Bovine Muscles, Tendons and Ligaments Flashcards
What is the aetiology of hock cellulitis/bursitis/trauma?
Result of trauma suffered during winter housing period
Rub hock on cubical beds, cubicle frames and other objects.
What are the clinical signs and presentation of hock cellulitis/bursitis/trauma?
Initial hairloss over bone protuberances.
Animals usually not lame in early cases
Severe cases skin can ulcerate causes development of a secondary infectious bursitis and even infectious arthritis
Moderate lameness if swelling is severe or infected
How should you diagnose hock cellulitis/bursitis/trauma?
Swollen and damaged hock in winter housed animals
What is the treatment for hock cellulitic/bursitis/trauma?
Not usually necessary unless secondary infection exists
Most lesions completely resolve during the summer months when out of winter housing.
Antibiotic will usually relieve the lameness
What is the prevention of hock cellulitis/bursitis/trauma?
Identify and correct the underlying cause
What is white muscle disease also known as?
Nutritional muscular dystrophy
What is the aetiology of white muscle disease?
Diet deficient in Vitamin E/Selenium
Congenital and delayed forms
What are the clinical signs of white muscle disease?
Weak or still born calves
Ill thrift
Stiffness, inability to stand/increased recumbency
How would you diagnose and treat white muscle disease in cattle?
Clinical signs, testing animals/foodstuffs to confirm
Injectable forms available
Which breeds of cattle are usually seen with spastic paresis?
German and ducth Friesians and Aberdeen Angus
What are the clinical signs and presentation of spastic paresis?
Chronic and progressive contraction of the gastrocnemius
6 weeks and 6 months
Hock nearly straight
Animals walk with a stiff and stilted gait
Limbs may jerk intermittently at rest
What is the treatment for spastic paresis?
Surgical resection of the gastrocnemius and superficial flexor tendons
Neurectomy of tibial nerve
What is the aetiology of the rupture of a gastrocnemius?
Unclear, associated with prolonged recumbency, excessive weight and possible mineral imbalance
What are the clinical signs of a ruptured gastrocnemius?
Muscle ruptures usually at the musculotendon junction
Usually bilaterally
Weight bearing is impossible, hock drops almost to the floor
How would you treat a cow with a ruptured gastrocnemius?
Close confinement
Limbs splinted in extension
