Female Reproductive Problems of Cattle

Female Reproductive Problems of cattle and their Treatment

Dr. Sohail Ahmad Anjum.Dr. Maqsood Ahmad.

Contents Cystic ovarian diseases(COD) Anoestrus Vaginal prolapse Uterine prolapse Uterine tortion Hydroallantios Hydroamnois Endometritis and pyomtra Mummification Maceration Termination of pregnancy Induction of parturition Dystokia Retention of fetal membranes Postpartum injuries/Diseases

Cystic ovarian disease(COD) Persistent of an anovulatory follicular structure larger than 2.5cm for more

than 10 days, common in high producing crossbred cows, most common in first 45-60 days after parturition, increase intercalving interval

Two forms of pathological cyst: 1)- Luteal cyst ( thick walled usually occurred as single structure, in long

standing cases female develop male like behaviour. It is due to deficiency of LH

2)- Follicular cyst are two or three times more common than lteal cyst, common in intermediate postpartem period, it may be multiple, unilateral or bilateral.

Diagnosis base on rectal palpation Treatment of follicular cyst: Manual removal, bleeding In follicular cyst give LH or LH like product ( 25mg leutropin, LH like

preparations as HCG 5000-6000 IU, IVFC ) In luteal cyst give PG or any analogue of PG ( Delmazine(analogue).

cyclomate, estromate, prostenol 500 ug or 2ml, lutalse 5ml )

Anoestrus The state of complete sexual inactivity, so no manifestation of estrus. It may

be Reported (when owner or attendant reports) or True (plain ovaries). Types of Anestrous: Physiological: Non breeding season (Those species which show

breeding activity many times during their breeding season e.g. breeding season in buffalo is September, October, November and in cattle March, April, May.), in sheep and equine with photoperiod. Lactational anoestrus ( prolactin and cortisole during suckling inhibits the LH). Nutritional anestrous (deficiency of Ca, P, Vitamins especially Vit. E). Old age ( reported in mare, ovary may not responsible to release of gonadotropin release from pituitary is less). Stress (climate high population)

Pathological: COD (Luteal cyst-thick walled, do not rupture), mummification, maceration, pyometra, Hypo plastic ovaries( also called white cow disease common in swedish cattle, not fully develop genitalia).

Treatment of true anoestrus: Improve nutrition, give vitamins and minerals GnRH 2ml, 50 ug delmeraline, PMSG 1500IU, FSH 10ug

Vaginal prolapse Aversion of vagina outside, usually occurs in pregnant animals but may also be occurred

in non pregnant animal. Causes : Genetic Animal with Ca deficiency Hypersensitivity of estrogen. plants containing high estrogen level as clover, alfaalfa,

berseem. Lack of green fodder, due wheat straw intake constipation occur. Indications: Protrusion and inflammation of vagina due to contamination or injury. Urine retention may occur. Treatment : Avoid constipation, stop dry matter feeding. Give laxatives ( 100 mg MgSO4 in stomach powder, half kg Gulkand ) In complicated cases restrain animal, give epidural anesthesia, reduce the protruded

mass, after this anima will urinate. Inject anti inflammatory and antibiotic.

Uterine prolapse Aversion of uterus to outside. Causes: Genetic causes. Retention of fetal membrane. Handling of dystokia or dystokia itself, difficult birth. Hypocalcemia, lack of nutrition Poor housing condition Indication : Hanging of prolapsed part upto hock joint, Edematus

uterus, Fetal membranes, fresh bleeding due to injury, Milk

fever, coma, recombant phase / standing.

Treatment of uterine prolapse Treatment : reduction or replacement of prolapsed part Take history of animal-( consider duration of case, injury of organ).

restrain animal give epidural anesthesia, wash hind quarter, thoroughly examined prolapsed part. remove the placenta/ membrane, Apply burnol, acriflavin, or week antiseptic,anti inflammatory /pain killer, kept prolapsed part in hands near chest and take up to the vulvalar lips, reduction strarts near vulvular lips by ups and down strokes and with palm reduce upto its complete length. Give oxytocin 50-60 IU after reduction in cattle. After dystokia never give oxytetracycline preparations (May be previously treated with Ca). Application of truss or suturing of vulvalar lips.

