Bovine abdominal problems

Question 1

rumen fermentation effects

Answer 1

at normal pH main VFA is acetate

more sugar = lower pH + different bacterial population + different VFAs - can lead to ruminal acidosis

Question 2

salivation

Answer 2

provides buffer in the rumen

cow needs to be able to salivate sufficiently

Question 3

acute ruminal acidosis

Answer 3

sudden ingestion of large amounts of fermentable carbohydrates
Animals breaking into feed stores, overfeeding of concentrates, sudden lack of forage or straw bedding
Life Threatening Clinical Emergency
Poor Prognosis

Question 4

acute ruminal acidosis - clinical signs

Answer 4

Dull and/or recumbent 
In-coordination / ataxia “Drunk” 
Anorexia, blind, dehydration 
Laminitis 
Rumen stasis and abdominal distension 
increased pulse, sunken eyes

Question 5

acute ruminal acidosis - treatment

Answer 5

5% Sodium Bicarbonate slow i/v
i/v fluids isotonic NaCl
Oral Magnesium hydroxide
Rumenotomy and/or Rumen lavage

Question 6

Sub Acute Ruminal Acidosis (SARA) - clinical signs

Answer 6

ill defined herd syndrome
Low milk fat and depressed milk yields
Laminitis (solar ulcers, solar haemorrhages)
Reduced appetite
Liver abscesses
Haemoptysis (coughing blood) and Epistaxis caused by thrombosis of caudal vena cava
High herd culling rate

Question 7

rumen bloat - clinical signs

Answer 7

Distension of Left flank
Mild – get distension of left sub lumbar fossa
More severe – get distension of whole left flank
Very severe – entire abdomen appears distended
May present as sudden death in severe cases, distressed, dyspnoea, may be recumbent but may be standing quietly and with distended left flank

Question 8

2 types of bloat

Answer 8

frothy

gaseous/free gas

Question 9

frothy bloat

Answer 9

Stable Foam forms in rumen. Traps gas and cannot eructate it out
Usually cattle at pasture, caused by foaming properties of soluble leaf proteins
Legumes, clovers, alfalfa and rich lush pastures, cereal rich diets
Can be sudden and severe and may lead to sudden death

Question 10

frothy bloat - treatment

Answer 10

Clinical Emergency
Remove cattle from pasture or feed source
stomach tube or trocar into rumen - will not relieve bloat
antifoaming agent/surfactant which will allow foam to disperse - Poloxalene (Bloat Guard), Mineral oil, corn oil, Simethicone

Question 11

frothy bloat - prevention

Answer 11

careful pasture management
Care when using very lush pastures, especially clovers.
Consider strip grazing, buffer feeding etc to prevent large, rapid and excessive intakes of lush pastures

Question 12

gaseous bloat - causes

Answer 12

usually single animals
Excessive carbohydrate intakes 
Anything causing oesophageal obstruction 
Milk fever 
Lateral recumbency – blocks cardia

Question 13

gaseous bloat - treatment

Answer 13

relieve gas - stomach tube, rumen punture

Question 14

oesophageal obstruction - causes

Answer 14

Choke 
Lesions of oesophageal groove such as 
Vagus Indigestion or Actinobacillus 
Enlarge mediastinal LN’s (after pneumonia) 
Tetanus

Question 15

traumatic reticulo-peritonitis

Answer 15

hardware disease
If metal objects are eaten they tend to pass into and remain in the reticulum
common routine abattoir finding
Worming boluses
Magnets
objects pierce reticulum and can cause - Local peritonitis, Diffuse peritonitis, Pericarditis, Liver abscess

Question 16

traumatic reticulo-peritonitis - common causes

Answer 16

wire, nails, screws etc

total mixed ration (TMR) can spread wire to lots of cows in one go

Question 17

traumatic reticulo-peritonitis - clinical signs

Answer 17

Often vague and numerous presentations including
Drop of milk yield and reduced appetite
Increased temperature
Arching of back
Rumen contraction rate down and reticulo-rumen movements (mixing cycle) reduced or painful
Jugular pulse
Splashing sounds over heart

Question 18

traumatic reticulo-peritonitis - diagnosis

Answer 18

withers pinch
pole test (flinch when threatened - pained sounds)
eric williams test (pain with reticular contraction)

Question 19

traumatic reticulo-peritonitis - treatment

Answer 19

Conservative 
Tie animal up with front feet raised 
Parentral antibiotics 5-7-days 
Pain relief 
Rumenotomy to Remove Wire 
Slaughter

Question 20

left displaced abomasum (LDA)

Answer 20

Normally high producing dairy cows
Within 6 weeks of calving
Can occur in any class of animal

Question 21

LDA - causes

Answer 21

Poorly understood 
Poor management over Transition Period (dry period to post calving period) 
High concentrate diet 
Insufficient fibre 
Diet changes made too quickly 
Other diseases: Milk Fever, RFM 
Genetic factors

Question 22

LDA - clinical signs

Answer 22

may be mild initially but highly variable
Drop in milk yield (variable)
Reduced/Changed appetite (variable)
incr Ketone levels in blood and urine
Loss of body condition, reduce rumen contractions (variable)

Question 23

LDA - diagnosis

Answer 23

pings over whole left flank

Question 24

LDA - treatment

Answer 24

Rolling 
Roll and Toggle 
Right Flank Omentopexy 
Left Flank Omentopexy 
Right Paramedian Abomasopexy

Question 25

left sided pings - rare causes

Answer 25

Bloat
Rumen Collapse
Vagal Indigestion
Pneumoperitoneum

Question 26

right displaced abomasum (RDA)

Answer 26

Similar to LDA but less common
Problem – RDA can then twist to become a Abomasal Torsion or Volvulus
Acute intestinal obstruction, blood supply compromised, ischemic necrosis
Cow sick, shocked, dehydrated, in pain
Cow requires surgery within hours or slaughter on humane grounds

Question 27

caecum displacement

Answer 27

Caecal Dilation
Similar predisposing factors to LDA
Clinical signs similar to LDA, variable
Rectal examination – Caecal apex palpable coming into pelvic inlet
Ping right paralumbar fossa
free caudal end may twist causing Volvulus

Question 28

caecum displacement - dilation - treatment

Answer 28

Medical-fluids, high fibre diet

Surgery if persists

Question 29

caecum displacement - volvulus - treatment

Answer 29

drain surgically

Exteriorise (bring outside the body), pack abdomen, incise apex and drain

Question 30

Pings - left side

Answer 30

LDA

Question 31

pings - right side

Answer 31

RDA, Abomasal Volvulus, Caecal Dilation/Volvulus, Gas in Spiral Colon, uterine tear at calving
ruptured abomasal ulcer