lie
water bag is seen at vulva
fetuses move through cervix to vagina
63
what happens just before the fetuses are delivered?
dam ruptures water bags to release the fluid
64
what should the dam do when the puppy/kitten is born?
dam licks away the remains of water bag and to stimulate puppy/kitten
the umbilical chord is broken, either when puppy/kitten is born or dam bites through it
65
what stages of parturition may overlap?
2nd and 3rd
66
what litter sizes produce smaller gaps between deliveries?
large litter sizes
67
what length should the interval between births be?
15-60 mins
68
what level of intervention is best during stage 2 and 3?
minimal
69
what happens at the 3rd stage of parturition?
delivery of placentas
70
how long may the 3rd stage of parturition take?
5-15 minutes
71
how long does the 4th stage of parturition last?
4-6 weeks post parturition
72
what is the name for the fourth stage of parturition?
puerperium
73
what happens during puerperium?
```
reproductive system returns to original state
uterine involution (becomes smaller)
bleeding stops
dam temps returns to normal
```
74
how many weeks into puerperium does bleeding from the dam cease?
1 week
75
how many weeks into puerperium does the dam's temperature return to normal?
1 week
76
What should happen at the end of parturition (stage 3 end)?
all placentas delivered
no heavy bleeding
puppies/kittens are warm, dry, vigorous and suckling
mum cleans herself, eats, drink and urinates/defacates
77
how many placentas should there be delivered at the end of parturition (stage 3 end)?
the same as the number of puppies
78
what two categories can dystocia be divided into?
fetal and maternal
79
what is the correct presentation of the foetus for birth?
headfirst (anterior longitudinal) with legs forwards
80
what is posterior presentation of a fetus?
tail and hindlimbs first
81
at what point is posterior presentation of a fetus problematic during delivery?
if the sac breaks
82
what is breech presentation?
bottom first with legs tucked around body
83
how is dystocia identified?
unproductive straining for 1 hour
84
what problems can arise during parturition?
dam not releasing puppy/kitten from the bag after several minutes
intact umbilical chord
puppy/kitten not born within 30 minutes of seeing the water bag
dystocia
dam becomes weak
mor ethan 2 hours between fetuses
2nd stage lasts longer than 12 hours
red/green vaginal discharge seen in bitches
brown vaginal discharge seen in queens
85
what can red/green discharge in bitches and brown discharge in queens suggest?
placental abruption
86
what are the main causes of foetal dystocia?
oversize relative to birth canal
87
why may a fetus be oversize relative to the birth canal?
breed conformation
actual oversize
fetal abnormalities
88
What fetal abnormalities may cause fetal dystocia?
hydrops fetalis, anasarca, hydrocephalus, twins
89
what is hydrops fetalis?
large fluid build up within tissues/organs causing massive swelling
90
what is anasarca?
pronounced general oedema
91
what is hydrocephalus?
build up of CSF in the brain
92
aside from over size of foetus, what are the 2 other causes of fetal dystocia?
abnormal foetal position
| fetus exiting one horn and entering the other, blocking the entrance to the uterine body
93
what are the causes of maternal dystocia?
```
uterine inertia
herniation
adhesions
torsion
lack of allantoic fluid
rupture
birth canal abnormalities
```
94
what birth canal abnormalities can cause maternal dystocia?
steep pelvic floor (brachycephallics), vaginal abnormalities, stricture, vulvar oedema
95
what are the two types of uterine inertia?
primary and secondary
96
what is primary uterine inertia?
contractions do not begin/ are absent
97
what can cause primary uterine inertia?
insufficient stimulation - small litter (lower plasma concentration of birth stimulating hormone)
overstretching of uterine muscles (too many puppies)
inherited problems
overweight/anxious dam
98
where is primary uterine inertia often seen?
common in young bitches with small litters and overweight bitches with large litters
99
what is secondary uterine inertia?
uterine contractions stop once they have started
100
what is secondary uterine inertia caused by?
uterine exhaustion after obstructive dystocia
101
how can secondary uterine inertia be treated?
if dystocia can be reversed give IV calcium and oxytocin
| if not: caesarean
102
what are the 2 types of primary uterine inertia?
complete and partial
103
how should primary uterine inertia be treated?
calm the dam
small amount of exercise
manual stimulation of vaginal wall
seek veterinary surgeons advice
104
what are the foetal causes of obstructions?
malpresentation
foetal oversize
foetal malformation
foetal death
105
what can foetal oversize be caused by?
small litter size or mismatched breeding
106
what are maternal causes of obstruction?
narrow pelvic canal
abnormalities in the birth canal (e.g. neoplasia)
uterine rupture
congenital malformation of uterus
107
how can obstructions be managed?
manual manipulation of foetus
108
how should manual manipulation of the foetus be managed?
restrain the dam
asepsis vital
lubricate hands, foetus and dam
hold only the torso of foetus
109
what is the next step if manual manipulation of the foetus doesn't work?
caesarean
110
what should be considered before the beginning of a caesarean?
type of anesthesia
| number of people needed to revive puppies/kittens
111
what are the reasons for cesarean section?
```
uterine inertia (primary or secondary)
foetal malposition
foetal oversize
foetal death
excess or deficiency of foetal fluids
birth canal deformity
illness or trauma of dam
```
112
what is the process for resuscitation of neonates?
free airway
rub with towel to stimulate breathing and dry them
swab away excess fluid
gently swing puppy/kitten in an arc using a towel
massage chest
drugs (to stimulate respiration)
113
how many days after birth should kittens be handled?
after 3 days
114
what sort of environment should kittens be raised in?
quiet
115
what days do umbilical chords fall off?
day 3-6
116
when do kittens eyes open?
day 8-10
117
when would kittens be given food?
4 weeks
118
when are kittens weaned?
6 weeks
119
what checks should be made of the queen after birth?
feed extra
check mammary glands
licking of kittens vulva and anus
120
what is 'activated sleep' in puppies?
growth is stimulated by sleep
121
how many days after birth to puppies eyes open?
10-14
122
are puppies deaf and blind when born?
yes
123
how often do puppy/kittens need to be fed when being hand reared for the first 3 weeks?
every 2 hours
124
what sort of milk should be used when hand rearing puppies/kittens?
kitten/puppy milk substitute not cows milk
125
why is it important that kittens/puppies are not fed cows milk?
it doesn't contain the correct level of calcium and phosphate
can cause diarrhoea which can cause them to become quickly dehydrated
126
what can be done to encourage kittens/puppies to defecate during hand rearing?
wiping with a damp swab
