Basic Diagnostic Plan Flashcards
What is the first and most important piece of information you should gather regarding a sick dairy cow? What else should you ask?
DIM: days in milk
Others:
- feed intake
- changes in milk production
- previous medical treatment and problems
What are the 6 most important systems to examine on a sick dairy cow?
LUMMAR
Lungs
Uterus
Mammary
Metabolic
Abomasum
Rumen
What is the most common cause of disease in dairy cows for the first 2 weeks postpartum?
Uterus -> Metritis, systemic and local
What is the number one disease of dairy cows?
Mastitis
Why should milk production not be used to distinguish systemic vs local mastitis?
Milk production is affected by both systemic and local causes of mastitis
In cows, almost all cases of hypocalcemia happen when?
Within the first 24 hours after freshening
Nervous ketosis most commonly occurs when in cows?
Near peak lactation (60 days)
Systemic toxic mastitis is most commonly caused by what pathogens?
Coliforms (E. Coli and Klebsiella)
Clinical signs associated with toxic mastitis
- lethargy
- > 50% reduction in milk production
- 8-10% dehydrated
- hard, swollen quarter
- watery milk (brown or orange)
Lack of treatment success for mastitis is a result of what 3 possibilities?
- Superbug
- Slow detection of disease
- Bad treatment protocol
Diagnosing a superbug is primarily…
A diagnoses of exclusion (c/s is poorly correlate to treatment success)
Treating mastitis
Fluids
- hypertonic saline IV
- oral fluid therapy
Antibiotics
- oxytet
- sulfadimethoxine
- Ceftiofur
NSAIDS
- Flunixin IV
Ketosis is most common in sheep..
- Pregnant with twins
- during pregnancy
Milk fever is most common in sheep..
Pre partum due to fetal bone development in late pregnancy
Treating ketosis
Dexmethasone IV and propylene glycol PO
What should you so before getting near a food animal to examine it?
Monitor from a distance for respiratory rate, attitude and cud chewing
Why can temperature be a misleading vital parameter?
- not as simple as infection = fever
- cows may be severely systemically ill and have low or normal temperature
Normal rumen contractions
- 3 every 2 minutes
- primary rumen contractions should push your hand/stethoscope outward when applying pressure to the paralumbar fossa
Normal percussion of the left side of a cows abdomen should have?
NO PINGS (a ping on the L side most commonly indicated an LDA)
LDA ping locations
Left side of the abdomen - most commonly cranial to the paralumbar fossa but can be other places
Rumen Void Ping Location
Left cranial paralumbar fossa
Free abdominal gas ping location and what it indicates
Right or left side, cranial to the paralumbar fossa
- indicates peritonitis (not accurate if abdominal surgery has taken place in the last 48 hours)
Normal pings on abdominal auscultation are heard in what location?
Right paralumbar fossa, not extending past the last rib
Is an RDA/RTA palpable per rectum?
Sometimes (25-50% of cases)
Cecal torsion ping location
Right side, paralumbar fossa and extending cranial over the ribs
Where are heart sounds heard best on auscultation?
Left side under the point of the elbow
What is the best way to check hydration status of a cow on exam
Skin tent on the neck and upper/lower eyelids
