Signs of Approaching Parturition

The signs of approaching parturition in domestic animals are some that similar, but vary in certain aspects. The symptoms are inconstant between individual animals and consecutive parturition.

The symptoms therefore do not permit an accurate or exact prediction of time of parturition, but they are the useful indications to predict the approximate time of parturition. The breeding date, if known, is helpful in predicting the approximate time of parturition.

In farm conditions, breeding records may be available to predict the time of parturition. In general just prior to parturition, most of the domestic animals tend to segregate themselves from others.

Cattle and Buffalo

The pelvic ligaments, especially the sacrosciatic ligaments become progressively relaxed, causing a sinking of the croup muscles and ligaments.

The caudal border of the sacrosciatic ligaments between the coccygeal vertebrae and ischial tuberosity become less cord like the tight and more relaxed the flaccid.

Relaxation of structures around the perineum is due to edema and changes in the collagen fibres in the connective tissue caused by the estrogen from the placenta and possibly other endocrine glands like adrenal gland. Relaxin may also play a role.

Most of the cows the presence of more relaxation of ligaments indicates that the parturition will probably occur within 24-48 hrs. This relaxation is noted by the elevation of the tail head.

The vulva becomes progressively edematous and more flaccid, until it is 2–6 times its normal size.

The udder becomes enlarged and edematous. In heifers this udder enlargement begins about the 4^th month of gestation. In older (or) pluriparous cows it may not be noticeable until 2-4 weeks before parturition.

In high producing, especially younger cows, the amount of edema may be extensive and cause difficulty in walking. Edema extends forward on the abdominal floor to the xiphoid region and may be 2-6 inches deep. In the region of the navel it may resemble as umbilical hernia. It may extend caudally above the udder and involve the region of the escutcheon and even the vulva. This may interfere with circulation in the skin between the udder and legs or in the region between the forequarters of the udder resulting in necrosis at these sites.

Just prior to parturition the udder secretion changes from a honey like dry secretion to yellow, turbid, opaque cellular secretion called “colostrums”. At this period the udder and teats are so distended, with colostrums that may leak out in easy milkers.

The cow usually exhibits a tenacious, whitish, stringy type of mucus coming from the cranial part of the vagina, starting about 7th month of pregnancy. This becomes more profuse as parturition approaches. Just prior to parturition the amount of mucus increases markedly and the cervical seal liquefies.

During the last few hours before calving the cow may exhibit anorexia and restlessness. Heifers may show signs of abdominal pain as kicking at the abdomen, treading, switching their tails, lying down and getting up, pawing etc.

Cats, Sheep and Goats

Similar to the cow, but the udder development is not as great as in cow. Animal will segregate themselves from the group.

Mares

Somewhat similar symptoms of approaching parturition as that of cows and buffaloes;

• The sinking of the sacrosciatic ligament is not so pronounced, due to the heavy croup muscles.
• The vulva does not become as edematous as the cow, but edema and flaccidity are noticed during the last few weeks of gestation.
• No discharge of vaginal mucus prior of foaling
• The udder starts to develop noticeably about 3–6 weeks before foaling.
• In most of the mares, the udder becomes filled and distended with colostrums about 2 days before foaling and oozing of this colostrum from the teats and giving shiny appearance called “waxing of teat”. It is usually observed in 95% of the mares just 6 to 48 hrs before foaling.
• Just 4 hrs prior to parturition slight sweating in the flank region and behind the elbows is frequently noticed called “Patchy sweating”.
• Anorexia occurs 1–2 hrs before foaling.
• As the first stage of labour advances, the mare becomes restless, shows slight colic symptoms, switches her tail and lies down and gets up frequently and also rolls on the ground. These symptoms are more progressively marked until the allantoic chorion ruptures and the 2nd stage of actual labour begins.
• The mare greatly prefers solitude and quiet at parturition and seems more able than other animals to control or suppress parturition until the night hours, when stable activity are at a minimum (83% of the foals are born during the night hrs).

Bitches

As pregnancy progress, the bitch becomes quieter and at the time of nearing parturition attempts to make a suitable bed i.e. nest making behaviour. As parturition approaches the vulva become flaccid, enlarged and edematous. The mammary glands also become enlarged and edematous and milk may be present in the udder several days before parturition. The bitch becomes restless and anorectic.

This becomes more noticeable 12-24 hrs before whelping. During the first stage of labour the bitch may pant or exhibit an increased respiration rate and mucoid vulvar discharge noticed during the latter stages pregnancy.

Any environmental disturbances especially by other dogs will delay or interrupt the parturition process.