Cardiovascular Disease of Cattle Flashcards
What are some signs suggestive of heart disease?
- abnormal heart sounds - murmur, muffling, arrhythmia
- distended jugular pulse - over 1/2 way up the neck and remains after being held off longer than a couple seconds
- abducted elbows - expanded heart, discomfort
- exercise intolerance/respiratory distress
- edema (normal in udders of pregnant/lactating cows)
- thrills - palpable turbulence of heart
- pale, cyanotic, or tacky mucous membranes
Why does heart disease cause exercise intolerance?
increased hydrostatic pressure causes edema or shunts increasing unoxygenated blood content
How can pulse/heart rates be palpated in cows? What does it depend on?
auscultation, palpate jugular, rectal palpation of aorta
- excitement, exercise
- breed
- location
What are the normal HR of cattle, calves, small ruminants, and pigs?
40-90 bpm
100-120/140 bpm
70-90 bpm
60-100 bpm
What is the most common congenital defect in the cardiovascular system of cattle?
VSD
- large = quieter
- small = loud, increased pressure
What is the most common presentation associated with congenital cardiovascular disease? How are they treated?
inactive neonate with tachypnea, focusing on laying down and breathing + obvious mumur —> may still be nursing
euthanize —> little QoL, no practical or economical treatments
What are the major signs of congenital cardiovascular disease?
- poor growth
- lethargy
- dyspnea, exercise intolerance
- congestive heart failure
- other congenital defects common
Fetal vs adult blood flow:
How does a VSD affect blood flow? What are the 3 most common signs?
left to right —> deoxygenated blood sent into circulation
- cyanosis
- harsh, plateau holosystolic murmur heard on both sides of the thorax with a PMI on the right
- palpable cardiac thrill
In what 2 breeds is VSD most common? How is it diagnosed on the field and in the hospital?
Limousine, Hereford
murmur, consistent clinical signs, necropsy
(waste of money) - radiographs, echo, nuclear angiocardiography, cardiac pressure
What are some other congenital cardiovascular defects seen in cattle?
- PDA
- atrial septal defect
- tetralogy of Fallot
- pulmonic valve stenosis
- truncus arteriosus
- ectopia cordis cervicalis
What is the most common cause of bacterial endocarditis in cattle? What part of the heart is most commonly affected?
Trueperella pyogenes
tricuspid valve
What signs are associated with bacterial endocarditis?
RIGHT SIDED HEART FAILURE
- tachycardia, tachypnea
- jugular vein distention, palpable pulse
- progressive edema
- systolic murmur
- fever, shifting leg lameness, cough, anorexia
Cardiovascular disease:
distended jugular > 1/2 neck
Bacterial endocarditis:
cauliflower-like lesion on valve
Bacterial endocarditis:
abscess in lung with leakage —> blood, epistaxis
Bacterial endocarditis:
lung abscesses
What diagnostics can be used for bacterial endocarditis?
- frequent blood cultures
- bloodwork - leukocytosis, neutrophilia, hyperfibrinogenemia, hyperglobulinemia, anemia of chronic disease
- thoracic radiograph
- ECG
- echo - vegetations appear as echogenic shaggy or cystic masses
(poor prognosis - not generally worth running these tests)
What treatment is available for bacterial endocarditis? What is reserved for cattle with clinical signs?
- long-term antibiotics of at least 4-6 weeks
- steroids
- diuretics, restrict sodium
digoxin (typically resistant to diuretics)
(grave prognosis!)
What is brisket disease (cor pulmone, pulmonary hypertension)? What makes it worse?
increased pulmonary artery pressure due to hypoxia in high altitudes causes vasoconstriction and right-sided heart failure
other lung-associated diseases —> chronic bronchopneumonia, lungworm infection
What are the 3 most common signs associated with brisket disease?
- edema of the brisket, ventral thorax, submandibular area, and limbs
- jugular venous distention and/or pulsations
- murmur
(RIGHT-SIDED HEART FAILURE)
How is brisket disease diagnosed?
history of high altitude and presence on feedlot
- neutrophilia with lung disease
- bronchopneumonia, bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis seen on radiographs
- TTW, fluid cytology, culture
- fecal sedimentation with suspected lungworms
- echo
- central venous pressure
How does bovine congestive heart failure compare to brisket disease? What can predict development of this disease?
