Veterinary obstetrics / by W. L. Williams.

Walter Long Williams

Date:: 1943

Credit: Veterinary obstetrics / by W. L. Williams. Source: Wellcome Collection.

490/518 page 454

$Irom tympany of the rumen whenever lateral recumbency is main¬ tained for a prolonged period. The distension of the rumen, by its pressure upon the diaphragm, interferes seriously with respiration and with the action of the heart and other organs. The most serious danger from this position is that, in the paretic state of the animal, there is imminent risk of the involuntary passage of food from the rumen into the pharynx, and its inhalation into the lungs, to cause fatal strangling or foreign-body pneumonia. Consequently it is essen¬ tial to keep the animal in sternal recumbency. This may be facilitated by packing bundles of straw about the animal. When the patient is very violent it may be desirable to secure the two anterior feet in such a way that the limbs cannot be extended. This is best accom¬ plished by attaching a short strap or cord to each anterior foot, carry¬ ing them upward over the withers, and tying them together in such a manner as to keep the anterior feet completely flexed upon the carpus against the chest. \\ hen parturient paresis occurs before or during parturition, the fetus should not be disturbed, but the udder inflated or calcium gluconate administered. The dystocia, or rather atocia, due to uterine paresis from the disease, vanishes after recovery. I have seen cases where parturition was due, the cervical canal dilated, the calf alive and presenting normally, but the uterus inert. Such cows respond promptly to the inflation of the udder, get up quickly, and parturition comes on and is completed with alacrity. In those cases of parturient paresis complicated by prolapse of the uterus, the inflation of the udder is the urgent primary duty of the veterinarian. When that has been done, immediate attention should be given the prolapsed organ and it should be reduced as already advised, page 401, before the udder inflation has taken effect and resistance to replacement has been aroused. It is quite unnecessary to suggest that the animal be well bedded and otherwise made comfortable. The practitioner should be on his guard against the dangers of moving the recumbent animal from place to place. If the patient has fallen in a bad situation, out of doors or elsewhere, it may appear desirable that she should be conveyed to a stable or other suitable place for handling. In bringing about this transfer it is well-nigh unavoidable that she be placed in lateral recumbency and undergo a form of handling which will tend strongly to cause the regurgitation and inhalation of some of the contents of the rumen. Therefore it is best in all cases to make the patient comfortable, if possible, where$

Veterinary obstetrics / by W. L. Williams.

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