Bovine nervous and metabolic

Question 1

Hypocalcemia (“Milk fever”) in cattle is caused by

Answer 1

High producing dairy cattle
Rapid transfer of calcium from blood to milk

Question 2

Symptoms of milk fever in cattle

Answer 2

Muscle tremors
Ear twitching
Head bobbing
Bloat
Paresis
“S” spine
Death
Cardiac failure, bloat

Question 3

Milk fever can be accompanied by what in cows

Answer 3

Retained placenta
Displaced abomasum
Uterine prolapse
Muscle myopathy

Question 4

Diagnosis of milk fever in cattle

Answer 4

Clinical symptoms
Serum Ca++ levels

Question 5

Treatment of milk fever in cattel

Answer 5

Standing
Oral calcium supplementation
Recumbent
IV calcium gluconate
Slow!

Question 6

Prevention of milk fever in cattle

Answer 6

Acidic diet 2 weeks prior to calving
Compensated metabolic acidosis
Increased absorption of Ca++ from gut
Oral Ca++ supplement

Question 7

Ketosis in cattle is

Answer 7

Dairy cattle
Expand large amounts of energy producing milk
Negative energy balance
Off feed
Convert fat into ketones
Rapid energy available
Too high blood ketones = ketosis

Question 8

Symptoms of ketosis in cattle

Answer 8

Decreased milk production
Decreased feed intake
Muscle wasting
“Ketotic” smell
Acetone
Neurologic symptoms
Licking
Chewing
Pica
Vocalization
Aggression
DDX= rabies

Question 9

Diagnosis and treatment of ketosis in cattle

Answer 9

Diagnosis
Ketones in milk, serum, urine
Oral propylene glycol 3-5 days
Rapid glucose energy source

Question 10

Rabies in cattle symptoms

Answer 10

Anorexia
Pruritus
Obtunded/lethargic
Hyperexcitability
Aggression vocalization
Hypersalivation

Question 11

What to do if you think a cow has rabies

Answer 11

Always wear full PPE!
Diagnosis
Necropsy brain tissue
Prognosis
Grave

Question 12

Obturator nerve paralysis (“Calving Paralysis”) is caused by

Answer 12

Pressure on onturator nerve as fetus passes through birth canal
Large calf
Pulled calf
Cannot adduct hindlimbs towards body
Splayed out hindlimbs

Question 13

Treatment and prognosis of calving paralysis

Answer 13

Treatment
Hobbling until nerve function returns
Prognosis is good

Question 14

Polioencephalomalacia in cattle is caused by

Answer 14

Thiamine deficiency or high sulphur intake
Cattle on high concentrate diets
Feedlot
Dairy
Exposed to high levels of sulphur
Water
Feed
Individual animals or herd outbreak

Question 15

Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency in cattle that causes Polioencephalomalacia

Answer 15

Thiamine normally produced by microbes in rumen
Decreased production caused by
Acidosis
Killed off thiamine producing bacteria
Overgrowth of thiamine destroying bacteria
Thiaminases in plants
Destroy thiamine

Question 16

High sulphur causing Polioencephalomalacia in cattle

Answer 16

High sulphur intake or reduced rumen microbe ingested sulphur
Hydrogen accumulates in rumen gas cap
Highly toxic
Interferes with cellular energy metabolism
Normal thiamine levels!
Surface and well water sources high in sulphur
Increased concentration s sources evaporate
Forage
Alfalfa, canada thistle, kochia, oil seed, corn byproducts

Question 17

Polioencephalomalacia symptoms in cattle

Answer 17

Cortical blindness
Recumbency
Coma
Seizures
“Stargazing”
Head pressing
Teeth grinding

Question 18

Diagnosis of Polioencephalomalacia

Answer 18

Blood and tissue thiamine levels
Post mortem- brain tissue autofluorescence of affected tissue

Question 19

Treatment and prevention of Polioencephalomalacia in cattle

Answer 19

Treatment
Thiamine injection
Dexamethasone
Decreased brain swelling
Prevention
Appropriate diet
Caution surface water in summer
Analyze feed for sulphur content