Cattle Prac Exam Flashcards
What is hands down the most effective way to manage Leptospirosis in a cattle herd?
Is the Lepto vacc curative? How do some of these vaccs work?
You dx a case of lepto. How do you approach case?
If leptospirosis has been diagnosed all heifers and cows should receive an annual vaccination in conjunction with 5 in 1. Lepto vaccination should still be considered as part of the routine vaccination program to minimise the risk of leptospirosis and from an occupational health and safety perspective
Vaccine is not curative, but it is preventative depending on which serovar is present.
* Stimulates production of protective antibodies in cattle– 2 weeks before antibodies are sufficient for some level of protection. Maximum protection is not achieved until the second booster dose 4-6 weeks after the first and then annual boosters. Calves 4-6 months of age. Can help minimize urine shedding, prevent infection.
List the 5 stations of a cattle exam and what you look for at each. What is a common thing you look for in EVERY station?
Before you start:
* History and observations/ safety check
Station 1: The Tail End
* Collect Urine: ketones (ketosis), protein (if off feed might indicate kidney problem), blood, glucose (renal failure)
* Temperature 38.5-39.2C normal
* Pulse character and rate (60-80 BPM)
* Check vulva MM- pink and healthy (chocolate- nitrite poisoning, brick red- cyanide, jaundice- haemolysis or liver problems, pallor- low PCV)
* Resp rate and nature
* Condition score 1-8 in dair, 1-5 in beef
* Abdominal size and contour- distension?
* Assess skin and hair- dehydration? Hair loss? Lesions?
* General conformation
Station 2: The left side
* Palpate, auscultate the heart- look for thrill, rate, character, rhythm, other sounds– 4th/5th ICS medial to the elbow, 60-80 normal, > 150 poor prognosis
* Observe jugular groove- heart problems if distended
* Auscultate lung fields- rate, character, abnormal sounds– 20-30 mature dairy, 12-30 mature beef
* Contour of abdomen, palpate rumen, percuss and auscultate body wall, percuss and ballott lower flank, check LNs– prefemoral and prescapular
Station 3: The right side of the cow
* repeat of left side
* heart, lung fields, contour of abdomen
* Liver, LNs- prefemoral and prescapular
Station 4: Head and neck
* Check brisket (oedema?), jugular veins, prescapular LNs
* Symmetry of head– droopy lips? swellings?
* Check eyes– blindness, discharge, hypopion, conjunctiva, ulcers, cancer, engorgement of scleral vessels in toxaemia, sunken eyes in shock/ dehydration
* Muzzle, nostrils- discharge?
* Mouth- jaw tone, ulcers/ erosions
* Palpate and visualize tongue and mucosa– woody tongue, vesicles, tongue paralysis (botulism)
* Palpate submandibular tissue and parotid LNs
Station 5: The Tail End Revisited
* Examine udder, teats, milk– heat, pain swelling, teat lesions, ulcers, abnormal milk
* Vaginal exam– difficult if not recently calved– prsent of discharge, odour
* rectal exam: faeces, rumen, abdominal contents, reproductive system
* Assess limbs and feet- gait, symmetry
5 station examination simple
The tail end and before you start
* Collect urine before handling occurs– manually stroking perineum immediately below the vulva– midstream sample is usually adequate for urinalysis as well as culture– cow side exam of urine is checking its color, clarity and content– test strips (pH, protein, glucose, ketones, bilirubin, urobilinogen, and blood)
* Body temp- rectal mucosa contact (part vulva lips and examine MM for discolouration, presence of discharges and lesions and odour)
* Resting pulse rate counted and assessed using the middle coccygeal artery best palpated at a site situated in the midline of the ventral surface of the tail, at approximately the level of the dorsal commissure of the vulva… assess HR and rhythm before animal is disturbed
* Rate, type, rhythm and depth of respirations - observe rib movements at the costal arch and the flank– respirations may be abdominal or thoracic (costal)– in normal cattle, the type of respirations is usually costo-abdominal with the thoracic and abdominal wall participating equally.
