This week, Dr. Craig McConnel sends us some Ibex Ultrasound cine loop video clips of pyometra in dairy cows. Diagnosing pyometra with ultrasound is just another benefit of using ultrasound in a bovine reproductive herd check.
Vetweb.com defined pyometra as;Pyometra is an accumulation of pus in the uterus and by the persistence of a functional corpus luteum.
Pyometra is often due to chronic endometritis with the normal cycling of the cow disrupted by the presence of infection in the uterus.
EFFECTS of PYOMETRA
Affected cows do not appear ill but may be presented as not seen in heat. There will be an obviously enlarged, doughy uterus, which may potentially be mistaken as a pregnancy but if ultrasound scanned will show a content of pus rather than foetus and foetal fluids.
Treatment and Control of Pyometra
Treatment of pyometra is best achieved by causing luteolysis of the corpus luteum by administration of prostaglandin. This allows the cow to ‘open up’ and discharge the infected material.
It should always be verified that he cows is not pregnant before giving prostaglandin, as a pregnant cow will abort.
This info was adapted from Defra’s Compendium of Animal Health & Welfare in Organic Farming, which is a collaborative effort led by Duchy College, Cornwall with VEERU at The University of Reading and The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow.
Images submitted from;
Craig McConnel, DVM,Ph.D.
Charles Sturt University, Australia
School of Animal and Veterinary Science
Lecturer in Ruminant Health