Adminstration of Antibiotic and anti inflammatory agents,to control straining Novalgin/buscopan. In severe straining give sedation. Manitol 20% ,Ca + P preparation can be given. If toxemia occurs penicillin / streptomycine is drug of choice, if perpural metritis occurs then oxytetracycline. Give laxatives as 100mg MgSO4 +NACL.

If reduction not possible go for amputation of organ as a last resort.

Uterine torsion Twisting of uterus on its longitudinal axis, commonly in bovines. After six months of pregnancy or more animal shows signs of colic, such

animal must be checked for torsion Causes: Any jerk can lead to twist, sitting or rising behavior of animal. Imbalance in

uterus Deficiency of certain minerals .transportation of animals, rolling habit of

animal Hyperactivity of fetus Types of torsion: Partial : 45 , 90. water bag or facial part of fetus may pass Complete : 180, 260, 370, 580 easy to diagnose Sides: Right sided / clockwise Left sided/ anticlockwise Pre cervical : vagina, cervix, uterus. Post cervical : only uterus

Treatment of torsion Diagnosis : History- Gestation period over, animal straining, animal exertion. Rectal and vaginal palpation: check rolls or severity of

condition, right sided or left sided. Treatment : Rapid rolling (cast on the side of torsion), Schaffer’s/ plank method De. torsion rods, Laporatomy , C. Section In rolling method - Cast the animal on the side of torsion on soft

ground, rapidly roll animal on ground. In plank method, place wooden plank on flank region, fix uterus

and rotate the dam under the plank. If plank not available use sand bags. After this within 30 min cervix may open or go for manual opening, insert finger and apply pressure on cervical rings.

Hormonal treatment include PG, Estrogen, corticosteroid + Ca

Hydroallantois Increase fluid in allantoic cavity. From caudal view,

abdomen is rounded tense and enlarge. Defective placenta, last trimester, 85-90 % cases, rapid enlargement of abdomen. Normal amount of fluid in allantoic is 20 lit. but in this case 150-260 liter, straw colour . Common in twins pregnancy.

Distended horn can easily be palpated but no fetus an placentomes, fetus normal but less placentomes. Sporadic in nature, clear watery fluid, It refill fluid rapidly if we remove fluid rapidly animal may go into shock in C section.

Chance of dislocation of hip joint, ventral hernia, rupture of prepubic tendon, uterine rupture, sever retention of fetal membrane, sever metritis and prognosis for life and fertility is poor, slaughter the animal. We can terminate pregnancy by prostaglandin.

Hydroamnios Increase fluid in amniotic cavity. Defective placenta, in last

half of gestation,10-15% cases, abdomen enlarge slowly, from caudal view pear shaped abdomen. Hard to palpate uterine horn, fetus and placentomes can be palpated.

Common in cattle Sporadic but if inbreeding done, incidence increases, fluid contains pus, genetically defective fetus, swallowing is impaired, fluid inhaled in large bronchi.

Fluid refill gradually, animal may carry normal pregnancy but small size fetus delivery. Uterus undergo inertia-uterus refuses to contract.

Metritis chance are much less, prognosis fair to good for life and fertility, retention of fetal membrane is rare.

Apply traction to pull fetus out, conduct C section. Terminate pregnancy by corticosteroid and prostaglandin.

Mummification Death of fetus in 3-8 months of pregnancy due to infectious or

non infectious causes. Retention of CL, fetus is not expelled out ,absorption of fetal fluid and involution of maternal placenta.

