Re: [AlpacaTalk] transrectal ultrasound
Hi Elden,
Most vets doing camelid ultrasounds around here use a prostate probe for transrectal ultrasounds, but I do know one female vet with small hands, who uses a regular probe but affixes it to a piece of PVC, to avoid having to insert her hand to hold the probe. It isn't optimal, but it is less invasive than her hands and no fear of a rectal tear!
Certainly you can palpate pregnancies, but it is so much safer and definitive when you can visualize that fetal heart beat!
Laurel
The Shouvlins
Bluebird Hills Farm
Springfield, Ohio
937-206-3936
www.bluebirdhills.
bluebirdhills@
>
> Laurel,
> An experienced vet with lots of lube and small hands are a definite asset.
> No probe is used during the transrectal ultrasound. Think of how your
> hand would be held if going into a cookie jar with a small opening, all
> fingers pointed forward and clustered together with the thumb underneath.
> The ultrasound head is then held by the thumb and the cluster of fingers.
> With a small hand and an experienced touch, learned via many such
> procedures on cattle and horses (think many hundreds if not thousands),
> the operator can be very accurate and safe, probably safer than with a
> probe. After around 30 days gestation, pregnancy can be determined simply
> via transrectal palpation, no ultrasound needed at all.
>
> Elden Harms
> Token Creek Alpacas
> Sun Prairie WI
>
>
> Someone wrote that the vet needs to have small hands. This is untrue. The
> vaginal/cervical exam is done with a speculum. No hands are placed in the
> alpaca. The ultrasound is done with the probe inserted in the rectum. The
> probe is actually a human prostate probe, long and thin, again, no hands.
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
From: Bluebird Hills Farm <bluebirdhills@
> To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
> Sent: Sun, Nov 29, 2009 12:29 pm
> Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] fertility questions
>
>
>
>
> Hi Maegan,
>
> Actually that method of breeding every 3 days is no longer considered
> appropriate, for doing so can cause damage to the cervix and uterine
> infections. The current strategy is to bring the female and male together
> daily until the female drops. If a good breeding occurs, then bring the
> two together again in one week and continue to do so on a weekly basis
> until the pregnancy is confirmed, preferrably by ultrasound after 30 or
> whatever days your vet feels comfortable with.
>
> Maidens of course are the toughest for they sometimes won't go down at
> all. In that case, I will try for 2 weeks and if she is not receptive,
> then it may be time to have the vet out to evaluate reproductive maturity.
>
> Someone wrote that the vet needs to have small hands. This is untrue. The
> vaginal/cervical exam is done with a speculum. No hands are placed in the
> alpaca. The ultrasound is done with the probe inserted in the rectum. The
> probe is actually a human prostate probe, long and thin, again, no hands.
>
> Take care!
>
> Laurel
posted by Chaddo at 5:12 AM
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