- Any coughing (irritation of the pharynx, trachea or bronchi), snorting (nasal irritation), wheezing (stenosis of nasal passages), inspiratory stridor (laryngeal or tracheal lesions), expiratory grunting or groaning (due to thoracic pain associated with advanced pulmonary disease, especially pleural pain)
* Variations in abdominal size and/or shape
* Udder- size, symmetry, and abnormal swellings, quarters palpated for consistency, heat, pain associated with acute inflammation or firmness if chronic fibrosis— teats and teat ends examined– milk stripped from each quarter and examined for abnormal colour, consistency, or smell– supramammary LNs may be palpated deep in the subcutaneous tissues above the caudal border of the udder
* Body condition scoring– assessment of the amount of fat and muscle covering the bones of a cow, regardless of her body size
Station 2: The left side
Pre-femoral and pre-scapular LNs may be difficult to palpate if the animal is fat or in normal animals
* Optimum heart ausculatation sites are the 4th and 5th intercostal spaces. Head of the stethoscope placed on the anterior part of the thorax, medial to the left elbow– the site where the apex beat is best heard. As far forward as possible beneath the triceps muscle. Feel chest wall to detect evidence of palpable thrill (valvular insufficiencies or stenoses or when congenital defects are present)
* First (systolic) sound is heard best over the cardiac apex; the tricuspid closure being most audible over the right apex and mitral closure over the left apex.
* The second (diastolic) sound is best heard over the base of the heart; the aortic semilunar valve closure caudally and pulmonary seminlunar valve closure cranially both on the left side
* Auscultation– rate, character, rhythm, whether abnormal sounds are present
* Ausculatation and percussion of the left lung area– triangle drawn from the elbow to the withers– ease at which lungs can be heard depends on the thickness of the body wall and the amplitude of the respiratory movements
* Abdominal contents left body wall- inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion and simultaneous auscultation and ballottement– reticulo-rumen occupies most of the left side of the abdominal cavity and lies immediately beneath the left body wall. Assessment of rumen function and health important.
* Contour of the left abdomen should be checked– assessing for marked distension (excess gas in the rumen– tympany or bloat) or distension with fibre and fluid)
* Palpation and auscultation of the rumen in the left paralumbar fossa–contraction of the rumen can be seen, felt, and heart at the same time. Plpated and auscultated in the left paralumbar fossa. Normally, a doughy rumen pack, which pits on digital pressure can be felt, often below a small gas cap.
Station 3: The right side of the cow
* Abdominal contents through the right body wall– abomasum, intestines, liver and gravid uterus
* Liver lies beneath the ribs, but if it is enlarged it may be felt as a ridge of firm tissue below the costal arch
* Contour of right abdomen– normally the right paralumbar fossa sinks below the lumbar processes–distension of this area may be seen in right sided dilatation or volvulus of the abdomasum, dilatation or volvulus of the caecum, or large emphysematous calf in the uterus.
* Distension of the lower right flank is normal in late pregnant cows– however it may also be seen in a large fibre filled viscus pushes into the posterior abdomen– L-shaped rumen in vagus indigestion and in abomasal impaction
* Palpation and auscultation of the right paralumbar fossa– normal gut sounds are rarely heard over the right paralumbar fossa. Repeated peristaltic sounds indicate intestinal hypermotility (e.g. acute enteritis). Excessive fluid in the instestines e.g. intestinal obstruction or volvulus or abomasum may be detected by the presence of fluid-splashing sounds on simultaneous auscultation and ballottement of the lower right flank
Simultaneous percussion
and
auscultation of the right body wall
.
The same technique as described for
the left body wall is used. It is important
to carefully map the location and
distribution of all pings that are
detected. Several organs may become
filled with gas and have the potential to
generate a ping on the right side. The
most common are right-sided dilatation
of the abomasum with or without
volvulus, caecal dilatation with or
without volvulus, and conditions
causing the accumulation of gas and
fluid in the small intestines (e.g.
intussusception, intestinal volvulus, and
intestinal phytobezoar).
Tactile percussion
. This is the sharp
percussion of one side of the abdomen
while observing and palpating for the
presence of an undulation at the
opposite side, which is known as a fluid
wave. A positive fluid wave indicates the
presence of excessive quantities of fluid
in the abdomen, as with ascites,
peritonitis with exudation, and
transudate of congestive heart failure.
Inspection of the ventral abdomen
This may reveal ventral body oedema,
which is commonly associated with
approaching parturition, congestive
heart failure, and rupture of the urethra
due to obstructive urolithiasis in male
cattle
(mainly
steers).
The
subcutaneous abdominal vein (milk
vein) of lactating cows is normally
engorged because it is below the level
of the heart. In normal animals,
however, it can be compressed and
‘milked out’ towards the heart. This is
not possible (i.e. venous distension is
constantly present) when the flow of
blood into the right ventricle is greatly
impaired, which may be the case in
endocarditis, pericarditis, and cor
pulmonale. Umbilical hernias, umbilical
abscesses,
and
haematomas
associated with rupture of the
subcutaneous abdominal veins are
relatively common findings in cattle.
Station 4: the neck and head
Left and right neck inspected and palpated for evidence of enlargements such as brisket oedema, abscesses, other swellings
* shape and symmetry of the ears, eyelids, muzzle and lips– tone.
