Bovine Handling and PE Flashcards
Describe the correct placement for a halter.
- halter is under eye
- halter is as high as it can be on brdige of nose
- halter is tightening under jaw
Traditionally, animals are led from what side?
left
Does the halter have to go on the left side, or can it also go on the right side?
it can go on either side
Should you use a hotshot on a downed animal?
Never
How many times can you use a hotshot before stopping?
One shot only
Before you hotshot an animal, what should you ensure?
That the animal has somewhere to go
Where should you never use a hotshot?
genitals
What are the two methods of casting?
- double half hitch
- flying W
Describe how to do a double half hitch cast.
- start with a bowline knot around the neck
- pass rope under the cow and back over the withers, loop rope
- pass rope under cow again and bring back over hips, loop rope
Describe how to do a flying W cast.
- find middle of rope and place over withers
- each end of rope will pass under armpits
- rope then crosses over middle of back
- each end of rope then goes in between rear legs. make sure your not pinching the udders or prepuce
What is a normal respiratory rate for an adult bovine?
12-36 bpm
What is a normal heart rate for an adult bovine?
40-80 bpm
What is a normal temperature for an adult bovine?
100.5-102.5 F
What should you examine last for a bovine physical exam?
head
In what order should you conduct a bovine physical exam?
- start at point of shoulder on L side and palpate prescapular LN
- then go on to L side respiratory evaluation and auscultate heart
- then continue to rumen evaluation
- then prefemoral LN on left side
- then use vulva to get CRT and hydration status
- then LN at mammary area IF LACTATING
- look at backs of hooves for lesions
- work around to right side of cow and palpate prefemoral LN
- then percussion of rumen on R side
- then prescpular LN on R side
- then R side respiratory evaluation and auscultate heart
- palpate trachea
- then oral exam and hydration status in mouth and eye
Describe the border of the lungs.
cranial border: caudal border of scapula to point of elbow
dorsal border: transverse process of epaxial muscle
caudal border: 10th intercostal space
How can you obtain respiratory rate in bovine?
- watch cow breathe on right flank side
- place your hand close to nostrils
What is the last part of your respiratory exam?
palpate trachea by rubbing hand up and down trachea in an attempt to elicit a cough
How many places hould you listen to the lungs on each side?
4
3 vertical and one horizontal (upside down L shape)
Why do we palpate the brisket on cardiovascular exam?
to feel for any retained fluid that could be an indication of a heart issue
What can be confused as a lymph node?
injection site lesion
What are the three areas of focus for bovine mucous membrane evaluation?
- vulva or prepuce
- eye
- mouth
What is the most accurate area for CRT/MM?
vulva
What is NOT an accurate spot for CRT/MM?
nose
How many stomachs do bovine have? List them.
4
- reticulum
- rumen
- omasum
- abomasum
What is the “true stomach” of cattle?
abomasum
Which stomach is responsible for water absorption?
omasum
What is the largest stomach responsible for fermentation and energy production?
rumen
What is the purpose of the withers test and grunt test?
test for abdominal pain typically associated with hardware disease
Describe how to perform a wither test.
- take both hands and press down hard in front of withers
- typically only get one shot because cow is expecting it the next time
- cow should bow down from pressure
Bow = positive = good
Describe how to perform a grunt test.
- lock hands with another person and pull up under cow. cow should rise up away from pressure
- can be donw on your own with a fist but much more difficult
rise up = positive = good
Bovine BCS is scored out of how many points?
5 (with quarter point increments)
What is the tell for a BCS less than or equal to 3?
Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a flattened V
What is the tell for a BCS greater than 4?
Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a straight line
What is the tell for a BCS greater than or equal to 3.25?
Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a flattened U
Describe a BCS of 3.
- Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a flattened V AND
- hooks are rounded
Describe a BCS of 2.75.
- Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a flattened V
AND - Hooks are angular
AND - more prominent padding on pins
Describe a BCS of 2.5.
- Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a flattened V
AND - pins and hooks are angular
AND - fat pad slightly palpable on point of pins
Describe a BCS of 2.25.
- Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a flattened V
AND - no fat pad on pins
AND - visible corrugations halfway between tip and spine of short ribs
Describe a BCS of 2.
- Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a flattened V
AND - corrugations visible three fourths of the way from tip to spine
Describe a BCS less than 2.
- Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a flattened V
AND - thurl prominent
AND - saw toothed spine
Describe a BCS of 3.25.
- Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a flattened U
AND - sacral and tailhead ligaments are visible
Describe a BCS of 3.5.
- Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a flattened U
AND - sacral ligament visible
AND - tailhead ligament barely visible
Describe a BCS of 3.75.
- Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a flattened U
AND - sacral ligament barely visible
AND - tailhead ligament not visible
Describe a BCS of 4.
- Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a straight line
AND - sacral and tailhead ligaments not visible
Describe a BCS of 4.25.
- Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a straight line
AND - tip of short ribs is barely visible
Describe a BCS of 4.5.
- Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a straight line
AND - buried pins
Describe a BCS of 4.75.
- Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a straight line
AND - hooks barely visible
Describe a BCS of 5.
- Line formed from hooks to the thurl to the pins is a straight line
AND - all bony protrusions are well rounded
What should be included on your cardiac exam?
- heart rate/auscultation both sides
- observe jugular pulse
- jugular fill (hold off and see how high it goes, want no more than 2/3 up)
- palpate brisket for edema
What should be included on your respiratory exam?
- identification of lung field
- auscultation of both lung fields
- auscultation of trachea
- obtain respiratory rate
What should be included ina. basic GI evaluation?
- visual inspection of abdominal contour
- determine contraction rate and strength of rumen
- perform ballotment to determine presence of fiber mat
What should be included on an advanced GI evaluation?
- determine presence of displaced abomasum using percussion
- determine rumen fill/fiber mat using sucussion
What is sucussion?
When you ballot the rumen and listen for any sloshing of fluid at the same time.
We do NOT want to hear sloshing as that is indicative of absence of fiber mat.
What is percussion?
Make a line from point of hip to point of elbow, where this intersects at 11-13th intercostals is where you usually find a left displaced abomasum BUT listen along the entire line just in case. Place stethoscope on animal and tap to listen for a higher pitch ping. High pitch ping indicates abomasum filled with air and that is not good.
