20. Abomasitis, abomasal ulcer

Question 1

Primary and secondary causes of abomasitis and abomasal ulcer?

Answer 1

2 forms: primary and secondary

• Primary

o Rare Occurrence

o Causes: stress, grass, fertilizers, herbicides, fungi, hair balls, rough fodder in calves

• Secondary

o More common occurrence

o Causes= consequences of other pathological diseases:

o Other abomasal diseases (RDA/LDA), leukosis, GI helminths, other inf diseases; BVD, salmonella

Question 2

Clinical signs of Abomasitis and abomasal ulcer?

Answer 2

Clinical signs

• Mild form

o = no symptoms or mild general symptoms: inappetence

• Severe form (bleeding ulcer)

o Bleeding: anaemia, dehydration, peripheral circulatory failure

o Faeces: melena caused by the bleeding in the abomasal cavity (digested in SI)

o Rumen: stasis, positive reticular pain probes

o Abomasum: pain during pressure (palpation), gas and fluid accumulation, perforation: local or

diffuse peritonitis= rapid death

o Positive reticular pain probes: abomasum not so far from reticulum!

Question 3

Diagnosis abomasitis and abomasal ulcer?

Answer 3

Diagnosis

• Local findings: Black faeces (melena)
• General finding: anaemia
• Abomasocentesis: not commonly used!

Question 4

Treatment of abomasitis and abomasal ulcer?

Answer 4

Treatment

• The goal is to minimize the pain
• Astringents, mucoprotective drugs, blood transfusion
• H2 receptor blocking drug? (cimetidine)
• Alkalizer’s
• Surgery.
• prognosis is very poor, as a primary problem ulcer especially