See

discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317379204

A case of Retained Placenta in a Dairy Cow

Article · December 2016

CITATIONS READS

0 32

9 authors, including:

Faez Firdaus Jesse A Yusuf Abba

Universiti Putra Malaysia University of Maiduguri
171 PUBLICATIONS 315 CITATIONS 130 PUBLICATIONS 106 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Asinamai Athliamai Bitrus Abd Wahid Haron

Universiti Putra Malaysia Universiti Putra Malaysia
50 PUBLICATIONS 8 CITATIONS 236 PUBLICATIONS 603 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Case reports View project

Review View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Asinamai Athliamai Bitrus on 09 July 2017.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 LIVESTOCK RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
Journal homepage: www.jakraya.com/journa/lri

CASE REPORT

A Case of Retained Placenta in a Dairy Cow

*1, 5
Faez Firdaus Abdullah Jesse, 1Eric Lim Teik Chung, 2,4Yusuf Abba, 1,3 Muhammad Abubakar Sadiq, 2Asinamai
Athliamai Bitrus, 1,3 Idris Umar Hambali, 2Mohd Azmi Mohd Lila, 1Abdul Wahid Haron and1Abdul Aziz Saharee
1
Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, 2Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, 5Research
Centre for Ruminant Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang,
Selangor, Malaysia.
3
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, 4Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty
of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, PMB 1069, Borno State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author:
Faez Firdaus Jesse Abdullah
Email: jesseariasamy@gmail.com
Received: 09/12/2016
Accepted: 22/12/2016
Abstract
This case reports the clinical management of retained placenta in a
dairy cow which is an economically important disease in the dairy industry.
A 6-year old Friesian cow weighing 350kg was presented with a primary
complaint of inappetance and fouled smelling discharges from the vulva
region. The cow had a history of calving 3 weeks ago but the calf died and
oxytocin was administered once on the day of calving by the farmer.
Physical examination finding revealed foul smelling and brownish
discharge from the vulva opening. Based on the history and clinical signs,
this was diagnosed as a case of retained placenta. The brownish foul
smelling discharge in the uterus was lavaged with 0.9% NaCL using a
modified intravenous line which was passed through the vulva into the
uterine body. 20mL of Oxytetracycline 20mg/kg was flushed into the
uterine body as the final lavage. For the treatment, Flunixinmeglumine
1.1mg/kg was administered intramuscularly once a day for 3 days as anti-
inflammatory, anti-pyrexic and analgesic. Broad spectrum long acting
oxytetracycline 20mg/kg antibiotic was also given once intramascularly to
treat current infections and to prevent secondary bacterial infections. In this
case, the prognosis of the cow was good but is at increased risk of
developing the condition again.

Keywords: Retained placenta, vaginal discharge, Oxytocin,

Oxytetracycline.

1. Introduction increased by abortion, dystocia, hypocalcaemia, twin

Retained placenta is one of the most common
complications occurring in animals following
parturition (Roberts, 1986). Retained fetal membranes
are the failure of the entire or partial placenta to be
expelled for duration of time that is considered to be
longer than normal physiologic limits (Radostits,
2007). In cattle, fetal membranes are considered
pathologically retained in the cow if they are not
expelled by 24 hours after calving. The incidence of
retained fetal membranes in dairy cattle is 5% to 15%
following normal parturition which is higher than beef
cattle (Arthur, 1979). The principle cause of retained
placenta in cattle is a disturbance in the loosening
process between the fetal cotyledons and the maternal
caruncles and it is attributed to many infectious and
non-infectious factors (Bretzlaff, 1988). According to
Kahn et al. (2005), the incidence of retained placenta is
birth, and high environmental temperature, advancing
age of the cow, induction of parturition, placentitis and
nutritional disturbances. This case reports the clinical
management of a retained placenta in a dairy cow
which is an economically important disease in the dairy
industry. Prompt diagnosis and treatment helped to
prevent the development of endometritis and toxaemia,
which could affect the breeding and fertility of the
cattle (Abdullah et al., 2015).
2. Case Report
2.1 History
A 6-year old Friesian cow weighing 350kg was
presented to the University Veterinary Hospital,
Universiti Putra Malaysia with primary complaint of
inappetance and fouled smelling discharges from the

Livestock Research International | October-December, 2016 | Volume 04 | Issue 04 | Pages 125-127

