Obstetrical disorders and their treatment in Iraqi Awassi ewes

• Published in: Small ruminant research Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 65 - 69
• Main Authors: Majeed, A.F., Taha, M.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 1995
• Subjects: Awassi; Awassi ewes; Caesarean section; cesarean section; dystocia; endometritis; ewes; Obstetrical disorders; parturition complications; Prostaglandin; prostaglandins; retained placenta; Iraq; Caesarean section; Obstetrical disorders; Awassi ewes; Prostaglandin
• ISSN: 0921-4488; 1879-0941
• DOI: 10.1016/0921-4488(95)00645-2

The study was conducted on 641 Iraqi Awassi ewes suffering from dystocia (
n = 332), uterine prolapse (
n = 125), retained placenta (
n = 110) and postpartum metritis (
n = 74). Procedures for treatment of different types of dystocia were manual (correction and traction) (
n = 146), pharmacological (
n = 48) and surgical (Caesarean section) (
n = 138). Efficiency of each method of treatment was: 75.3%, 66.6% and 86.9%, respectively, with a difference (
P < 0.01) between methods. Ewes with uterine prolapse were treated by repositioning and suturing of the vulva for 3–5 days. Good prognoses were obtained in 80% (
100
125
) of the cases. Animals affected with retained placenta were treated by manual removal of placenta plus long acting (LA) oxytetracycline 20% i.m. (
n = 37) or 2 mg oestradiol benzoate i.m. plus 20 IU oxytocin i.m. (
n = 37) or 10 mg prostaglandin F
2α i.m. (
n = 36). Good response was obtained (91.6%) with PG F
2α treatment. Manual treatment, antibiotics and oestradiol benzoate plus oxytocin had a response of 54.8% and 67.5%, respectively. There was a difference (
P < 0.01) between prostaglandin-treated and other groups. Ewes with postpartum metritis were treated: Group 1 (
n = 25) 20 mg per kg body weight (BW) L.A. oxytetracycline i.m.; Group 2 (
n = 250 20 mg kg
−1 BW L.A. oxytetracycline i.m. plus oestradiol benzoate (2mg i.m.) followed by 20 IU of oxytocin i.m.; Group 3 (
n = 24) 10 mg prostaglandin F
2α i.m. plus 20 mg kg
−1 BW L.A. oxytetracycline i.m. High success was obtained (91.6%) in the third group, while the responses were 60% and 76% in the first and second groups, respectively, with a difference (
P < 0.01) between groups. It was concluded that Caesarean section was the most successful procedure for treatment of dystocia. It was also documented that injection of PG F
2α or oxytocin plus oestradiol alone or in combination with antibiotics directly after parturition reduced morbidity from retained placenta and postpartum metritis.