bovine GI

Question 1

Shape of the abdomen

Answer 1

-reverse D (L side distended): Bloat
-pear: distended low both sides: ascites
-apple: round: hydrops (severe ascites)
-D (R sided distended): abomasal volvulus, or cecoloic volvulus
-papple: (low R sided distension): OTF, vagal indigestion, abomasal impaction

Question 2

auscultation of the rumen

Answer 2

• Rumen motility most informative – LEFT SIDE
• Approx. 3 contractions / 2 minutes
• Primary contractions (A waves): ~30-60s; mixes rumen content
• Secondary contractions (B waves): ~2 min, usually associated with eructation
• Hypo- or hypermotility significant!
• Right side: borborygmi every 15-30 seconds; absence of sounds not particularly diagnostic

Question 3

changes in rumen motility causes

Answer 3

Inhibitory:
* Severe ruminal tympany
* Abomasal distension
* Pain
* Ruminal acidosis
* Peritonitis
* Fever/toxemia
* Anorexia
* Fluid covering the cardia

excitatory:
* Feeding
* Starvation
* Mild tympany

Question 4

pinging the abdomen

Answer 4

• ALWAYS!
• Ping (verb) across entire abdomen, LEFT and RIGHT
• Use stethoscope and flick finger against cow
• It should hurt your finger!
  -ping in line from elbow to wing of ilium
  -if you hear ping “metallic”= left displaced abdomen LDA

-pong: low tone dull, base drum= has accumulation (rumen atony)

Question 5

Ping sounds on rumen Left vs right

Answer 5

Left”
* Left-displaced abomasum
* Pneumoperitoneum
* Rumen gas cap
* Will change!

Right”
* Abomasum
* Right-displaced abomasum
* Torsion
* Cecal dilation/torsion
* Pneumorectum
* Pneumoperitoneum
* Uterus (physometra)
* Intestines
* Spiral colon anorexic cow
→ will change!

-When in doubt – repeat pinging a few minutes later

Question 6

BALLOTTEMENT AND SUCCUSSION of rumen

Answer 6

• Ballottement = feeling for a movable object in abdomen fetus, mass) by feeling rebound of object following quick
  pushes against abdominal wall
• Succussion = simultaneous auscultation & ballottement
• Displaced abomasum
• Ruptured bladder (small ruminant)
• GI stasis/enteritis
• Peritoneal fluid (rare)
  → Fluid accumulation in a third space

Question 7

touching the rumen in exam

Answer 7

-want to feel rumen contractions, fill and layers.
-rumen is layers: gases on top, then todays hay, then grain and yesterdays hay at bottom
-liver is not normally palpable its within costal arch, if beyond = enlarged or displaced

Question 8

rectal palpation

Answer 8

• Presence of feces?
• Volume & nature
• Uterus
• Bladder
• Rumen – dorsal rumen sack
• Left kidney
  → Masses
  → Gas distension; small intestines?
  → Fluid
  → Volvulus

Question 9

cranial abdominal pain exam

Answer 9

▪ Pressure over xiphoid region – avoidance response
▪ Withers pinch test → dipping = NORMAL, we want dipping, if they don’t dip they have pain ex traumatic reticuloperitonitis
▪ Williams’ test → listen over trachea during rumen contraction

Question 10

fecal analysis

Answer 10

-sight and smell: gross examination (color, consistancy, particle size, forgein material)

-occult blood test

-etiological diagnosis: fecal egg count, PCR, toxin assay ect

Question 11

ADDITIONAL TESTS: RUMEN FLUID ANALYSIS

Answer 11

orogastric intubation:
* Diagnostic → bloat; choke
* Therapeutic → bloat; fluids;
transfaunation
* Consider saliva admixture

• Per cutaneous
• No salivary contamination
• LDA vs. rumen

Question 12

Abomasal displacement;
proximal intestinal outflow
obstruction findings on CBC, blood gas analysis

Answer 12

• Hypochloremia
• Hypokalemia
• Metabolic alkalosis

Question 13

camels stomachs

Answer 13

3 stomach compartments
* C1 = “rumen”
* 3-5 contractions/min

• C2: fermentation; water
  absorption; feed transit
• C3: enzymatic digestion
  (similar to monogastric
  stomach)
• ulcers

Question 14

checklist for examination of L abdomen cow

Answer 14

-detailed exam of distenstion or rumen
-rumen contents by palpation
-rumen motility by palpation or ascultation
-ascultation and percussion to check for L displaced abomasum
-rumen fluid collection and analysis
-tests for anterior abdominal pain

Question 15

checklist for exam of R abdomen

Answer 15

-detailed exam of contour abnormalities
-palpate and ascultate the R body wall for pings
-ascultation and succussion to assess intestinal motility and content
-ballottement to identify normal and abnormal structures
-test for pain in the right ventral anterior quadrant
-check for enlargement of the liver by palpation
-assessment of the contents of the peritoneal cavity