Veterinary Obstetrics

Teratology is the division of embryology and pathology dealing with the abnormal development and malformations of the antenatal individual.

Mucometra or Hydrometra is noticed occasionally in cattle. Both are similar except for degree of hydration of the mucin present in uterus.

Pyometra in cattle is the accumulation of pus in the uterus by a retained corpus luteum with failure of estrum.

Fetal Maceration is the failure of aborting fetus to be expelled due to uterine inertia in cervix, when invaded by bacteria cause autolysis.

Fetal Mummification is the death of the fetus at middle of gestation or at the last 3rd of gestation period which leads to autolytic changes.

Dropsy conditions of the fetus in animals are fetal hydrocephalus (cranium fluid accumulation), fetal ascites and fetal anasarca.

Hydrallantois is characterized by sudden & excessive fluid accumulation in allantoic cavity. It is seen sporadically in dairy & beef cattle.

Hydramnios is a excess accumulation of amniotic fluid in amniotic cavity. It is characterized by gradual filling of amniotic cavity.

Three dropsical conditions of fetal membranes and fetus may be seen in bovine obstetrics. These are edema of placenta, dropsy of fetal membranes and dropsy of fetus.

The determination of fetal age in cows is important for several practical and legal reasons, including identifying the age of an aborted fetus, fulfilling insurance requirements, and addressing vetero-legal cases.