Bovine: Calf Dz's + Fluid Therapy

Question 1

What are some good management practices in preventing dz transmission btw calves

Answer 1

clean, dry, out of wind betting
no overcrowding, indoor in winter, out in spring/summer
Have a calving pen and then nursing pen and NEVER the other way around bc it prevents older calves infecting ynger ones
Several diff cohort nursing pens-isolate dzs to one pen

Question 2

What management should be done in regards to colostrum intake and monitoring?

Answer 2

colostrum essential - most asorption <6hrs
complete gut closure at 24 hrs

closely monitor calves of heifers for poor colostrum production + poor bonding
also monitor for difficult labor/pulled/c-section (also maladjustment syndrome/dummy calves)

Question 3

In terms of management, how can colostum be administered and produced?

Answer 3

can be from cows on site (antibodies to pathogens on farm)
can be commercial (freeze-dried colostrum from immunity enhanced dairy cattle) - not ideal but better than nothing
administer colostrum via orogastric or oroesophageal tube within 6-24 hrs

Question 4

What are the 4 dz’s of failure of passive transfer?

Answer 4

omphalophlebitis
septic arthritis/physitis
pneumonia
diarrhea

Question 5

What is omphalophlebitis? tx?

Answer 5

occurs 1-2wks old
symptoms: hot, swollen umbilicus, purulent discharge
can cause liver abcess and bladder abscess
Caused by bacteremia which seed bacteria to lungs and joints
tx by broad spectrum antibiotics and sx

Question 6

What is septic arthritis/physitis?

Answer 6

occurs 1-2wks old
symptoms are sudden onset of non-weight bearing lameness. has hot, swollen joints (often more than one affected), otherwise is bright and alert
tx w/ broad spectrum antibiotics and joint lavage

Question 7

What is pneumonia in calves? symptoms? Causes? Tx? Prevention?

Answer 7

symp: tachypnea, coughing, fever, reduced grwoth rate
caused by: FPT, bacterial, biral, aspiration during bottle feeding, indoor housing
Tx - broad-spectrum Ab’s
Prevention by improved management techniques, vx of preg cows, ensure colostrum intake

Question 8

What is scours? Caused by? Tx? prevention?

Answer 8

Diarrhea! Caused by FPT, bacterial, viral, parasitic
tx: specific to bacterial (Ab’s), parasitic (coccidiostats), general (fluid therapy)
Highly infectious - separate affected calves
prevent by good biosecurity measures - move from healthiest to sickest calves, change clothing before going to healthy calves, keep sick in isolation

Question 9

What is bacterial diarrhea if its enterotoxogenic E. coli

Answer 9

ETEC happens when calves are less than 7days old
symptoms of secretory diarrhea secondary to toxins
profuse, watery diarrhea
rapid dehydration

Question 10

What happens with bacterial diarrhea when its because of clostridium perfringens

Answer 10

<7days old, bloody diarrhea, has straining

Question 11

What happens with bacterial diarrhea when its because of salmonella spp.

Answer 11

Happens 2-12 weeks of age
bloody diarrhea
ZOONOTIC

Question 12

What happens with viral diarrhea when its because of rotavirus, coronavirus?

Answer 12

> 4 days
attacks intestinal villa
has maldigestion and malabsorption diarrhea

Question 13

WHat are the differences between the bacterial diarrhea salmonella spp, clostridium perfringens, and ETEC?

Answer 13

ETEC: <7d, watery diarrhea and dehydration
Clostridium: <7 days, bloody diarrhea, straining
Salmonella: 2-12 wks, bloody diarrhea

Question 14

What happens when a calf gets parasitic diarrhea from cryptosporidium sp?

Answer 14

Cryptosporidium sp
>7days
damages villi
causes maldigestion and malabsorption diarrhea
ZOONOTIC

Question 15

What happens when a calf gets parasitic diarrhea coccidiosis?

Answer 15

1 mo-12mo
from emeria spp.
has normal feces, or loose feces or bloody diarrhea
has reduced weight gain, loss and have colic

Question 16

What is white muscle dz?

Answer 16

inadequate vitamine E/selenium in cow’s diet
vita e/sel is antioxidant and prevents muscle injury
is a herd problem
affects skeletal and cardiac muscles

Question 17

What are the symptoms of white muscle dz? Diagnosis? Tx? Prevention?

Answer 17

Symp: Mild - weakness/recumbency. Severe - sudden onset symptoms, recumbency, tachycardia, aspiration pneumonia (impaired swallow reflex), sudden death and myoglobinuria
dx -hypovitaminosis E of serum of live calves or necropsy for liver tissue samples, pale skeletal, heart muscle
tx w/ vita e/sel injections
prevent w/ supplement cows, admin vita e/sel to all cows+calves

Question 18

What is myoglobinuria?

Answer 18

the presence of an abnormally excessive amount of myoglobin in the urine.

Question 19

What are you addressing when giving fluid therapy to calves?

Answer 19

Dehydration, acidosis, electrolyte loss

Question 20

How can dehydration, acidosis and eletrolyte loss affect calves?

Answer 20

Dehydration - loss of fluids = hypovolemia of systemic circulation => prolonged skin tent + eyeball recession
Acidosis - loss of bicarb in feces => inc motility and systemic acidosis
E+ loss - loss of an, k, mg for increased motility

Question 21

What are the dehydration signs for non, mild, moderate and severe in regards to demeanor, eyeball recession and skin tent duration

Answer 21

Non(<5%), normal demeanor, no eyeball recession, <1s skint tent
Mild (6-8%), slightly depressed, 2-4mm recession, 2-4s skin
Moderate (8-10%), depressed, 4-6mm recession, 4-6 s tent
Severe (10-12), comatose, 6-8mm, >6s tent

Question 22

When might we give oral fluids? What should we do for strong suckle vs weak suckle?

Answer 22

at <8% dehydrated, if still standing, have a suck reflex and gastric motility

is strong suckle - use bottle to prevent aspiration pneumonia
if weak suckle - oroesophageal feeder

Question 23

What are some common oral fluids to use for calf eletrolye solution?

Answer 23

calf-lyte II
alkalinzing agent, has glucose and osmolarity of 60 mmol/L
1 package/2 L of warm water
twice a day for milk dehydration and supplement with milk

Question 24

When do we use IV fluids?

Answer 24

> 8% dehydration
recumbent’no gut motility
no suck reflrex
add oral fluids when gut motility and suck reflex return