* Any discharges, sunken eyes, protrusive eyes (peri orbital lymphoma), nystagmus, normal menace response– stabbing a finger quickly toward each eye- both sight and motor eyelid function present if reflex closure, PLR strong flashlight in shaded environment, conjunctivae- color, third eyelid… cornea– ulceration, opacity, vascularisation, scarring– anterior eye chamber e.g. presence of hypopyon- inflammatory cells usually accompanied by redness (SCC in Hereford and Holstein cattle)
* Muzzle- crusting, fissures, erosions e.g. BVDV or papules e.g. papular stomatitis, patches of necrosis e.g. IBR, diffuse areas of necrosis e.g. MCF (malignant cattarhal fever)
* Collour and integrity of oral muscosa, size and shape of the oral papillae at the commissures of the mouth
* Tongue- woody tongue
* Teeth
Station 5: The Tail end revisted and after you finish
* Calved cow- vagina– especially history of dystocia, enlargement of the genital tract per rectum, or presence of malodorous vaginal discarhge
* Manual examination of the vagina should be avoided in animals that have acute septic metritis or severe contusion of the birth canal
* Tears and necrotic plaques in the vagina may be palpable
* Thin, foetid brown fluid is indicative of acute metritis
* Uterine involution is proceeding normally if the contents of the vagina and uterus are of a sero-anguinous mucoid nature with normal odour
Rectal exam– always carried out
Bowline
Clove Hitch
History
* Observe the cow standing undisturbed in the yard while questioning the owern/farm manager and what brought this animal to the herdsman’s attention– body condition, vigour, respiratory pattern, rumination, gut fill, posture, and body shape, abnormal noises, muscle wastage, head deviation, abnormal behaviour (licking the gate, kicking its abdomen)
* Age
* Stage of lactation
* Level of production
* Herd issues such as sudden drop in production, other animals similarly affected
* Effects of feed, water supply, stocking rate, topography, soil type, plants, effluent disposal and protection from extremes
Clinical exam
* Thorough in 15-20 minutes
* Which system is affected?
* Which area of the system is affected?
* What type of lesion is present?
Restraint
* Bail– with access to sides of the animal
What are dairy cows condition scored out of? What about beef?
8 for dairy, 5 for beef
Heart
HR: listen for at least 30 secounds before counting the actual HR– allows the cow to get used to the clinician being present so that the heart can return to resting.
* number of beats in 15 second period
* Dairy cow: 48-84 BPM
* Character or intensity – Staccato or tapping sounds in acute anaemia (e.g. bleeding abomasal ulcer, haemoglobinuria due to onion poisoning or post parturient haemoglobinuria)– PCV as low as 10% (space occupying lesion could cause relative intensity of the heart on right v. left side)
* Rhythm– normal cardiac rhythm tri-phasic– brr tupp pause
* A gallop rhythm with more than 2 heart sounds per cycle is quite common in cattle– muffled heart sounds, which are distant or almost inaudible, indicate the presence of increased tissue or fluid between the thoracic wall and the heart (e.g. traumatic reticulo pericarditis)
* Abnormal sounds– murmurs, pericardial friction sounds, and fluid or washing machine sounds
Dairy cow normal parameters
* HR: 48-84 BPM (or 60-70)
Temperature 38- 39.3 C
RR 26-50 BPM
Observation of the left jugular vein
* While listening to the heart, the jugular groove in the ventral neck observed– normally appear almost collapsed but have a small magnitude visible pulse which extends half-way up the neck (extends further if the head is down)
* Distended or engorged jugular veins result from a hindrance in the clearing of blood from these veins
* This may be due to a condition of the heart, resulting in insufficient emptying of the heart e.g. endocarditis, pericarditis or a physical occlusion of the vessels (e.g. a space occupying lesion, such as a lymphosarcoma or an abscess in the anterior thorax obstructing the flow of the blood from the jugular veins to the heart– no visible jugular pulse in cases of occlusion.
Lung auscultation
* Rate: dair 20 to 30, beef 12 to 30
* Sounds: normal sounds are soft, whispering sounds, louder on inspiration than expiration– abnormal crackles, wheezes, friction rubs from abnormal movement of air or fluid in lung tissue or abnormal movement of the lung itself
* Crackles- clicking, popping, or bubbling sounds– coarse crackles are loud air in secretions in the large airways… fine crackles are of short duration, less intense and higher pitched and are caused by the sudden explosive popping open of a series of airways closed during expiration
* Wheezes- continuous, musical- type squeaking and whistling sounds caused by vibrations of narrowed, large airways. Inspiratory wheezes from extra-thoracic obstruction such as tracheal or laryngeal stenosis. Expiratory wheezes usually produced in intra-thoracic airways.
