POSTPARTURIENT ENDOMETRITIS IN THE COW

This review article discusses postparturient bovine endometritis with an emphasis on diagnosis and therapy. Clinical examination is particul arly important for diagnosis since endometritis can be recognized in m ost cases by rectal and vaginoscopic examiniation. Cytologie and bacte riologic examinations provide only few additional information. Regardi ng therapy, identification of a pyometra is essential. Treatment of ac ute endometritis post partum consists of an uterine infusion with oxyt etracyclin on 1 - 3 following days. Pyometra should be treated by intr amuscular injection of prostaglandins. Treatment with prostaglandins i s always indicated when development of pyometra is suspected or when a corpus luteum is present. All other cases of chronic endometritis are no indication for treatment. In the cow, self-cleaning uterine forces have sufficient strenght, so that treatment does not add to the heali ng process.