Risk of iatrogenic abortion by rectal palpation in the cow

A review, correlation of pregnancy diagnosis methods and embryonic mortality in the dairy cow

Abstract

Because current methods of early pregnancy diagnosis will continue to be employed, and clinician must be aware of the vulnerability of the embryo to vigorous palpation. Utmost care must be utilized when combining fluid fluctuation, palpation of the amnionic vesicle, and slipping of the chorioallantoic membrane as criteria for diagnosing pregnancies. Cognizance of possible complications resulting from early pregnancy diagnosis methods by rectal palpation may cause clinicians to redesign their pregnancy diagnosis regimen.