Bovine - Nervous and metabolic Flashcards
WHat is hypocalcemia is cows? Symptoms, comorbidities?
High producing dairy cattle that rapidly transfer calcium from blood to milk
symptoms include muscle tremors, ear twitching, head bobbing, bloat, paresis (“s”) spine, and death by cardia failure or bload
Comorbidities include retained placenta, displaced abomasum, uterine prolapse, muscle myopathy
How do we dx, tx, and prevent hypocalemia?
dx by clinical symptoms, serum CA ++ lvls
tx by standing oral calcium supplementation and recumbent IV calcium gluconate SLOWLY
prevent w/ acidic diet 2wks prior to calving by compensated metabolic acidosis and increased absorption of CA from gut
Also oral CA supplement
What is ketosis in cattle?
dairy cattle expend lg amounts of energy producing milk which makes a negative energy balance. They will become off feed and convert fat into ketones which provide rapit energy
too high blood ketones = ketosis
What are the symptoms, dx, tx
symptoms include dec milk prod and feed intake, muscle wasting, acetone “ketotic” smell, neuro signs like licking, chewing, pica, vocalization, aggression (ddx rabies)
dx by ketons in milk, serum and urine
tx w/ oral propylene glycol 3-5 days for a rapid glucose energy source
What are some causes of ketosis?
retained fetal membrances?
LDA
Hypocalcemia and foot rot
How does rabies present in cattle?
from bite wound from fox, skunk , infected animal on muszzle or distal lumb
have “dum” or “furious” form
symptoms: anorexia, pruritus, obtunded/lethargic, hyperexcitability, aggression, vocalization, hypersalivation
PX grave
dx - necropsy brain tissue
always wear full PPE
what is oburator nerve paralysis?
calving paralysis
pressure on obturator nerve as fetus passes thru birth canal bc of a large or pulled calf
they can’t adduct hindlumbs towards body so they have splayed out hindlimb
tx by hobblings until nerve function returns
px is good
What is polioencephalomalacia?
caused by thiamine deficiency or high sulfar intake
cattle on high conc diets such as feedlot and dairy
also from exposure to high lvls of suphur in water and feed
can be individual or herd outbreak
In regards to polioencephalomalacia, what happens with Thiamine deficiency?
Vitamine B1 deficiency
thiamine procs microbes in rumen
decreased production caused by acidosis kills off thiamine prod bacteria = overgrowth of thiamine destryoing bacteria
thiaminases in plants will also destroy thiamine
in regards to polioenchephalomalacia, what happens with high silfur?
high sulfur intake or reduced rumen microbe ingestion of sulfur, as hydrogen sulfide accumulates in rumen gas cap. It is highly toxic and interferes w/ cellular energy metabolism
They will have normal thiamine lvls!
Surface and well water sources are typically high in sulfur and increased concentration as sources evaporate
Also from forage such as alfalfa, Canada thistle, kochia, oil seen, corn byproducts
What does polioencephalomalacia result in? Dx? Tx? Prevention?
cortical blindness, recumbency, seizures, coma, “stargazing” head pressing, teeth grinding
Dx by blood and tissue thiamine lvls or post mortem - brain tissue autofluorescence of affected tissue
tx w/ thiamine injection or dexamethasone to dec brain swell
prevent by appropriate diet, caution surface water in summer and analyze feed for sulfur content
When are cows most likely to develop hypocalcemia?
just after birth
What are two situations that leat to polioencephalomalacia?
thiamine deficiency
high sulfur