© 2016 Jakraya
 Abdullah et al... A Case of Retained Placenta in a Dairy Cow
vulva region. The cow had a history of calving 3 weeks
ago but the calf did not survive. Oxytocin was injected
once on the day of calving by the farmer. The farm
practices intensive farming system, while the
vaccination and deworming status were up-to-date.
2.2 Clinical Examination
The cow was bright, alert and responsive. The
temperature, pulse and respiration were within the
normal range. The most obvious clinical finding was
the foul smelling and brownish discharge from the
vulva opening. Based on the history and clinical signs,
the case was diagnosed as retained placenta.
2.3 Treatment
The therapeutic plan for this case was to remove
the retained placenta which may affect the future
reproduction status of the cow. Since it was a case of
retained placenta, an intrauterine wash was indicated.
The uterus was lavaged with 0.9% NaCL using a
modified intravenous line which was passed through
the vulva into the uterine body. Continuous flushing of
0.9% NaCL helped to irrigate and flush out all the
brownish foul smelling discharges. Finally 20mL of
Oxytetracycline (20mg/kg) was flushed into the uterine
body as the final lavage. For the treatment,
Flunixinmeglumine (1.1mg/kg) was administered
intramuscularly once a day for 3 days as an anti-
inflammatory, anti-pyrexic and analgesic. Broad
spectrum long acting oxytetracycline 20mg/kg
antibiotic was also given once intramascularly to treat
current infections and to prevent secondary bacterial
infections.
2.4 Progression
The case was followed up the following day
after treatment and the cow responded well to the
treatments. There was no discharge observed from the
vulva. In this case, the prognosis for the cow was good
but there was an increased risk of re-occurrence in
subsequent parturition. Nonetheless, the prognosis of
the cow fertility will be guarded if endometritis was
present (Abdullah et al., 2015).
3. Discussion
Diagnostic work-ups were not done in the
present case because the clinical signs and diagnosis of
retained placenta were obvious with degenerating,
discoloured and fetid membranes seen hanging from
the vulva opening more than 24 hours after parturition
(Kahn et al., 2015). Occasionally, retained placenta
will remain within the uterus, where only foul smelling
Livestock Research International | October-December, 2016 | Volume 04 | Issue 04 | Pages 125-127
©2016 Jakraya
126
discharge is the only clinical finding which is present.
Uncomplicated retained placenta without systemic
illness or toxaemia is generally not directly harmful to
the cow.
Manual removal of retained membranes is no
longer recommended and is potentially harmful. There
is a variety of treatment that has been suggested for
retained placenta in cows and this include
administering myometrial stimulants with intrauterine
and systemic antibiotics. Oxytocin has long been used
to expel the placenta after delivery, however it does not
reduce the incidence of retained placenta because
oxytocin is already being secreted by normal cows at
parturition and it helps contract the uterus and expel the
placenta that is fully detached. However, if the placenta
is not detached from the caruncles oxytocin will not
hasten its passage (Miller et al., 1984). So, in relation
to this case, although the farmer administered oxytocin,
the condition still persisted. Nevertheless, when the
case was presented to the hospital, the clinician
noticed that the foul odour was not so strong and there
were no sign of toxaemia clinically. After
administrating about 1 Litre of 0.9% NaCl into the
uterus, the cow expelled out cloudy coloured discharge.
This indicates that the fetal membranes might have
been expelled prior to presentation but was not noticed
by the farmer. Hence the treatment given was not
vigorous as this was just a mild case of retained
placenta.
Another important concern regarding retained
placenta is its consequence which may lead to septic
metritis (Ball et al., 1984). Thus, it is important to
cover the animal with antibiotics such as broad
spectrum antibiotic (oxytetracycline) (Abdullah et al.,
2014). Caution should be taken as the milk from cows
treated with oxytetracycline can only be consumed 4
days after the last treatment. As for prevention, cows
should be given adequate balanced rations of calcium,
phosphorus, vitamin A and E and selenium (Smith,
1990).
4. Conclusion
Although the occurrence of retained fetal
membrane doesn’t affect the reproductive performance,
it is better to prevent the condition in animals because
there is a chance it may worsen and lead to toxaemia
and eventually infertility or death of the animal.
Acknowledgement
The authors wish to acknowledge the supporting
staff of University Veterinary Hospital, University
Putra Malaysia for their technical help and support.
 Abdullah et al... A Case of Retained Placenta in a Dairy Cow
References
Abdullah FFJ, Chung ELT, Abba Y, Tijjani A, Sadiq MA,
Mohammed K, Osman AY, Adamu L, Lila MAM, and
Haron AW (2015). Management of clinical case of
endometritis in a cow: A case report. Journal of
Veterinary Advance, 5(4): 887-890.
Abdullah FFJ, Mohammed K, Abba Y, Adamu L, Osman
AY, Tijjani A, Saharee AA, and Haron AW (2014).
Retained placenta associated with Escherichia coli
infection in a dairy cow. International Journal of
Livestock Research, 4(2): 120-125.
Arthur GH (1979). Retention of the afterbirth in cattle: a
review and commentary. Vet Annual, 19:26-36.
Ball L, Olson JD, and Mortimer RG (1984). Bacteriology of
the postpartum uterus. Proceedings of the Annual
Meeting of the Society for Theriogenology, pp. 164-169.
Bretzlaff K (1988). Physiology and pharmacology ofthe
postpartum cow and retained fetal membranes.
Livestock Research International | October-December, 2016 | Volume 04 | Issue 04 | Pages 125-127
©2016 Jakraya
127
View publication stats
Proceedings of the American Association of Bovine
Practitioners, pp. 71-76.
Kahn CM, and Line S (2005). The Merck Veterinary Manual
9th Edition. USA: Merial.
Miller BJ, and Lodge JR (1984). Postpartum oxytocin
treatment for prevention of retained placentas.
Theriogenology, 22:385-388.
Radostits OM, Gay CC, Hinchcliff KW, and Constable PD
(2007).Veterinary medicine: a textbook of the disease of
cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and horses, 10th Edition.
Philadelphia: Saunders, pp. 834-836.
Roberts SJ (1986).Veterinary Obstretrics and Genital
Disease, 3rd Edition. North Pomfret: Woodstock.
Smith BP (1990). Large animal internal medicine: disease of
horses, cattle, sheep, and goat. Missouri: Mosby, pp:
846-848.