Bovine Flashcards
A unweaned 2 month calf is presented for necropsy. The calf collapsed and suddenly died after she escaped and was chased around the back pasture for 45 minutes by her owner.Among other things, white myocardial and endocardial streaking in the left ventricle of the calfs heart are discovered. What advice should be given the farmer
A. Put all the calves of ionophore-containing feed
B. Start the other calves on Ceftiofur
C. Treat the other calves with vitamin E/ Se
D. Check the mother bovine leukosis by AGID
E. Search the calf born for sources of lead
C
At what age do a cow's permanent canine teeth begin to erupt A. Cow's don't have canines B. 2-2.5 years C. 3 years D. 3.5- 4 years E. 5-6 years
D
A herd of 12 multiparous broodmares housed on a 25 acre pasture in the southeastern United States are having reproductive problems.
Of the three mares that have foaled so far this year, none have produced milk.
Another mare is now 12 months in foal and has no udder development.
Which one of the following choices is the most likely diagnosis? A. Mastitis B. Malnutrition C. Placentitis D. Fescue toxicity E. Retained placentas
D
Ingestion of fescue grass contaminated with the endophyte fungus Acremonium coenophialum causes agalactia, thickened placentas, and prolonged pregnancy in mares by suppressing prolactin release. Toxicity is most significant in the last 90 days of gestation. Mares should be removed from fescue pastures (and not fed fescue hay) for the last 90 days of gestation to reduce the incidence of fescue-associated problems. Treatment with domperidone can help affected mares produce milk. Mares with malnutrition are more likely to abort than carry a pregnancy over term.
Which choice is permitted for use in food animals?
A - Diethylstilbesterol B - Chloramphenicol C - Dexamethasone D - Estradiol cypionate E - Furazolidone
C
Dexamethasone is allowed in food animals, but may cause abortion in pregnant animals. Typically, use dexamethasone in cattle to induce parturition (20-30 mg, IM, given within 2 wk of normal term).
Click here to see a list of drugs prohibited for extra-label use in food animals.
Here is an FDA summary on the Ins and Outs of Extra-Label Drug Use in Animals.
Diethylstilbesterol (DES) is banned for use in food producing animals and should never be used.
Chloramphenicol has been associated with bone marrow suppression/aplastic anemia in exposed humans, and is contraindicated in food-animals.
According to a 2006 report from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the use of Estradiol cypionate (ECP) in animals is illegal. ECP has been used as an estrogenic hormone for reproductive therapy in food animals, but even extra-label, this is not allowed.
Furazolidone a nitrofuran, is not allowed in food animals.
Which one of the following antibiotics is the treatment of choice in the face of a vibriosis abortion storm?
A - Tetracycline B - Aminoglycoside C - Cephalosporin D - Fluoroquinolone E - Chloramphenicol
A
Long acting oxytetracyclines are effective against Campylobacter jejuni and C. fetus subsp fetus, the organisms that cause vibriosis.
Daily dihydrostreptomycin or penicillin can also be used but is more labor intensive.
Chloramphenicol is prohibited in food animals.
Atresia coli in the calf is associated with which one of the following choices?
A - Freemartins
B - Rectal palpation in 1st 42 days of pregnancy
C - History of ketosis/hepatic lipidosis in dam
D - Oral doxycycline
E - Dry matter intake over 20% during dam’s peak lactation
B
Vascular damage secondary to amniotic vesicle palpation in the first 6 weeks of embryonic development can lead to intestinal ischemia and atresia in calves.
Inherited atresias of the intestine are relatively common in large animals. Only 30% of calves with atresia coli survive to adulthood.
Surgical correction is not recommended in Holstein calves because of atresia coli is probably heritable in this breed
Congenital atresia ani, (imperforate anus, seen most in cattle, sheep, pigs) occurs when the dorsal membrane separating the rectum and anus fails to rupture
Clinical signs at birth include tenesmus, abdominal pain and distention, retention of feces, absence of an anal opening.
A 2-year old heifer is presented who died the night before.
She was stunted compared to her herdmates, and had a 3-week history of poor appetite, unthriftiness, diarrhea.
Necropsy reveals that the abomasum is edematous and covered in small umbilicated nodules 1-2 mm in diameter (cobblestone or “Moroccan leather” appearance).
Several other younger cows in this Spring-calving herd look unthrifty and have diarrhea too.
Which one of the following options is the most consistently effective against all stages of this parasite
A. Amprolium B. Ivermectin C. Levamisole D. Thiabendazole E. Morantel
B
An abomasum with a cobblestone or “Moroccan leather” appearance is pathognomonic for Ostertagia , one of the three stomach worms of cattle.