* Pleuritic friction rubs- combination of continuous and discontinuous sounds, which are produced by the inflamed parietal and visceral pleura rubbing together. Diminish or disappear completely with pleural effusion.
* Stridors- wheezing sounds which when heard over the trachea are loudest on inspiration. e.g. Calf diphtheria (laryngeal necrobacillosis)
* Acoustic percussion- if lung sounds are muffled over ventral aspects of the thorax, suggesting the presence of the pleural effusion. In percussion, the body surface is tapped. The audible sounds produced vary with the density of the tissue set in vibration. A common method of percussion is to flick the thoracic wall with a finger from behind the thumb. The strength and position of the percussion must be consistent in order to compare the sounds produced from different areas. Resonant, tympanic or dull.
* Expiratory grunting- associated with pain resulting from severe diffuse pulmonary emphysema, extensive consolidation, acute pleurisy, peritonitis… decreased or complete absence of breath sounds can be associated with the presence of pneumothorax, space occupying masses in the thorax, large pulmonary abscesses, pleural effusion, and diaphragmatic hernia. IN fat cattle- breath sounds may be hard to detect.
Reticulo-rumen contraction sequences
Simultaneous percussion/auscultation
* Place the stethoscope over a rib and tap anterior or posterior to it– can use pebble or plexor (reflex hammer)
* The aim is to detect, characterise and map the reflected sounds by working up and down each rib from the 10th to the 13th rib inclusive, extending caudally up into the left paralumbar fossa
* the solid, doughy contents of a normal rumen reflect a tapped sound as a dull thud
* A fluid filled viscus (e.g. atonic rumen) produces a more resonant, low pitched sound or pung
* Gas trapped above fluid in a viscus (e.g. left sided displaced abomasum) reflects a high-pitched metallic ping
* Distribution of pings– helps determine nature and contents
* Two common causes of pings on the left side are a gas cap in the dorsal sac of the ruman nad gas in the left displaced abomasum
Auscultation and simultaneous ballottement (succussion or deep palpation) of the lower left body wall, lower left flank, and lower right flank
Ballotting the lower left flank
.
Ballottement is the technique of quickly
pushing into the abdominal wall with a
closed fist and keeping the fist in
position. An organ underneath will be
pushed away from the fist and then
bounce back on to it. Lumps of solid
material in the rumen, such as rope or
twine, lumps of fat necrosis, and sometimes a foetus may be detected by
ballottement of the lower left flank
Ballottement of the lower right flank
.
In late pregnant cows, only the foetus
can usually be identified by ballotting
the lower right flank. In other cattle,
large phytobezoars (in the abomasum)
and lumps of fat necrosis (in the
mesentery) may be detected.
Rectal exam
* Four qaudrants: Left upper and lower and right upper and lower
* Pelvic bony skeleton, bladder (when distended with urine), left kidney and caudal part of the dorsal sac of the rumen are readily palpable, cervix, uterus, oviducts, and ovaries (in empty or early pregnant cows), caecum, and loops of SI or LI (if dilated), and the iliac and deep inguinal lymph nodes (if enlarged)
* IN some cases a dilated or impacted abomasum, intussusception, enlarged liver, swollen kidneys, enlarged ureters, fibrinous peritoneal adhesions in the caudal abdomen or abnormal masses may be palpated (e.g. tumours, abscesses, fat necrosis)
* Abnormal findings in the uterus e.g. mummified foetus, emphysematous calf, uterine torsion or ovarian abnormalities (cyst or tumour)
* Final part of the rectal exam is assessment of the faeces prsent in the rectum– consistency, colour, odour and contents provide clues especially to diseases of the alimentary tract e.g. scant, tarry faeces of intussusception, pale tacky and static smelling faeces of intestinal obstruction, fluid foetid and blood flecked faeces of Salmonella enteritis are good examples
* In adult cattle passage of ingesta through the digestive tract takes 1.5 to 4 days. A reduction in bulk of the faeces can be due to interference with feed or water intake, retardation of passage through the alimentary tract, or increased resorption of fluids in the LI
* Failure to pass faeces in 24 hours is abnormal– intestinal obstruction or paralytic ileus associated often with diffuse peritonitis
* Faeces of adult cattle is dark green, retardation of the ingesta causes the color to darken and the faeces to harden
* Blood associated with haemorrhage into teh abomasum or SI is usually broken down before the faeces are passed– black and tarry faeces
* Haemorrhage into the rectum causes a reddish-brown discolouration throughout the faeces or the passage of frank blood
* Faeces become very malodorous in case of intestinal obstruction or delayed passage of ingesta– the STINK OF STASIS
* Pasty, yellow, malodorous and sticky faeces are characteristic of an intestinal obstruction commonly associated with a phytobezoar
* May need to compare to faeces in the herd depends on water content and type of feed
Assessing musculoskeletal system
Small Volume Subcutaneous Injections
IV injections
Intradermal injections
Urinary Catheterisation
NLIS
Tracking beef and dairy cattle for food safety, disease control, and market access purposes
Avg weight of most common AUS cattle
* Jersey
Male 540-820 kg/ Female 400-500 kg
* Holstein Friesian
Female 680-700kg
* Angus
Male 850 kg/ Female 550 kg
Grunt test and withers pinch test
Rumen fluid collection and examination
Naso-gastric intubation
Abdominal paracentesis
Common and important disease which involve the GI tract
Lameness general
Hoof anatomy and common problems
Assessment of lameness
Hind feet assessment
Clinical exam of the feet
How to apply a CowSlip
Why perform a rectal exam?
