Post-partum haemorrhage in cattle

Re: Post-partum haemorrhage in cattle

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:59:28 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]If I have stopped the bleeding by clamping a vessel I will give NSAIDs, but if it's oozing and I have packed it I don't for worry of anti-platelet effects. Doubt it makes much difference but I'd rather have a sore alive cow than a dead pain free one![/quote]

There speaks a person who's never given birth!

Re: Post-partum haemorrhage in cattle

Mark Hedberg — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 21:34:09 GMT

[quote user="Alan Tevendale"]

You mean you read veterinary forums in your sleep Mark? Is that not taking with work ethic a little too extreme?

[/quote]

It's this new economy everyone's talking about, y'know! ;)

Re: Post-partum haemorrhage in cattle

midlandsvet973 — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 21:19:52 GMT

Thanks for all your suggestions, this definitely fell into group 1 and she was a very fat belgian blue heifer. I spoke to the farmer this morning and so far cow and calf are both doing well so fingers crossed. I'll definitely have a look on ebay to see if I can get some cheap forceps so I don't get into as much trouble with the nurses for leaving expensive ones behind.

Re: Post-partum haemorrhage in cattle

Alan Tevendale — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:56:29 GMT

You mean you read veterinary forums in your sleep Mark? Is that not taking with work ethic a little too extreme?

Re: Post-partum haemorrhage in cattle

Mark Hedberg — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:49:28 GMT

Sorry, finger slipped; i'm not awake yet. We really need to move that "recommend" button… :p

Re: Post-partum haemorrhage in cattle

Julian Earl — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 20:48:10 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

Get yourself some giant artery forceps sorted and keep them in your calving box!

[/quote]

Alternatively - or as well as - get some of those plastic clips that you use to seal polythene bags before you put them in the freezer. Cheap and disposable and very efective for clamping off an artery that you have gripped between your fingers but can't clamp with forceps.

Re: Post-partum haemorrhage in cattle

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 19:12:01 GMT

In my experience these fall into one of two categories:

1. Profound venous haemorrhage that flows out the vulva like a hosepipe turned on. This is there instantly the calf comes away and could fill a buckets quickly. Usually seems to affect very fat heifers. You don't always have to have pulled that hard. I carry two very large artery forceps in my calving box for this reason. They came off ebay and were cheap. IIRC they are 15 inches total length - that way the handles can be operated close to the vulva. Sometimes you can feel the rush of blood and hold the vessel closed with your fingers and then guide the big forceps around it with the other hand. I then put the second clamp on below that and leave them both on. Top tip - tie a loop of nylon through the handles and take a small bite at the vulva - that way you can't lose the forceps. If you can't feel the flow get the farmer to pull the vulval lips apart - wearing a headtorch really helps. If the cow is down it can keep the farmer out of the way if they straddle the cow.

2. More blood than 'normal', sort of oozes out, may be clots in there when you examine the cow. I find more likely get this type with dry calvings and dead calves. Usually where you've had to be quite rough. Examining things like I describe above sometimes there is a tiny artery spurting or an abrasion that has venous ooze. If there is an artery I can clamp I do, but usually I ask for an old towel, roll it into a sausage, and suture vulva. Remove packing after three days (or thereabouts) depending on weekends!

If a farmer rings me reporting haemorrhage after calving I instruct them to pack with a couple of clean towels/sheets and get there as fast as I possibly can. In this case I give an epidural and remove packing. Often bleeding has stopped so I repack for three days as above.

I always cover for a week of antibiotic [do like the Naxel, when there isn't a production problem!]. I give oxytocin but only should have an effect on the uterus. If I have stopped the bleeding by clamping a vessel I will give NSAIDs, but if it's oozing and I have packed it I don't for worry of anti-platelet effects. Doubt it makes much difference but I'd rather have a sore alive cow than a dead pain free one!

Get yourself some giant artery forceps sorted and keep them in your calving box!

Re: Post-partum haemorrhage in cattle

Alan Tevendale — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 13:03:09 GMT

How long I would leave any packing would probably depend on how much heamorrhage there was. Probably at least until any inflammation has settled and yes keeping the animal on antibiotics would be sensible. Remember any cow that has had an assisted calving is far more likely to develop metritis anyway so you should hopefully be cover all bases with this. I know it's off license but I'm becoming a fan of the use of Naxcel in cases where long courses of antibiotics are appropriate (in dairy cows that is). I seem to remember a thread from a while back on it's use in other matters then data sheet license.

Re: Post-partum haemorrhage in cattle

midlandsvet973 — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 11:57:06 GMT

Thanks for your reply. I'll give oxytocin if/when I get another one. If you pack it how long do you leave it there? I left the clamp in place, told the farmer I would go back and remove it but he wanted to avoid another visit so was going to do it himself (warned him it might bleed again). I seem to remember something from cpd about them needing a longer course of ABs than you would expect due to the risk of septic emboli I think but might have imagined that. I'm going to phone him later and check how the cow's doing after 24 hours.

Re: Post-partum haemorrhage in cattle

Alan Tevendale — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 07:58:41 GMT

Yeah I've had a few a little like that. If you can manage to get a clamp onto the bleeder there is no harm in leaving the clamp there and coming back for it 24hrs later, alternatively you can pack the bleeding with large wads of cotton wool. I do tend to give a shot of oxytocin. Try to avoid the temptation of doing too much as you will disturb any clots that do form. A few years ago I went to a cow that had calved and 'wasn't well' I performed a vaginal exam to check for tears etc - certainly found the tear along with a very large blood clot, followed by lots of bleeding. The cow unfortunately died as I couldn't seem to clamp that one.

I hope the cow and the while your here things are all doing well.