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Concept
Bovine uterine prolapse
Summary
Bovine uterine prolapse occurs when the bovine uterus protrudes after calving. It is most common in dairy cattle and can occur in beef cows occasionally with hypocalcaemia. It is not as commonly seen in heifers, but occasionally can be seen in dairy heifers and most commonly Herefords.
Uterine prolapse is considered a medical emergency that puts the cow at risk of shock or death by blood loss. Factors during calving that increase the risk of uterine prolapse include: calving complications that cause injury or irritation of the external birth canal, severe straining during labor, and excessive pressure when a calf is manually extracted. Non-calving factors include nutrition problems such as low blood calcium, magnesium, protein, or generally poor body conditions.
In a complete uterine prolapse, the uterine horns also come out. When this happens, the uterus will hang below the hocks of the animal. When the uterus hangs below the hocks, the cow may lie on, step on or kick the exposed tissue, which increases the risk of rupturing a major artery. The uterus can become easily infected as it bruises easily and can become covered with manure.
Uterine prolapse occurs after calving when the cervix is open and the uterus lacks tone. It occurs most commonly in the hours after calving, but may also occur up to a week later.
When the uterine prolapse does not occur directly after calving, it can be more dangerous for the cow. It is most likely that during parturition, the uterus was slightly everted, which suggests that the prolapse did not take place until after the calf was born. In these cases, the uterus is more likely to be infected. This increases the possibility that the uterus cannot be replaced in the animal, and must instead be removed.
When a cow suffers a uterine prolapse, there are two options for treating it: reduction or amputation. If the treatment is reduction, then the placenta will be removed, the endometrium thoroughly cleaned, any lacerations fixed, and the uterus replaced in the right position.
Official source
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