Clinical Examination Flashcards
In what order do you clinically examine each part of the cow?
- Tail end + cardinal signs
- Left side
- Right side
- Neck and head
- Tail end again
What is the normal respiration rate of a cow?
20-30 breaths per minute
What is the normal temperature of a cow?
38.5 - 39.2
What is the normal pulse rate of a cow?
60-80 beats per minute
Is the liver palpable in cattle and on which side would you feel it?
Only if it is enlarged - behind the ribs on the right
When is an ex-lap indicated?
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
What is the normal rumen pH?
6.2 - 7.0
What are the 8 steps of a complete cattle clinical examination?
- Thorough history
- Examine the environment
- Distance examination
- Restraint
- Close physical examination
- Additional diagnostic tests
- Laboratory tests
- Interpret results
What are ‘presenting signs’?
The things that bought the animal to the owners attention
Important Q’s to ask during history taking:
Age, breed, sex # affected animals Feed, appetite Last calving - were there issues? Production (average and recent) Faeces Recent transport Treatments already used
What information might you gain during your distance examination?
Body condition, demeanor, abnormal behaviour, posture, gait, abdominal profile, abnormalities, dehydration, respiratory pattern
What is the most important thing to do first during your physical examination?
Collect urine! Before the cow becomes too tense or urinates while you’re not ready.
What does coughing tend to indicate?
Irritation of the pharynx, trachea or bronchi
What does snorting tend to indicate?
Nasal irritation
What does wheezing tend to indicate?
Stenosis of nasal passages
What do ‘snoring’ noises tend to indicate?
Pharyngeal obstruction
What does inspiratory stridor tend to indicate?
Issues at the larynx or trachea
What does expiratory grunting tend to indicate?
Thoracic pain
When observing a distended abdomen, you should consider the 5 F’s. What are these?
Fat, Fluid, Foetus, Flatus, Food
What are the landmarks for lung sounds in cattle?
Listen in the triangle formed by the border of the triceps, the elbow and the 11th intercostal space
What are the 6 steps for examining abdominal contents through the left abdominal wall?
- Visual inspection (look)
- Palpation (feel)
- Auscultation (listen)
- Auscultation and percussion
- Ballottement
- Ballottement and auscultation (sucussion)
What is the normal interval between rumen contractions?
30-90 seconds
When would you hear high pitched tinkling sounds from the rumen?
When there is a fluid gas interface (lack of rumen pack)
