The$ABCs$of$correc-ng$Dystocias$in$

Ca6le$

Anita$Varga,$DVM,$MS,$DACVIM$
Livestock$Medicine$&$Surgery$Service$$$$
UC$Davis$$

How$to$get$from$here.$$

to$here.$

5$%$of$
calves$at$
birth$are$
in$
abnormal$
posi-ons$$$

Essen-als$for$the$calving$season$$

OB$sleeves$$
$$
1x$60Tinch$or$2x30Tinch$OB$chains$$
2$OB$handles$$
OB$lube$$$
Pail$$
NonTirrita-ng$disinfectant$(e.g.$Nolvasan)$
Pain$medica-ons$
An-bio-cs$(check$with$your$vet)$

Other$helpful$things$
Towels$$
Paper$towels$
Func-oning$ashlight$&$
ba6eries$
PVC$stomach$tube$$
Stomach$pump$

For$the$calf$
7%$iodine$-ncture$
Colostrum$replacer$$
Calf$uid$feeder$$
Other$$
Colostrum$supplement$
bolus$$
Vitamin$E$&$selenium$

Know$when$she$needs$help$
Delaying$assistance$decreases$chances$of$calf$
survival$
Watch$heifers$carefully$&$regularly$$
$$
Rule$of$thumb:$$
Normal$delivery$should$be$
completed$within$2$hours$aber$
water$bag$appears$$

No$progress$$examine$cow$
If$no$progress$within$30$min$interval$$
examine$$
Is$the$calf$in$correct$presenta-on?$
Will$the$calf$t$through$the$birth$canal?$

All$interven-ons$should$be$performed$in$a$
clean$environment$

Lube,$lube,$lube.$$$
Be$clean$
Be$gentle$
Use$plenty$of$lube$

How$do$I$know$the$presenta-on?$
Check$limbs$
Front$legs$
$Joints$bend$in$same$direc-on$

Hind$legs$
Joints$bend$in$opposite$direc-on$

Toes$$$
Front$
Toes$down$

Hind$
$Toes$point$up$

Normal$anterior$head$presenta-on$

Normal$posterior$bu6$presenta-on$

Drost$project$

Is$there$enough$space$to$deliver$the$calf$
safely?$
Check$if$you$can$get$your$hand$in$and$go$all$
around$the$calf$
Is$the$cows$cervix$fully$dilated?$

Is$the$calf$alive?$

Pinch$between$toes$
Place$nger$in$mouth$
Gentle$poke$eye$$
If$backwards$T$put$nger$in$rectum$

$$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$$
$

If$the$calfs$presenta-on$is$
abnormal,$or$if$the$calf$is$too)large)
to$pass$through$the$birth$canal,$a$
veterinarian$should$be$contacted$

Pull$carefully$
Proper$placement$of$OB$
chains$$$
Try$always$if$possible$to$
place$chains$on$legs$
that$are$already$outside$
the$cow$

Pull$carefully$
2$strong$men$theory$
DO$not$use$excessive$
force$

Pull$with$contrac-ons$
One$limb$at$a$-me$
Steady$trac-on!$$

Excessive$force$$
Leg$fractures$
Rib$fractures$
Nerve$injuries$$

Head$rst$$large$calf$

Most$common$problem$$$
$space$-ght$$pull$one$leg$at$a$-me$
Decreases$diameter$of$shoulders$
Avoid$gelng$hip$locked$

Leb$leg$retained$at$carpus$

Leb$leg$retained$at$the$shoulder$

Devia-on$of$the$head$$

Right$leg$retained$at$the$hock$

Some$(but$not$all)$$reasons$to$call$your$
veterinarian$
You$know$the$problem$&$how$to$solve$it,$but$
are$unable$to$correct$
You$know$the$problem$&$how$to$solve$it,$but$
have$not$made$any$progress$in$a$30Tminute$
period$$
You$are$unfamiliar$with$what$you$feel$$
possibly$$fetal$monster$or$malforma-on$of$the$calf$

Some-mes$you$might$nd$a$fetal$monster$
causing$a$problem$

PHA$calves$$pulmonary$hypoplasia$and$anasarca$

A$few$examples$to$call$your$vet$
Calf$is$too$large$$$
Heifer$is$too$small$$$
Calf$is$in$an$upside$down,$forward$or$backward$
presenta-on$(the$abdomen$of$the$calf$faces$the$spine$of$the$
dam)$$$
These$can$be$dicult$to$manage$if$you$have$never$experienced$this$problem.$

Cervix$has$not$dilated$enough$
True$breech$$$
Dam$has$a$uterine$torsion$$do$not$pull$the$calf$

True$breech$

Care$of$the$newborn$
Clear$airways$
Do$not$hang$calf$upside$down$

Treat$navel$
Preven-on$navel$ill$

$Colostrum$intake$
Around$1$gallon$in$24$hours$

Possibly$an-bio-cs,$an-Tinammatory$
depending$on$the$situa-on$

In$Summary$$
When$labor$begins$

Watch$$for$progress$(every$30min).$$$

Examine$cow$if$

Calf$not$delivered$within$2$hrs$
>30$minutes$no$progress.$
Calf$in$correct$posi-on$&$normal$presenta-on?$
Cannot$see/feel$both$front$legs$&$head$of$calf$$
assistance$will$be$needed.$
$$

Use$clean$sleeves$&$disinfected$equipment$$
Always$use$plenty$of$commercial$OB$lube$

Acknowledgment$$

Drost$Project$
Drs$Cabrera$&$Rivera$

Special$Thank$You$for$sponsoring$this$
talk!$$
$
Michael$Karle,$D.V.M.$
MidTValley$Veterinary$Hospital$
4422$County$Road$N$
Orland,$CA.$95963$
(530)$865T5634$
mike@midTvalleyvet.com$
www.midTvalleyvet.com$

Thank$you$for$your$a6en-on!$$
Ques-ons?$
$

avarga@ucdavis.edu$$