Rectal and Vaginal Examination in Bovine
Received : 14.11.2017
Accepted: 29.01.2018
Published: 11.02.2018
Dr Ankesh Kumar
Assistant Professor
Department of Veterinary Clinical Complex
Bihar Veterinary College, Patna
Rectal examination of the genital organs of the cow and buffaloes are be performed for
- Determine the stage in the reproductive process exhibited by the organs,
- Determine ovarian conditions associated with variations in the oestrous cycle,
- Detect recognizable causes of sterility,
- Inseminate artificially
- Modify ovarian structures.
The grove and sleeve is essential to protect the examiner arm from infection, dirt and odour. No rings worn should be worn on examining hand. The fingernails should be short. Either hand can be used for the examination, but if many examinations are to be made it is usually desirable to use stronger arm. The cows or buffaloes should be fastened or held securely to prevent forward or lateral motion. If many animal are to examine it is helpful for an assistant to hold up the tail away from the examiner arm. While doing examination the animals usually kick prior to or as the hand enter the anus. When animals are in chute a bar should be placed behind the cow above the hock to restrain certain cows that kick.
The arm should be well lubricated with a non-irritating soap or liquid soap. The finger and the hand are inserted into rectum in the form of a cone. They are advanced into the rectum and push the rectum forward, thus stretching and irritating the rectal wall. With the arm well inserted, bring back a portion of the rectum as a fold upon the hand and arm, thereby giving more freedom to the hand and producing greater relaxation of the rectum. It is necessary to remove most of the faecal material from the rectum before a thorough examination can be made. This can be done by raking the faeces from the rectum with the hand or by stimulating peristaltic contraction and defecation by massaging the rectal wall just anterior to the anus and by allowing some air to enter the rectum to dilate it. In the older, larger dairy cows one can leave the arm and hand, the latter in the shape of a cone, in the rectum when a peristaltic wave is passed backward. However during peristaltic wave in some cases making examinations nearly impossible through the dilated, tens rectal walls. Stimulating peristaltic as mentioned above will result in evacuation of the air. This can be controlled by hooking the finger cranially into a peristaltic contraction ring and pulling it gently caudally. The cow back should not be pinched down, since this tends to fill the rectum with air. If mucosal damage results in bleeding, the examination should cease.
After the faecal material has been expelled or “raked” from the rectum with the hand, the floor of the rectum is depressed with the hand which has been inserted approximately half way to the elbow. The genital tract should lie just below and wholly, or in part, on the floor of the pelvis. The whole genital tract may be contracted and lying in the caudal part of the pelvic canal, or its position may vary forward until uterus is hanging over the brim of the pelvis into the abdominal cavity and with only the vagina and possibly the cervix in the pelvic canal. This is true in later pregnancy or early in the postpartum interval. It may also be true in certain pathological conditions such as pyometra.
Tumours and abscesses in the retroperitoneal tissues around the vulva and vagina or in the wall of the genital tract may be felt as hard, unyielding masses lying below or to one side of the rectum.
The cervix will appear as a firm, rope-like structure, 3″ or more in length and 1″ or more in diameter. The cervix is felt as cylindrical and hard internal organ. It can be picked up in the hand and moved about. The uterine body, cornua and intercornual ligament can be palpated in non-pregnant cows or cows in early pregnancy. A pendulous uterus, if empty, may be pulled up into the pelvic canal. The ovaries may be palpated lateral and slightly cranial to the cervix. As pregnancy develops they are drawn forward, especially the ovary corresponding to the horn containing the fetus, until by the forth to six month of pregnancy they are out of reach. The uterus may be located laterally in the pelvic cavity if held there by a full bladder or short broad ligament. The normal non-pregnant uterus in the heifer and cow vary greatly in size from 1.25 to 2 cm, 0.5 to 0.75 inches, and 2.5 to 6.5 cm, 1 to 2.5 inches, in diameter and 15 to 20 cm, 6 to 8 inches, and 20 to 30 cm, 8 to 12 inches, in length, respectively. The uterus is normally soft, pliable and relaxed with a slight amount of tonicity in early pregnancy. A completely flaccid atonic uterus is characteristic of true anoestrous and chronic cystic ovarian disease. At the time of oestrous or following vigorous massage the uterus may become quiet erect and turgid. In late estrum and early post estrum, 1 to 2 days after ovulation, the uterus may be thick walled and oedematous. Often about 20, 40 or 6o days post-conception the uterus may be quiet erect and tonic together with some follicular activity in the ovaries but a normal corpus luteum is present.
The ovaries may best be palpated by starting from the position where the hand is placed over the coiled uterine horns. The cephalic margins of the broad ligaments lie directly on either side of the coiled horns and lead dorso-laterally to the body wall. The ovaries will be found along the margins or will be tucked slightly under their free edges. The oviducts, if normal, are not readily palpated. The presence of adhesions or the occurrence of enlargement or distension of the oviducts will be detected. The ovaries are palpated to detect the presence and size or degree of developments of follicles and corpora lutea. The ovary, when picked up under the edge of the broad ligament is turned up and backward on the top of the broad ligament for examination. The determination of size and location of ovarian structures requires measurement with the finger tips and the consistent orientation of the ovary with respect to the body wall. Measurements should be made of the tip of the first finger alone, then of the first and second fingers together, and then of the first, second and third fingers, etc. Half finger widths and quarter widths can be estimated. Follicles are detected as fluctuating, turgid, fluid-filled bodies usually smooth and protruding slightly from the surface. Corpora lutea, when fully formed, frequently protrude more definitely from the surface and usually the papilla is detected as a roughness on the protruding surface. The fully formed corpus luteum is somewhat more firm to the touch than the follicle and on deeper palpation, appears as a solid unyielding body embedded in the ovary. The removal of the corpus luteum from the ovary can be accomplished by holding the ovary in the same position as that used for examination of the ovary. After the ovulation papilla of the corpus luteum has been located, the fingers are placed on one side of the ovary and the thumb on the other side. Pressure is applied with the thumb on the region of the ovary where the corpus luteum is most deeply embedded. Then the thumb is moved in the direction of the ovulation papilla. The corpus lutem will be forced out into the hand. Pressure should not be applied on the whole corpus luteum, but only on the quarter most deeply embedded.
Vaginal examination
Vaginal examination is usually done to know the physiological and pathological condition of vagina like vaginal prolapse, dystocia and IPV infections.
Material required: vaginal speculum, Liquid paraffin, soap, water etc.
Procedures
- Restrain the animal in Travis or in iron crate
- Clean the vulva and perineal region with adjoining part with cotton /towel dipped in normal saline or any antiseptic solution
- Insert the sterilized and lubricated vaginal speculum in the vagina
- Use a good torch light to observe the anterior of vagina
- Record the finding like vaginal discharge, pnemovagina, urovagina, urine pooling cervical ring eversion, vaginitis, abscess, tumour, cervicitis etc.
https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/reproductive-management-of-dairy-cattle/
References
Robert, S.J. (1971). Veterinary Obstetrics and genital diseases. 2nd Edn., CBS Publisher & Distributor PVT. LTD. New Delhi-110002
Noakes, D.E.,Parkinson, J.T. and England, G.C.W. (2009) Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics 9Th Edition. Saunders Elsevier, Edinburg London New York Oxford Philadelphia St Louis Sydney Toronto 2009
Arthur,GH., Noak,D.E and Pearson, H. (1989).Veterinary Reproduction and Obsteterics. Edn.6.W.B.Saunders, London.
http://www.ansci.wisc.edu/jjp1/ansci_repro/lab/lab4_09/palpation_proc.html
