Dystocia can be due to fetomaternal disproportion, fetal maldisposition (abnormal presentation, position, or posture), uterine inertia, or failure/incomplete cervical dilation.
Stage 1 of labor and cervical dilation lasts 6–12 hours for doelings and ewe lambs and 4–8 hours in adults. Stage 2 of labor begins with rupture of the allantochorion and ends with expulsion of a fetus. It lasts 1–4 hours in doelings and ewe lambs and 30 minutes to 1 hour in adults.
CBC/BIOCHEMISTRY/URINALYSIS
Hypocalcemia, and pregnancy toxemia (ketosis with an elevated anion gap).
Elevated creatinine kinase, and lactic acidosis (uterine torsion, and exhaustion).
Anemia (uterine rupture). Loss of blood and parasites can cause a ewe or doe to be very anemic and weak and hence predispose to dystocia as well.
Neutrophilia and increased fibrinogen (inflammatory/infectious process).
Urinalysis: Ketonuria (pregnancy toxemia), presence of bacteria and neutrophils (cystitis), increased protein (amyloidosis).
Diagnosis and differentials
Vaginoscopy is helpful if no fetal parts are visible at the vulva (incomplete cervical dilation) and in very small patients.
Vaginal examination with sterile obstetric lube and gloved hand to assess cervical dilation and fetal abnormalities and abnormalities of presentation, position, and posture.
Treatment and control
Medical management of dystocia includes standard therapies such as analgesia, fluids, oxytocin, and antibiotics.