Avermectins (macrocyclic lactones), such as ivermectin, are the most consistently effective of these choices against all stages, including hypobiotic larvae, of Ostertagia, the parasite in this calf’s gastrointestinal tract.
In order to minimize the development of anthelmintic resistance, current recommendations for parasite control include not only appropriate deworming, but adequate nutrition and rotation of treated stock to “clean” pastures.
Amprolium is your treatment of choices for calves and cows with coccidiosis.
Which one of the following antibiotics is the treatment of choice in the face of a vibriosis abortion storm?
A. Tetracycline B. Aminoglycoside C. Cephalosporin D. Fluoroquinolonne E. Chloramphenicol
A
Long acting oxytetracyclines are effective against Campylobacter jejuni and C. fetus subsp fetus, the organisms that cause vibriosis.
Daily dihydrostreptomycin or penicillin can also be used but is more labor intensive.
Chloramphenicol is prohibited in food animals.
Which one of the following sets of conditions predispose a cow to metritis?
A - Dystocia, overfeeding in dry period, Ca-P imbalance in feed
B - Agalactia, milk fever, bovine vibriosis
C - Strep. agalactiae mastitis, retained placenta, laminitis
D - Milk fever, malnutrition, excess dietary zinc
E - Contaminated calving environment, abortion, hypomagnesemia
A
Cows are predisposed to post-parturient bovine metritis by many things, including:
- Dystocia
- Overfeeding in dry period
- Ca-P imbalance in feed
Cows are also predisposed to metritis by:
- Retained placenta
- Contaminated calving environment
- Abortion
- Malnutrition
In cattle, the causative bacterial organisms isolated most often are Trueperella pyogenes alone or with Fusobacterium necrophorum or other gram-negative anaerobes.
Acromegaly is associated with what 3 diseases in cats?
A - Hypoadrenocorticism, Congestive heart failure, Hepatic lipidosis
B - Hyperadrenocorticism, Pleural effusion, Lameness
C - Diabetes mellitus, Cardiomyopathy, Renal disease
D - Prognathism, Pulmonary edema, Pulmonary Hypertension
E - Vertebral spondylosis, 3rd degree heart block, Glomerulonephritis
C
Think first of Diabetes mellitus in OLDER MALE cats (ave. 10 yr, 90% male) with Feline acromegaly.
First presenting sign may be PU/PD, polyphagia of diabetes. WEIGHT GAIN in an unregulated diabetic cat STRONGLY SUGGESTS acromegaly.
Think also of Cardiomyopathy (~50%; see weakness, dyspnea, systolic murmur, cardiomegaly/CHF, pulmonary edema ).
Think also of RENAL disease (~50%; see proteinuria, USpG 1.015-1.025, (and glucosuria from Dm))
A 7 year old female spayed Border Collie is presented with two very goopy, gunk-covered eyes.
A Schirmer tear test finds less than 10 mm/minute of wetting, a decreased result from the normal of at least 15mm / minute of wetting.
The owner reports that the dog has been on “some kind of medicine” for the last 10 days, but it is actually his girlfriend’s dog, and he doesn’t know what the medicine is.
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) secondary to the drug is suspected. Which drug may be causing the KCS?
A - Amitraz B - Trimethoprim sulfa C - Griseofulvin D - Itraconazole E - Prednisolone
B
Systemic sulfonamides like trimethoprim sulfa have been associated with KCS sometimes irreversibly.
Another drug associated cause of transient KCS is the combination of recent general anesthesia and atropine
Other causes of KCS include: distemper, immunologic, breeds, and trauma
A 4 month old calf from a small beef herd presents with a fracture of the right metatarsus. He was normal last night.The owner found the calf this morning after rounding up the herd for deworming.
This is the 5th calf this season with fractured bones. One had a vertebral fracture, two calves had humeral fractures, and one other had a cannon bone fracture.
Which one of the following choices is the most likely problem in this herd?
A - Low dietary copper B - High dietary phosphorus C - Hypovitaminosis D D - Low dietary protein E - High dietary calcium
A
Low dietary copper levels causes bones of growing animals to be brittle because they do not develop the normal trabecular structure
Higher fracture rates are seen in Cu deficient than in Cu replete animals
Pathological fractures are more common during periods of exertion such as the morning round up
Rough handling exacerbates the number of fractures
Tx of Cu deficiency includes copper glycinate injections and feeding of mineral mixes with Cu. Copper blouses can also be given
A 5-year old Holstein cow is presented with a 2-day history of being off feed and a precipitous drop in milk production.
