Bovine GIT

Question 1

How many types of vagal indigestion (obstructive indigestion) are there?

Answer 1

There are 4:
Type I: failure of eructation
Type II: failure of omasal transport
Type III: failure of abomasal transport
Type IV: during late gestation

Question 2

How to differentiate between Type II and Type III vagal indigestion?

Answer 2

In Type II: normal serum chloride
In Type III: low serum chloride (because chloride is formed in the abomasul and absorbed in the intestine and distributed to cells, any obstruction at the level of abomasum will cause hypochloremia)

Question 3

How to diagnose vagal indigestion in the physical exam?

Answer 3

the left dorsal, left and right ventral sac of rumen will expand in case of vagal indigestion causing an L-shape in rectal palpation and a papple (pear and apple) shape when viewed from behind of the animal, also in rectal palpation the left kidney will move to right of the midline, bradycardia in 25-40% of cases