Bloat

Question 1

What are the two types of ruminal tympany/bloat?

Answer 1

Frothy bloat - foam blocks release of gas (more common)

Free gas bloat - obstruction, unable to eructate

Question 2

Which sided of the abdomen becomes distended first with ruminal tympany?

Answer 2

L side

Progresses to both sides

Question 3

What diet predisposes cows to frothy bloat?

Answer 3

Pasture with alfalfa or clover

Finely ground grain

Question 4

What is the treatment for frothy bloat?

Answer 4

Stomach tube or trochar
WITH surfactant (oils)
Then exercise
(Emergency Tx = incision of L sublumbar fossa)

Question 5

Give examples of what can cause free gas bloat

Answer 5

Oesophageal obstructions

Secondary to other conditions - vagal indigestion, Wire/hardware, milk fever, tetanus

Question 6

What is the treatment for free gas bloat?

Answer 6

Stomach tube
Trochar
Rumen fistula (permanent hole)
Treat underlying caundition

Question 7

With traumatic reticuloperitonitis, when is the grunt heard on the Eric Williams test?

Answer 7

Immediately prior to primary contraction (or may breath hold)
Eric Williams - reduced number of primary contractions

Question 8

What is vagal indigestion?

Answer 8

Complication of traumatic reticuloperitonitis

Vagus nerve injury leads to ruminal bloat - hyper or hypomotility

Question 9

Apart from traumatic reticuloperitonitis, what else can cause vagal indigestion?

Answer 9

Actinobacillus of rumen/reticuum
Fibropapillomas of heart
Late pregnancy

Question 10

How does a cow present with vagal indigestion?

Answer 10

'10 to 4' appearance
Chronic inappetance, BCS loss
Hypo/hypermotility of rumen 
Dehydrated
\+/- ping on R flank

Question 11

How is vagal indigestion treated?

Answer 11

Rumenotomy + lavage
Fluid therapy
Laxatives
Trochar?