T=103 F (39.4 C)..[N=101.5-103.5 F]
HR=132 bpm……..[N=55-80]
RR=36 brpm………[N=10-30]
The cow stands with abducted elbows, an arched back and is reluctant to move. Physical exam shows intermandibular edema and bilateral jugular distention.
A grunt is heard when pressure is applied to her xiphoid and there is a washing machine murmur (almost like splashing sounds) on both sides. There is little rumen activity.
What is the recommendation for the farmer?
A - Treat with high-dose penicillin/streptomycin
B - Check the feed for excess monensin/lasalocid
C - Test the herd for bovine leukosis
D - Check the feed for cottonseed meal (gossypol)
E - Cull this cow
E
Treatment is unrewarding- CULL. Prevent problem by making every cow swallow a small bar magnet to attract and hold nails, wire, sharp metal inside the reticulum.
Bilateral dilated jugulars say “Severe heart problem”. A washing machine murmur and the painful stance, as well as respiratory grunting, all point to hardware disease (Traumatic reticuloperitonitis).
Cottonseed meal contains gossypol - see cardiac toxicity/dyspnea/ sudden death in calves; sterility/decreased conception in adults. are associated with cardiac toxicity.
A 2 year-old Hereford cow is presented with a 1-week history of blepharospasm, lacrimation and corneal opacity. There is a large central corneal abscess secondary to suspected infectious keratoconjunctivitis (pinkeye). What is an appropriate treatment plan?
A - Subconjunctival oxytetracycline, Topical polymyxin B ointment
B - Systemic oxytetracyline, Subconjunctival penicillin
C - Systemic long-acting penicillin-gentamicin
D - Systemic Florfenicol, Topical erythromycin ointment
E - Systemic Sulfamethazine, Topical atropine ointment
B
Oxytetracycline is one of the drugs of choice for systemic therapy of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis because it is concentrated in corneal tissue. Tulathromycin is also labeled for systemic use in cattle for pinkeye. Florfenicol and ceftiofur crystalline free acid are also used systemically for treatment by some although they do not carry a label for this use.
Ampicillin, penicillin and kanamycin can be injected subconjunctivally; best results are obtained with injection into the bulbar conjunctiva. This can be a dangerous and labor-intensive procedure for the animal and administrator. In the past, veterinarians used gentamicin subconjunctivally, but this is not advisable, because gentamicin is not FDA-approved for systemic use in cattle and residues may be detected for long periods of time (there is no scientifically established withdrawal time available).
Oxytetracycline should not be injected in the subconjunctiva because it will cause conjunctival necrosis.
Ophthalmic terramycin could be an effective therapy but would have to be applied much more often than once daily (AT LEAST 3 times daily)
Extra-label use of nitrofurazone and enrofloxacin in food animals is forbidden by the FDA. Because there is no nitrofurazone product labeled for use in food animals, its use is effectively prohibited. In cattle, enrofloxacin is only labeled for the treatment of respiratory disease.
A tourniquet was placed at mid cannon bone on this cow’s leg. Lidocaine is being injected in the dorsal pedal vein. What is expected to happen?
A - Anesthesia distal to tourniquet
B - Bradycardia with gradual tourniquet removal
C - Anesthesia only from mid-pastern to the toe
D - Cessation of atrial fibrillation after tourniquet removal
E - Anesthesia only of skin in the region of the injection
A
Anesthesia distal to tourniquet. This is an example of intravenous regional anesthesia, the anesthetic method of choice for most bovine digital surgical procedures. It has similar results to a nerve block, but is easier to do with reliable results.
You need only one injection and no special knowledge of anatomy. 2% Lidocaine infuses down the venous system and anesthetizes the entire lower limb distal to the tourniquet within about 10 minutes.
The amount of lidocaine needed is typically 10-30 ml and should not exceed a total dose of 9 mg/kg. Click here to see tourniquet sites and veins for intravenous regional anesthesia of the distal bovine hindlimb.
Do not keep a tourniquet in place more than one hour. When surgery is complete, slowly release the tourniquet and then retighten it. If antibiotics are indicated, infuse them now then release the tourniquet after a few more minutes.
Some references call this a “Bier” block, after the pioneering German physician August Bier, who reported on this form of anesthesia in 1908.
Lidocaine (and procainamide) are used to treat arrhythmias, but more for ventricular fibrillation in small animals and not administered from the foot. Think of quinidine sulfate to treat atrial fibrillation in symptomatic horses.
