Adult Bovine Medicine Flashcards
What is hypocalcaemia?
Milk fever - low levels of circulating Ca in the blood
What are the clinical signs of milk fever?
- Excitement phase > restless, vocal
- Sternal recum > dull, depressed, low temp
- Lateral recum > comatose, bloat, death
What is the treatment of milk fever?
- 1g Ca/45kg BW
- One 400ml bottle SC/IV ** SLOW (cardiotoxic)
What are the cs of grass tetany
- Subacute: begins vocal, excitable, inc urination/def for 3-4 days
- Acute: suddenly ataxic, spasms, falling, frothing
- Death 30min-1 hour
What are some prevention and nursing techniques for grass tetany?
- Encourage Mg uptake > 30mg/cow/day > boluses, dusting, licks
- Avoid fasting/stress
- Provide Na
What is ketosis? (acetonaemia)
When the energy intake does not meet the requirements > drop in blood glucose > fatty acids cant enter krebs cycle > turn into ketones
What are the two forms of ketosis? explain each
- Dull form > decreased milk yield, weight loss, dry faeces, ketone breath
- Nervous form > excessive licking, hyperaesthesia, twitching
How do you treat ketosis?
- Propylene glycol orally
- 400ml 50% glucose IV if nervous
- Corticosteroids
What is downer cow syndrome?
-A cow which has been down in sternal recumbency for more than 24 hrs.
What type of nursing care is involved with downer cow?
- Turn cow every 3-4hr
- Check mastitis
- Provide thick bedding
- If down for > 7 days = poor prognosis
What is grain overload? What are the cs?
- Rapid fermentation within the rumen following excessive ingestion
- Depression, dehydration, bloat
How is grain overload treated?
- Stop high carb feed
- IVFT
- Rumenotomy
- Transfaunation
Why is a right displaced abomasum (RDA) more serious than an LDA
It can quickly twist/volvulus. It causes complete obstruction
What is choke? cs?
Oesophagus obstruction - usually potatoes
CS: bruxism, unable to eat, bloat
How is choke treated?
Pass stomach tube, rumenotomy, trocharisation
What other mineral is responsible for the uptake of Ca? What minerals affect this mineral uptake
Mg
High levels of N + K reduce Mg uptake
What is babesiosis caused by? clin signs and treatment?
Ixodes ricinus
red urine, pyrexia, pale/jaundice mm
blood trans, antibiotics, babecide
What are the indications for blood transfuion, the admin rate?
Post calving, abdomasul ulceration, dehorning, low protein, septicaemia
10-20ml/kg/hr
When is ft given per os?
<8% dehydrated
When is ft given iv?
> 8% dehydrated
