Clinical Examination

Question 1

In what order do you clinically examine each part of the cow?

Answer 1

1. Tail end + cardinal signs
2. Left side
3. Right side
4. Neck and head
5. Tail end again

Question 2

What is the normal respiration rate of a cow?

Answer 2

20-30 breaths per minute

Question 3

What is the normal temperature of a cow?

Answer 3

38.5 - 39.2

Question 4

What is the normal pulse rate of a cow?

Answer 4

60-80 beats per minute

Question 5

Is the liver palpable in cattle and on which side would you feel it?

Answer 5

Only if it is enlarged - behind the ribs on the right

Question 6

When is an ex-lap indicated?

Answer 6

heart rate >100bpm, anorexia/inappetance, no/reduced faeces, abdominal distension, distended loops of bowel on rectal, visible abdominal pain of >8hrs duration, pings over the right flank, persistently ketonuric, dehydration not too severe

Question 7

What is the normal rumen pH?

Answer 7

6.2 - 7.0

Question 8

What are the 8 steps of a complete cattle clinical examination?

Answer 8

1. Thorough history
2. Examine the environment
3. Distance examination
4. Restraint
5. Close physical examination
6. Additional diagnostic tests
7. Laboratory tests
8. Interpret results

Question 9

What are ‘presenting signs’?

Answer 9

The things that bought the animal to the owners attention

Question 10

Important Q’s to ask during history taking:

Answer 10

Age, breed, sex
# affected animals
Feed, appetite
Last calving - were there issues?
Production (average and recent)
Faeces
Recent transport
Treatments already used

Question 11

What information might you gain during your distance examination?

Answer 11

Body condition, demeanor, abnormal behaviour, posture, gait, abdominal profile, abnormalities, dehydration, respiratory pattern

Question 12

What is the most important thing to do first during your physical examination?

Answer 12

Collect urine! Before the cow becomes too tense or urinates while you’re not ready.

Question 13

What does coughing tend to indicate?

Answer 13

Irritation of the pharynx, trachea or bronchi

Question 14

What does snorting tend to indicate?

Answer 14

Nasal irritation

Question 15

What does wheezing tend to indicate?

Answer 15

Stenosis of nasal passages

Question 16

What do ‘snoring’ noises tend to indicate?

Answer 16

Pharyngeal obstruction

Question 17

What does inspiratory stridor tend to indicate?

Answer 17

Issues at the larynx or trachea

Question 18

What does expiratory grunting tend to indicate?

Answer 18

Thoracic pain

Question 19

When observing a distended abdomen, you should consider the 5 F’s. What are these?

Answer 19

Fat, Fluid, Foetus, Flatus, Food

Question 20

What are the landmarks for lung sounds in cattle?

Answer 20

Listen in the triangle formed by the border of the triceps, the elbow and the 11th intercostal space

Question 21

What are the 6 steps for examining abdominal contents through the left abdominal wall?

Answer 21

1. Visual inspection (look)
2. Palpation (feel)
3. Auscultation (listen)
4. Auscultation and percussion
5. Ballottement
6. Ballottement and auscultation (sucussion)

Question 22

What is the normal interval between rumen contractions?

Answer 22

30-90 seconds

Question 23

When would you hear high pitched tinkling sounds from the rumen?

Answer 23

When there is a fluid gas interface (lack of rumen pack)