Cattle Abdomen Pain Flashcards
What is the normal pH of a cows rumen?
6.2-7
What is the pathophysiology of rumen acidosis?
Ingestion of starch and sugar decreases the pH in the rumen causing bacterial change and accumulation in volatile fatty acids
What does the pH of the rumen need to be to be considered acidosis?
<5.5
What is the cause of acute ruminate acidosis?
Sudden ingestion go fermentable carbohydrates
What are the clinical signs of acute ruminal acidosis?
Dull/recumbent, rumen stasis, abdominal distension, ataxia, laminitis, dehydration, anorexia, blind
What is the treatment for acute ruminal acidosis?
IV sodium bicarbonate and isotonic NaCl - oral magnesium hydroxide
What are the clinical signs of subacute ruminal acidosis?
Low milk yield, liver abscess, low milk fat, anorexia, vena cava thrombosis —> epistaxis and sudden death
What are the two types of bloat?
Frothy and gaseous
What are the causes of frothy bloat?
Lush pasture, legumes, clovers, cereals
How would you treat frothy bloat?
Oral anti antifoaming agents/surfactant (mineral oil)
What are the causes of gaseous bloat?
Excessive carbohydrate, oesophageal obstruction, milk fever and lateral recumbency
How do you treat gaseous bloat?
Stomach tube, rumen puncture with trochanter and cannula
What is the cause of traumatic recticulo-peritonitis?
Metal object in the reticulum -> peritonitis/pericarditis
What are the clinical signs of traumatic reticulo-peritonitis?
Vague - decrease milk yield, anorexia, arching of back, decrease rumen contraction rate, splashing sound over the heart
How do you diagnose hardware disease?
Withers pinch: squeeze wither and if cow doesn’t duck in abdominal pain
Pole test: pull metal bar up against the sternum and observe cow’s discomfort
Eric Williams: signs of pain just before reticulum-rumen cycle
What is the treatment for hardware disease?
Conservative - tie up with front feet raises, antibiotics, analgesics and magnets
Rumenotomy to remove
Slaughter
What is the cause of an LDA?
Poor management of the transition period, high concentrate/low fibre diet
What are the clinical signs of an LDA?
Usually a high producing dairy cow within 6 weeks of calving, decreased milk yield, raised ketone levels in blood and urine, BCS loss, change appetite, reduced rumen contraction rate
Ho do you diagnose an LDA?
Pings over the left flank usually between the 9th-13th rib.
How do you treat an LDA?
Right flank omentopexy
Roll and toggle: in RHS recumbency to spinal recumbency to LHS then up
What are the clinical signs of an RDA?
Similar to LDA: high producing milk cow within 6 weeks of calving, decrease milk yield, raise ketone levels, BCS loss, change appetite, reduce rumen contraction
How do you diagnose an RDA?
Pings on the right flank
What makes an RDA dangerous?
Can twist to form abomasal torsion or volvulus - acute intestinal obstruction; ischemic necrosis but this is debated.
What are the clinical signs of catcalls dilation?
Similar to an LDA; usually a high producing dairy cow within 6 weeks of calving, decreased milk yield, raised ketone levels, BCS loss, change appetite, reduce rumen contraction rate.
