It
can occur any time. Maceration is defined by fetal death, regression
of corpus luteum but abortion fails to occur. It stays in uterus and starts
getting putrefied. This is due to infection present in uterus or may
be introduced from outside.
The
fetus died will be like the threads of tissue. Bacteria destroy all.
If it occurs before bone formation then it is reabsorbed, only pus
is expelled out. But if it occurs after bone formation, the muscles
will be destroyed and bone will remain there. In multiparous animals
one fetus may emaciate and others are normal. It is very rare in
cattle, mare and sheep. There is generalized fetus emphysema
followed by maceration by bacteria. Two factors for maceration are
fetal death and open cervix.
Signs:
Whenever maceration takes place between 4-7 months of gestation,
there is increase in temperature, increase in pulse rate, anorexia,
low milk production, diarrhoea, straining, and swollen fetus on
rectal palpation.in such case give stilbesterole and dilate cervix
and take out fetus.
In
long standing maceration there is no increase in temperature, pulse
or anorexia. Only chronic, reddish grey watery discharge or
mucopurulent discharge passes through vagina. There is very bad
odour and threads of pus on tail. There is gradual weight loss of
animal. If gone unnoticed, treatment becomes difficult. Generally
feel bones on rectal palpation.
Treatment:
There are about 200 bones in fetus. We cannot give oxytocin because
bones are fixed in uterus. In small animals you can remove fetus
surgically. If we remove the fetus, animal will not conceive because
endometrium has been severely damaged. So better is to slaughter the
animal.
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