Types : 1)- Hematic- occurs only I cattle, fetus is reddish brown. 2)- Papyraceous- Happen in all others but also in cattle, no

hemorrhage, fetus and membrane normal in coluor. Factors : Genetic, endocrine defect, induced progesterone,

torsion Signs : Uterine wall tightly contracted around fetus, leathery

feeling of placenta, Intact cervical seal, not cotyledon palpable, no fluid.

Diagnosis is so late and difficult Treatment : Regress CL (give PG- cyclomate 2ml). Diethylstillbestroll 100-

120mg, estradiol 17 B 4-8mg Lubricate passage. Prognosis is good.

Maceration All species affected. It can occur at any stage of

pregnancy, fetal death and regression of CL. Maceration of fetus occurs due to viral and bacterial

infection, following death fetus is not expelled, no bone, fetus absorbed.

Facors : (1)- dead fetus (2)- open cervix When there is 4-7 month there is increase

temperature and pulse drop in milk, diarrhea, straining. Dilate cervix by diethylstilbestrol and take fetus out.

In long maceration no temperature, no pulse, no anorexia, watery grey discharge having bad odour.

Prognosis is poor, bones embedded in endometrium Best treatment is to slaughter animal.

Elective Termination of pregnancy Indication : Unwanted pregnancy, careless breeding, breeding with very

young bull, pathological pregnancies, mismating. Methods of termination: Physical methods: Enucleation of CL, intrauterine solution of any irritant

substance, rupture of amniotic vesicles, decapitate the uterus with force.

Hormonal method : Up to 5th month only CL maintains the pregnancy after this

function is also taken up by placenta and adrenal gland. After 8th month again CL is the source. Before five month we should use only prostaglandin but

later we have to use prostaglandin and corticosteroid. Estrogen was used earlier but now PG.

Induction of parturition In last 10- 15 days of gestation induction of parturition could be done. Indication : Managemental causes( synchronization, competition), health indication. To avoid

dystokia, to avoid udder injuries. Avoid prolonged gestation period – hypothalamus pituitary axis problem.

Hormonal treatment: Prostaglandin), corticosteroid, estrogen, combination of these 1)- Use of long acting steroid-dexamethaasone/ trimethyl acetate ( 40-80mg)

for 10-15 days I/M inject one month before parturition, pregnancy occur in 4-26 days. not good method

wider range of time, high incidence of calf mortality, less incidence of RFM. 2)- Short acting corticosteroids: for 3-4 days- efficacy is 80-100%, more RFM Inject I/M 2 weeks before due date, parturition may occur within 24-72 hours. Increased

incidence of RFM. 3)- Use of prostaglandin- 500ug/2ml( natural PG leutalise/ dinoprost 25mg 4ml

- similar to short acting 4)-Use of estrogen- (40-50mg)- considered old method, poor efficacy and high RFM,

prolapse 5)- combination of short acting and estrogen, 6)- long acting and short acting/ PG: after administration of 7-12 days of long acting, the

short acting or PG is given, high calf mortality Corticosteroid and PG: chance of failure decreased.

Dystokia

Obstructed parturition, Eutokia –normal Causes : (1)-Dam causes (primary and secondary inertia, uterine torsion,

pelvic inlet- premature mating/breed difference, fracture, herniation, ).

(2)-Fetal causes (oversized fetus, twins, fetal ascities, fetal anasarca, fetal hydrocephalus, fetal death, Faulty disposition:

1)-Presentation: posterior, transverse 2)-Position: ventral, lateral 3)-Posture: Anterior( limb flexion- carpel, elbow, shoulder) (head flexion- lateral, upward, downward) Posterior (hock flexion, hip flexion)

OBSTETRIC MANOEUVRES The manoeuvres which are practiced on the fetus in

manipulative obstetrics are as follows. Retropulsion: means pushing the fetus cranially

from the vagina (and the bony pelvic canal) towards the uterus.

Extension: Refers to the extension of flexed joints when postural defects are present.