- not caused by high altitudes, more of a genetic relation (no control)
- affects both sides of the heart
- common in feedlot cattle
pulmonary arterial pressure test
How is brisket disease/BCHF treated? Prevented?
- return to lower altitude, administer oxygen
- thoracocentesis
- antibiotics and deworming to treat primary lung disease
- digoxin
- diuretics
eliminate predisposing genetic susceptibility
At what altitudes is brisket disease seen? How long does it take for signs are seen in susceptible cattle?
above 5000 feet
2 weeks
Which of the following has the best prognosis?
a. calf with congenital heart defect
b. bull with bacterial endocarditis
c. beef cow with brisket disease
C
- reversible if caught early enough and brought down to lower altitudes
What are the 3 major causes of cardiomyopathy in large animals?
- ionophores - Monensin, Lasalocid (growth promoters, coccidiostats)
- gossypol (cottonseed) toxicity
- vitamin E or selenium toxicity - in pigs, mulberry heart disease
What are the 4 most common causes of pericarditis?
- FB or external wounds
- hematogenous spread
- extension of infection from lung or pleura
- neoplasia - lymphoma/LSA
(Trueperella pyogenes)
What are the most common signs associated with pericarditis?
- peripheral edema, jugular venous distension
- tachypnea, dyspnea
- PAIN - abnormal stance, abducted elbows, spontaneous expiratory grunt, reluctance to move
- muffled heart sounds
- splashing/washing machine murmur
What 3 things make cattle grunt?
- peritonitis
- pleuritis
- pericarditis
(PAINFUL)
How is pericarditis diagnosed?
- CLIN PATH = leukocytosis, hyperfibrinogenemia, hyperglobulinemia, elevated AST, CPK, and LDH
- RADS = fluid or gas accumulation in pericardium
- ECG = decreased amplitude of QRS
- ECHO = space between visceral and parietal pericardium
- PERICARDIOCENTESIS = L 5th ICS
What treatments are used for pericarditis?
treatment is unrewarding
- salvage, survival to calving
- repeated pericardial drainage (pericardiocentesis, 5th rib resection, lavage, pericardiectomy)
- long-term antibiotics
- diuretics
What is the most common cardiac tumor of cattle?
LSA —> most common on right atrial/ventricular myocardium
> 4 y/o
What is the most common arrhythmia in cattle? What are the 3 most common causes?
atrial fibrillation
- heart disease
- GI disturbance associated with vagal stimuli, severe respiratory disorders, electrolyte abnormalities, and organic brain disease (displaced abomasum!)
- allergic reaction of vitamin E/selenium or vaccines
How do most cattle with atrial fibrillation appear? What drug can maintain this arrhythmia?
far off look into space
neostigmine
Is treatment required for atrial fibrillation in cattle? What are 3 options?
NO - tends to convert to normal sinus rhythm without treatment and is asymptomatic at rest
- acid-base and electrolyte corrections
- digoxin
- quinidine
What are 3 signs of atrial fibrillation on ECGs?
- absence of P waves
- F waves - fine baseline undulations
- rapid ventricular rate with an irregular rhythm (120 bpm)
What is the preferred treatment for atrial fibrillation in cattle?
a. digoxin
b. electric shock therapy
c. no treatment, let it run its course
d. quinidine
C
What is bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency? What signs are most common?
inherited diseaes of Holstein cattle due to a lack of surface glycoproteins on WBC important for adhesion, resulting in decreased margination
onset of pneumonia, gingivitis, periodontitis, and peripheral lymphadenopathy in cattle 2 weeks to 8 months
What is hallmark on clinical pathology in cases of bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency?
severe neutrophilia, usually without a left shift
- can’t marginate, all WBCs in circulation
What is prognosis of BLAD like? What is a common differential?
grave, consistently fatal
mucosal disease —> BLAD is more common in younger (Holsteins!)