Performing a rectal exam
Suggestive signs, definitive signs, and characteristics of a non-pregnant tract
Some dx such as enzootic bovine leucosis and pestivirus can be transmitted by using the same rectal gloves beteen cows. Change gloves or ask for disease status of herd
Hindlimb removal
Size of foetus when pregnant
Increase in ovarian size associated with developing follicles, but the greatest changes in size are due to the presence of the CL
* when would a farmer first be able to detect pregnancy - suspicious if she doesn’t return to oestrus 18-24 days
* Vet first detect- 2 months rectal, a bit earlier U/S?
Abdominocentesis
Teat Cannula
When a wound involves the teat cistern it may be necessary to insert a self-retaining teat cannula with removable cap into the teat for the first 24 hours to prevent milk seeping through the wound (which would delay or prevent healing) and to aid in milking. ABs infused in affected quarter.
Originate in Scotland, black, polled, most common
Angus
White to dun colour, rapid growth rate, horned, french breed, often used as terminal sire
Charolais
Originated in France near Limoge, Some now polled, black or orange, high dressing percentage due to good muscling, extensively used in cross breeding
Limousin
Colour varies from white, to roan, to black, evolved from the British Shorthorn and Belgian, High carcase yield due to double muscling
Belgian Blue
Originated in Switzerland, used for both meat and milk, blonde to cherry red in colour, white face and legs (new colors include black) Originall horned, rapid growth rate
Simmental
Originated in Herefordshire, England, red and white, white face is dominant in crossbreeding (Angus x Hereford = Black Baldy), polled or horned
Hereford
Japanese breed, use in feedlots to produce heavily marbled beef
Wagyu
May need to terminate pregnancy– corticosteroids, prostaglandins
* Caesarean section with supportive treatments
- indications: live, viable calf but foeto pelvic disproportion, valuable calf, elective pre-parturient, foetal monsters, dead, emphysematous calf, uterine torsion
Treatment of ovarian cysts… Tx of cow after foetotome
After foetotome– antibiotics and oxytocin
Clinical exam in a calf
Signs of umbilical infection and umbilical abscess
Observation from a distance
General exam with palpation of the abdomen– dehydration, tachycardia, endotoxaemic shock, pyrexia, hypothermia– includes looking at the contours of the abdomen– atresia ani, atresia coli, mesenteric torsion, rumen fibre fill and abomasal bloat… pot belly– poorly adapted rumen– ventral distension of the rumen possibly with distension of left dorsal quadrant with free gas bloat
Umbilicus-patent urachus– urine may be present at the umbilicus– swellings may indicate umbilical hernia or an omphalitis with possible infection of intra-abdominal congenital remnants… ventral umbilical mass common– palpate– possibly a hernia- check for strangulation? Needle aspiration can confirm umbilical abscess or omphalitis… U/S could be useful
Digital rectal exam and faecal eval
Calf temp 38.5-39.5 (compared to 38.0-39.0)
Head- symmetry, facial swelling (oral lesion or calf diphtheria)
Eyes- anopthalmia or microphthalmia congenital defects
Drooping of ears in depressed, lethargic calf (severe diarrhoea??– faecal staining??)– normal faeces in the first week is yellow to ligh brown once greenish black meconium has passed. Milk substitues– yellow to grey with semisolid consistency.
Is the calf eating, cleft palate (milk from the nose)
Looking for lice, ringworm
Conditions of calves: enzootic pneumonia, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial virus, BVDV, Mycoplasma, Pasteurella, and FB pneumonia
Ageing cattle