Traction: means the application of force to th presenting parts of the fetus in order to supplement, or in som cases to replace, the maternal forces.

Rotation: alteration of the position of a fetus by moving it around its longitudinal axis.

Version: Version means alteration of transverse or vertical to longitudinal presentation.

Retention of feotal membrane Retaiend placenta for 12 hour or more after paraturition. Causes : Immuture placentomes, Edema of chorionic villi, Advance

involution of placentomes, Hyperemia of placentomes, Placentitis or cotyledonitis associated with bacterial, viral and fungal diseases, Uterine atony, Deceased uterine defence mechanism, Nutritional factors, Hormonal disturbance, Miscellanaeous :( short dry period, transport stress)

Signs : Majority of animals show no clinical signs but transient decrease in

appetite and milk production. Signs of toxemia. Some animals show 20-25% sever metritis. Bad odour discharge and mass of tissue hanging from genital tract. Retained placenta are usually expelled by 7-10 days after calving

when the caruncle tissue has become necrotic.

RFM Treatment Treatment : Removal of retained mass Return of the animal to reproductive usefulness Prevention of secondary complication (1)- Manual removal method: Not preferred / recommended but sometimes it works, involution period

may be shortened. Detach manually cotyledon and caruncles. Disadvantage is most careful veterinarian will cause some trauma and

hemorrhages, secondary infection by operator.

Procedure : Disinfect the vulva and surrounding area. Epidural anesthesia, after proper

lubrication hand is inserted with sterile antiseptic. Each cotyledon and caruncles is grasped, squeezes with thumb and forefingers, separate by pushing and squeezing method.

Leave the placenta if cotyledons are strongly attached, if fresh blood comes, not spend more than 10-15 min.

Lay man’s practice of trying a weight on the placenta or cutting the placenta.

RFM Treatment (2)- Use of hormones: First diagnose the cause of retention. PG or analogue (Delmazine contain leutalize) or 2ml cyclomate, PG

is drug of choice in habitual cases within one hour of prolapse. Oxytocin-(50-60 IU for cattle)- is effective if placenta is hanging

in vulvular lips otherwise it helps in closure of cervix. After 24 hour before giving oxytocin prime first uterus with estrogen 1-2 ml then after 30-60 min give oxytocin. It is drug of choice in compelete retention

Estrogen Increase chance of uterine prolapse -0.5ml stilbestrol + 40-60ml water, two infusion on alternate days.

If hypocalcaemia ( Milfone C 450ml , Antivil 25ml, and vitamin B.Complex 50ml I/V).

(3)- Leave as such and control systemic reaction. Give Diuretics, Glucose and N.S and antibiotic by I/M. Never give intrauterine therapy in this but after manual removal

give intrauterine passeries as UTOCYL 4-5 tablet in cattle.

Post Partum Injuries / Diseases Post Partum Hemorrhage / Bleeding Contusions and Laceration of Birth Canal and Neighboring

Structure Disability due to fractures, dislocation or paralysis (Damage to limbo sacral plexus, Obturator nerve paralysis,

Gluteal nerve paralysis) Displacement, hernia and rupture of the pelvic or

abdominal organs Puerperal metritis Haematoma of the vulva Septic metritis Pyometra Endometritis Hypocalcaemia Ketosis

Endometritis Increase the size, thickness and hardness of uterus. 1st degree: pus, flakes secretion in estrus 2nd degree: pus comes at any stage of estrus 3rd degree: pyometra, size of uterus increases 5-6 time,

treatment impossible, slaughter or cull. Diagnosis: Rectal palpation, go for uterine biopsy helps in

2nd and 3rd degree. Culture sensitivity test. Treatment : Post A.I antibiotics (non irritant antibiotic as penicillin and

streptomycin diluted with N.S, PG (works in 1st degree) 2 injections I/M, estrogen second after 8th day, 0.7 ml diluted in 35 ml of D.W. given on alternate days.

Leugol iodine 2-3%

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