cattle emergencies

Question 1

milk vein rupture

Answer 1

usually close to partuition

o Treatment – compression, surgical repair, teat cannula to prevent milk getting into the wound

Question 2

dystocia

Answer 2

fetal-maternal disproportion
malpresentation
uterine torsion
pregmamcy toxemia (fatty liver)
milk fever
vaginal prolapse
pelvic fracture

c-section - overlong labor, large calf, fracture, hydrops, prepartum paralysis

Question 3

normal parturition stages

Answer 3

1 - preparation - 4-12 hours - ends when water bag bursts
2 - delivery - 1-4 hour - longer in heifers
3 - afterbirth - 1- 12 hoursa but usually first few hours

Question 4

milk fever signs

Answer 4

lethargy
cold ears
dry nose
muscel tremors
incoordination
low body temp
rapid hr
down cow

Question 5

milk fever causes

Answer 5

low calcium
usually start of lactation

Question 6

milk fever treatment

Answer 6

iv calcium chloride or calcium proprionate

Question 7

milk fever prevention

Answer 7

reduce dietary calcium in late stages pregnancy
avoid stress
avoid high BCS

Question 8

GRASS STAGGERS SIGNS

Answer 8

lethargy, nervous sign (muscle twitching, convulsions), s shaped neck, collapse, sudden death

Question 9

grass staggers causes

Answer 9

low magnesium in diet (spring grass)

Question 10

grass stagger treatment

Answer 10

subcut magnesium

Question 11

grass staggers prevention

Answer 11

supplement magnesium when moving to spring or autumn grass

Question 12

toxins

Answer 12

oak/acorn
yew
copper
alue-gree algae
mycotoxins
bracken
selenium
lead
ragwort

Question 13

oak/acorn toxicity

Answer 13

 Renal
 Toxic metabolites
 Hematuria, endothelial damage, ascites

Question 14

yew toxicity

Answer 14

 Cardiac
 Sudden death
 Rapid cardiac necrosis

Question 15

copper toxicity

Answer 15

liver - jaundice, neuro signs

Question 16

blue-green algae toxicity

Answer 16

 Liver – jaundice, liver signs
 Seizures, rapid liver failure

Question 17

bracken toxicity

Answer 17

 Brain and bone marrow
 Thiamine deficiency  brain softening
 Inhibition of bone marrow  pancytopenia
 Chronic  GI and bladder tumours

Question 18

selenium toxicity

Answer 18

 Cardiac – pale cardiac muscle on PM
 Overdose of supplements
 Hair and hoof abnormalities

Question 19

lead toxicity

Answer 19

 Non specific
 Acute - usually younger – GI and nervous
 Subacute – older – anorexia, GI signs, leading to blindness, nervous signs
 Chronic – uncommon – impaired swallowing  aspiration pneumonia

Question 20

ragwort toxicity

Answer 20

liver - most common hepatotoxin

Question 21

hardware disease

Answer 21

signs - arched back, decreased appetite and production, abdominal pain

heart complications –> death

treat - magnet

Question 22

LDA signs

Answer 22

dullness
inappetance
down cow
left side ping

soon after calving

Question 23

LDA causes

Answer 23

dystocia, high concentrate/overconditioning before calving, metabolic imbalances around calving

Question 24

LDA treatment

Answer 24

surgery

Question 25

LDA prevention

Answer 25

maintain BCS at right level, prevention of milk fever, selection in breeding, culling of repeat dystocia cases

Question 26

Acidosis signs

Answer 26

 Mild – scour, lethargy, inappetence  Sub-acute – decreased production, lethargy  Acute – dehydration, bloat, coma, death

Question 27

acidosis causes

Answer 27

over feeding concentrate, rapid feed change, mycotoxins in feed

Question 28

acidosis treatment

Answer 28

prevention. But otherwise – fluids, transfer of rumen fluid from healthy cow, cull

Question 29

acidosis prevention

Answer 29

gradual concentrate increase, addition of buffer into diet

Question 30

ketosis (fatty liver disease) signs

Answer 30

lethargy, decreased production, metritis, mastitis, LDA, milk fever

Question 31

ketosis (fatty liver disease) causes

Answer 31

negative energy balance causing release of NEFAs, ktones formed, usually first week of lactation

Question 32

ketosis (fatty liver disease) treatment

Answer 32

supportive care, glucose, treating secondary conditions

Question 33

ketosis (fatty liver disease) prevention

Answer 33

avoid overconditioning pre parturition, rapid diet changes, unpalatable feeds, stress

Question 34

down cow causes

Answer 34

 Fracture  Metabolic  Dystocia  Toxemia – metritis, mastitis  Toxin ingestion

Question 35

emergency slaughter certification requirements

Answer 35

 Medication withdrawal periods  No systemic illness  FCI must be sent with the animal  Certified by an OV or vet who has completed the course with the FSA  Must be examined by a vet ante mortem  Injury must be an accident (unforeseen and unexpected) and require immediate action – can’t be used for chronic conditions