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
