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Massive vulvar edema in 2 prepartum dairy cows
Soon Hon Cheong1, Robert O Gilbert1
1Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-6401, USA.
Summary
Two Holstein cows experienced severe vulvar edema late in gestation. This rare condition resolved naturally after calving, with no other cows affected in the 500-head herd.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Animal Science
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Late gestation and the transition to third lactation present physiological challenges for dairy cows.
- Reproductive health monitoring in large dairy herds is crucial for early detection of abnormalities.
Observation:
- Two Holstein cows in late gestation exhibited massive vulvar edema.
- These two cows were the only animals affected within a herd of 500 milking cows.
Findings:
- The vulvar edema in both affected cows spontaneously regressed postpartum.
- Massive vulvar swelling during advanced pregnancy is an uncommon condition in dairy cattle and is not well-documented in existing literature.
Implications:
- This case highlights a rare presentation of vulvar edema in pregnant dairy cows.
- Further investigation may be warranted to understand the etiology and potential contributing factors of this unusual swelling.
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