Content
Calving of a cow is an important stage of an animal's pregnancy, which ends with the birth of a calf. This is a complex process and can have some consequences for the heifer. In order to recognize possible troubles in time and help the body recover, every livestock breeder should know how childbirth occurs, how long the cow’s bleeding continues after calving, and what is considered normal.
Discharge from a cow before calving
Even before the calf is born, the cow’s body begins to prepare for an important event. Changes occur that you need to pay attention to, such as bleeding. They may talk about calving soon or the threat of premature birth.
When does discharge begin before calving?
When the calf is ready to be born, a characteristic discharge can be observed from the cow's reproductive tract. They may appear a day before calving, which is normal for a first-calf heifer. In an adult animal, this time period is reduced.As a rule, discharge indicates an imminent birth; the calf will appear in 12-15 hours.
What kind of discharge can there be before calving?
Normally, before calving, cervical mucus comes out of the cow's genital tract, which lubricates the birth canal. This is necessary for comfortable advancement of the fetus.
From the moment the cow begins to discharge, the heifer must be under constant control. Immediately before giving birth, she loses a watery fluid - this is water. They may contain minor impurities or blood clots.
Such discharge is considered normal and accompanies the birth process. However, this only happens when the calf moves head first. If the position of the fetus is incorrect or some disturbances have occurred, then the cow’s discharge has an uncharacteristic color and becomes bloody.
What discharge before calving is not normal?
Pink or brown discharge before calving in a cow is considered a pathology. It is also bad when there is blood in the mucus. This suggests that the calf injured blood vessels while moving through the birth canal. However, this condition is not a threat to the life of the heifer. Blood vessels are quickly restored. Immediately after calving, the uterus is carefully examined, disinfecting solutions are administered and antibacterial suppositories are prescribed.
It is much worse if the discharge becomes bloody. This already indicates intrauterine bleeding. You cannot cope with this situation on your own. Childbirth requires surgery. Bloody discharge may indicate:
- incorrect position of the fetus;
- uterine ruptures;
- vaginal injuries.
In the first case, they try to turn the fetus over by hand, otherwise surgery will be required.
Bloody discharge requires immediate diagnosis. They can develop directly in the uterus or vagina. After calving, the birth canal is washed and inspected. Vaginal bleeding occurs without clots. The presence of these indicates an intrauterine rupture.
In this case, you need to help the cow immediately. The placenta is separated, and all actions are aimed at contracting the uterus. The cow is injected with Oxytocin, a hormone that constricts blood vessels. The injection is made under the skin. Ichthyol and sodium chloride are given intravenously. Next, put on a bandage and apply a heating pad with ice. After calving, treatment with vitamins is prescribed intramuscularly for at least 5 days.
When there is a lot of bleeding during calving, antimicrobial therapy is used to prevent the development of infections. If it is not possible to administer drugs intravenously, this is done using an enema bulb.
Discharge from a cow after calving
Normally, after calving, each cow begins to experience blood lochia, which helps the uterus cleanse and contract. If the birth took place without complications, it will not last long. In case of ruptures and other disorders, the period of cleansing and healing is delayed.
How long can discharge last after calving?
Immediately after calving, bloody discharge from the vagina is observed, which in a healthy cow will continue for 14 days. On the 15th day they should stop completely.
What kind of discharge can there be after calving?
However, in the first three days the lochia is bloody, bright, and resembles fresh blood.Gradually they acquire a slimy character, turn white and stop. At the same time, the animal feels well, no external changes occur, body temperature is normal, and the appetite is healthy.
Which discharge after calving is not normal?
If, after calving, a cow’s discharge differs from that described, has admixtures of yellow secretion or purulent inclusions, then this indicates the development of a pathological process. Complications after calving lead to serious diseases:
- vaginitis;
- endometritis;
- metritis.
Therefore, it is simply necessary to monitor the nature of lochia in the first few days. This will help to recognize the disease at the first stage and allow timely treatment.
Vaginitis is manifested by white or yellow lochia and the absence of blood exudate. The disease provokes an inflammatory process in the vagina. If you do not pay attention to this in time, then the lochia gradually turns from mucous membranes to granular and bloody ones. After the diagnosis is confirmed, the vagina is washed, treated with a solution of potassium permanganate and lubricated with ichthyol ointment. You can insert tampons soaked in ichthyol. The complex prescribes a course of antibiotics and vitamins, which must be distributed along with the food.
Endometritis is a serious inflammatory disease of the uterus in cows. The disease penetrates into different layers of the organ, so there are several types. When only the mucous membrane of the uterus is affected, simple endometritis can be stated. When muscle tissue is damaged, they speak of myometritis.If the disease affects the peritoneum, then we are talking about perimeteritis. And only in extreme cases, when, in addition to the uterus, ligaments and adjacent tissues suffer, parametritis develops. At the same time, at different stages of the disease, the cow experiences uncharacteristic bleeding.
Purulent lochia, which occurs after calving, is a sign of purulent-catarrhal endometritis. In this case, the discharge has an unpleasant putrefactive odor. The disease develops within 8 days after calving. All this time the animal is depressed, eats food poorly, the amount of milk decreases, and the body temperature rises slightly. Gradually the picture becomes clearer, the discharge becomes more abundant instead of declining. Treatment for purulent inflammation of the uterus is prescribed by a veterinarian; injections of Oxytocin and Rifapol are often administered.
Dirty yellow blood discharge with an unpleasant odor indicates fibrous endometritis. In this case, the cow feels good after calving, but the fluid released has a yellow tint with flakes. If measures are not taken in time, sepsis may develop.
In case of heavy calving, necrotizing metritis develops. The inflammatory process affects muscle tissue, which disrupts its nutrition. Cell necrosis occurs, erosions and ulcers appear. Microbes penetrate the blood and cause inflammation in any organ of the animal. Externally, this condition is manifested by bloody discharge mixed with crumbs. The cow is depressed:
- increased body temperature;
- no appetite;
- rapid heartbeat;
- the uterus is painful.
Against this background, severe diarrhea and mastitis may develop. If treatment is not started in time, paralysis may occur.
In advanced cases, metritis develops, a dangerous condition for the animal that leads to death in the first days. In this case, the cow experiences strong bloody, almost black, discharge of a mushy consistency with pus and a musty odor. The uterus is compacted, painful to the touch, does not contract, and is filled with exudate.
Treatment for such a condition should be urgent. First of all, the liquid is pumped out from the uterine cavity, after which the organ is washed with bactericidal solutions. The remaining liquid is sucked out with a vacuum. The uterine cavity is filled with antimicrobial drugs. Foaming agents give good results. At the same time, antibiotics are started.
How to avoid unpleasant discharge after calving: prevention
To prevent the development of complications after calving, it is necessary to regularly examine pregnant cows, monitor their nutrition and prepare them for childbirth.
After calving, a thorough examination for infections is recommended so as not to miss the onset of endometritis or vaginitis. Vitamin complexes, which are injected immediately before childbirth, will help reduce the risk of pus in the uterine cavity. They stimulate the immune system and increase the body's resistance.
Conclusion
Blood discharge after calving in a cow may be normal if its intensity gradually decreases. Otherwise, they indicate that inflammation has begun. Treatment of the animal must begin immediately.
