Fetal causes of dystocia in farm animals include fetal oversize due to absolute or relative disproportion between the fetus and birth canal, fetal defects such as ascites, anasarca, hydrocephalus, and fetal death resulting in emphysema of the fetus. Fetal maldispositions involving abnormal presentation, position, or posture of the fetus can also cause dystocia.

1. Fetal Causes of
Dystocia in
Farm Animals
IAN CARY B. PRADO, DVM
JUNIOR ANIMAL HEALTH ASSOCIATE,
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
VETERINARY TEACHING HOSPITAL-LOS BAÑOS
THERIOGENOLOGY

2. Expulsive forces
Birth canal
Fetal oversize
Fetal death
Fetal defects
Fetal maldispositions
I. Dystocia
II. Maternal causes of dystocia
III. Fetal causes of dystocia
IV. Plan of treatment
V. Obstetrical operations
Course Outline
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES

3. dys·to·ci·a
/dəˈstōSH(ē)ə/
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES
Purohit, G.N. (2017). Dystocia in farm animals [Online image]. Research Gate. https://www. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333931196_Lecture_7_Dystocia_in_farm_animals

4. forceful abdominal
contractions
two hind limbs protruding
from the vulva
Prolonged second stage of labor :
Holstein Friesian
crossbred cow
04DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES

5. 04
laparohysterotomy
full-term dead
fetal monster was
extracted
Surgical approach
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES
presence of a
third hind
limb in vagina
Obstetrical
examination

6. Monocephalus
Thoracopagus
Tetrabrachius
Tetrapus
Dicaudatus
Monster
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES
Sharma, A., Kumar, P., Singh, M., Vasishta, N.K., and Jaswal, R. (2013). Rare fetal monster in Holstein crossbred cow.
Open Veterinary Journal. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4629577/

7. a. Absolute
b. Relative
Fetal oversize1.
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES
heifers
beef cattle breeds
prolonged gestation
increased calf birth weight
males

8. Fetal oversize1.
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES
monsters
(more common in
river buffaloes)a. Absolute

9. fetopelvic disproportionFetal oversize1.
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES
b. Relative
Jackson, P. (2006). Assisted delivery: fetopelvic disproportion. Vetstream. https://www.vetstream.com/treat/bovis/illustration/assisted-
delivery-fetopelvic-disproportion-06
(common in heifers)

10. Fetal oversize1.
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES
ABSOLUTE RELATIVE
Fetus
Birth Canal
Large
Normal
Normal
Small or
narrowed

11. ascites
anasarca
hydrocephalus
cerebral hernia
dropsy of fetal membranes
muscular hypertrophy
2. Fetal defects
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES

12. Fetal Defects
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES
Katiyar, R., Sacchan, S.S.D., Manzoor, M., and Singh, R. (2016). Dystocia due to fetal ascites in a crossbred Holstein Friesian cow: a case report. ResearchGate.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305769204_DYSTOCIA_DUE_TO_FETAL_ASCITES_IN_A_CROSS_BRED_HOLSTEIN_FRIESIEN_COW_CASE_REPORT
Svara, T., Cociancich, V., Sest, K., Gomba, M., Paller, T., Staric, J. and Drogemuller, C. (2016). Pulmonary hypoplasia and anasarca syndrome in Cika cattle. Acta
Veterinaria Scandinavia. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4896035/#
Megahed, G.A. (2017). Extraordinary case of dystocia due to hydrocephalus foetus in dairy Egyptian cow: a case report. Journal of Dairy Veterinary Animal
Research. https://medcraveonline.com/JDVAR/extraordinary-case-of-dystocia-due-to-hydrocephalus-foetus-in-dairy-egyptian-cow-a-case-report.html
Kumar, A., Saxena, A., Asre, R., and Mishra, K.M. (2018). A rare case of hydramnios in cattle and its succesful management. Journal of Entomology and Zoology
Studies. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327282772_A_rare_case_of_Hydramnios_in_cattle_and_its_successful_management
ascites
anasarca
hydrocephalus
hydramnios

13. 3. Fetal death
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES
-perinatal fetal
death with
resultant
emphysema
Velladurai, C. and Alagar, S. (2017). Clinical management of dystoci due to emphysematous fetus in a crossbred Jersey cow: a case
report. Exploratory Animal and Medical Research. http://www.animalmedicalresearch.org/Vol.7_Issue-
2_December_2017/CLINICAL%20%20MANAGEMENT%20OF%20DYSTOCIA%20DUE%20TO.pdf

14. resentation
osition
osture
4. Fetal
maldisposition
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES
P
P
P

15. 4. Fetal
maldisposition
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES
P
P
P

16. The relationship between
the long axis of the fetus
with the long axis of the
dam.
a. Longitudinal
(normal)
b. Transverse
c. Vertical
4. Fetal
maldisposition
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES
a. Presentation

17. Anterior Posterior
Longitudinal
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES

18. Longitudinal
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES
Simultaneous

19. Transverse
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES
Ventral Dorsal

20. Bicornual
Transverse
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES

21. Vertical/ Oblique vertical
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES
Ventral
("Dog-sitting")
Dorsal

22. a. Malpresentation
b. Malposition
c. Malposture
4. Fetal
maldisposition
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES

23. Fetal Causes
of Dystocia
Summary
Fetal causes
Fetal oversize
Fetal defects
Fetal death
Fetal
maldispositions
DYSTOCIA:FETALCAUSES

24. References
Purohit, G.N., Kumar, P., Solanki, K., Shekher, C., and Yadav, S. P. (2012). Perspectives of fetal dystocia in cattle and
buffalo. Veterinary Science Development. https://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/vsd/article/view/vsd.2012.e8/6387
Purohit, G.N. (2017). Dystocia in farm animals. Research Gate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333931196_
Lecture_7_Dystocia_in_farm_animals
Sharma, A., Kumar, P., Singh, M., Vasishta, N.K., and Jaswal, R. (2013). Rare fetal monster in Holstein crossbred cow. Open
Veterinary Journal. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4629577/
Katiyar, R., Sacchan, S.S.D., Manzoor, M., and Singh, R. (2016). Dystocia due to fetal ascites in a crossbred Holstein Friesian
cow: a case report. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305769204_DYSTOCIA_DUE_TO_
FETAL_ASCITES_IN_A_CROSS_BRED_HOLSTEIN_FRIESIEN_COW_CASE_REPORT
Svara, T., Cociancich, V., Sest, K., Gomba, M., Paller, T., Staric, J. and Drogemuller, C. (2016). Pulmonary hypoplasia and
anasarca syndrome in Cika cattle. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavia. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4896035/#
Megahed, G.A. (2017). Extraordinary case of dystocia due to hydrocephalus foetus in dairy Egyptian cow: a case report.
Journal of Dairy Veterinary Animal Research. https://medcraveonline.com/JDVAR/extraordinary-case-of-dystocia-due-to-
hydrocephalus-foetus-in-dairy-egyptian-cow-a-case-report.html
Kumar, A., Saxena, A., Asre, R., and Mishra, K.M. (2018). A rare case of hydramnios in cattle and its succesful management.
Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327282772_A_rare_case_of_
Hydramnios_in_cattle_and_its_successful_management