Читать книгу Farm Animal Medicine and Surgery - Graham R Duncanson - Страница 216

The aetiology of this condition is obscure; in fact, there may be two conditions with different causes. The most common manifestation is the cow which has been diagnosed as in calf but never develops normal udder enlargement, i.e. does not ‘bag up’ for calving at the expected date. Rectal examination of the uterus will reveal an enlargement but no cotyledons or fremitus. Only if clinicians are certain of service dates, and are 100% certain that there has been no subsequent unrecorded service, should prostaglandin injections followed by dexamethazone be given. These mummified chocolate non-malodorous fetuses of about the size of a hare are difficult to abort. After the abortion, the cow should be served at the first oestrus as this has been shown to be the most fertile. The second much more unusual manifestation -after a prolonged pregnancy – is felt on rectal examination as a bag of bones either in the uterus or actually in the vagina. This small calf is mummified but also purulent and malodorous. The calves can be pulled out of the vagina or are easily aborted with a prostaglandin injection. It is possible that the second scenario is just a sequel of the first scenario which has been invaded by pus-forming bacteria.