Bovine Physical Exam

Question 1

Name the parts:
-Poll -Dewlap -Brisket -Knee -Milk veins
-Switch -Pin bone -Tailhead -Rump -Withers
-Paralumbar fossa -Toes -Heel -Fetlock
-Pastern -Cannon -Hock -Dewclaw

Answer 1

Question 2

Far exam (3)

Answer 2

1. Get Hx from O
2. Note & record features of envir
   - Feed/water
   - Cleanliness
   - Feces
3. Note & record body posture/behavior
   - Mentation
   - Gait/lameness
   - BCS
   - ID (ear tags, bands, sex, etc)

Question 3

What is the importance of BCS? (4)

Answer 3

May indicate…
1. Disease
2. Quality of feed
3. Risk for low milk production
4. Risk for infertility, dystocia, or ketosis

Question 4

Name the 6 parts of BCS

Answer 4

Question 5

T/F: Bovine gain weight cranial to caudal

Answer 5

True! This is good to keep in mind when giving a BCS

Question 6

Normal TPR
Temp:
HR:
RR:
Rumen contractions (Rc):

Answer 6

Temp: +/- 101.5 F
HR: 60-80bpm
RR: 12-36bpm
Rumen contractions (Rc): 1-3/min

Question 7

The heart lies caudal to the elbow at the ___ intercostal space.
Left side evals:
Right side evals:

Answer 7

1. 6th intercostal space
2. LAM: Left Aortic valve (4th ICS) & Mitral valve (5th ICS)
3. RAT: Right Tricuspid valve (3rd ICS)

Question 8

Lung auscultation is more difficult as the lung field is a ___ angled diaphragm. Lungs are located from the ___ rib forward to the point of the elbow.

Answer 8

1. Steep
2. 11th rib

Question 9

Normal lung sounds should sound like ___ rubbing together.
List some abnormal sounds to hear (4)

Answer 9

1. Paper; newspaper
2. Abnormal:
   - Crackles
   - Wheezes
   - No sound
   - Emphysema

Question 10

Withers Pinch Test
1. Checks for:
2. Normal reaction:
3. Abnormal reaction:
4. Causes:

Answer 10

1. Checks for: Abdominal pain
2. Normal reaction: Dorsoflex
3. Abnormal reaction: stand hunched w/elbows abducted
4. Causes:
   - Hardware disease
   - Abomasal ulcers
   - SI gas distension

Question 11

Rumen evaluation includes auscultating for contractions in the ___ paralumbar ___ or felt like ___.

Answer 11

1. Left
2. Fossa
3. Waves

Question 12

What shape should the abdomen be? Where is this observed?

Answer 12

Pear shaped and should be symmetrical. Asym indicates bloat!
Observe from behind.

Question 13

T/F: Gas accumulations will not make any noise when auscultated

Answer 13

False! It will make resonant “ping”

Question 14

Name two abnormal abdominal shapes for bovine

Answer 14

Apple & papple

Question 15

What are we looking for in a mammary gland evaluation? (5)

Answer 15

1. Symmetry between quarters
2. Abnormal glandular consistency-edema, hardening, acute swelling
3. Abnormal milk consistency
4. Strip milk from each quarter-water, flakes, & serum
5. Record findings and specify which quart!

Question 16

When evaluating urine, we check for ___

Answer 16

Ketones

Question 17

Which one is normal? What is wrong with the others?

Answer 17

• Top: Diarrhea. Liquidy and had no form.
• Middle: Normal feces. Ideal “plop” consistency.
• Bottom: Very hard. Likely due to dehydration or constipation.

Question 18

T/F: Undigested roughage fibers are not normal in the feces

Answer 18

True! This may indicate dysfunction of the rumen/reticulum

Question 19

What color(s) should feces be? How often do bovine defecate per day?

Answer 19

1. Dependent from green to dark brown
2. 12-18/day