title: Retrospective analysis of the management of 78 cases of postpartum metritis in the cow.
abstract: Case records of post partum metritis in cows were obtained from Auburn University (42 cases) and Tuskegee University (36 cases) Large Animal Hospital files. Dairy cows (n=68) comprised 87.2% of the cases and beef (n=10) 12.8%. Age did not differ between the types, but the number of postpartum days at admission (mean+/-1 SD) differed significantly (P=0.02) between dairy (7.3+/-4.27) and beef (3.7+/-4.06) cows. Older cows and those with hyperthermia were less likely to recover from puerperal metritis (P=0.07 and 0.03, respectively). Type of treatment had no significant association with survival. The number of days of hospitalization was associated with institution (P<0.001), number of postpartum days at admission (P=0.001), history of predisposing factors (P=0.0006), hyperthermia (P=0.006), and length of various treatments (P<0.001). However, the type of treatment had no significant association with length of hospitalization. This study suggests that the necessity for or type of therapy has little effect on the outcome of postpartum metritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849-5522, USA.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Pugh
authors.forename: M Q
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Lowder
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wenzel