Clinical signs and diagnosis of the left sided abomasal displacement

Question 1

Left sided abomasal displacement (LAD)/Left displacement of abomasum (LDA)

Clinical signs

Answer 1

• Course: chronic (cows can survive for many days)
• General symptoms
o Nothing or “only” depression
o Weight loss (because feed intake is decreased) o Dehydration
• Basic clinical values
o Temp.: normal
o Pulse: normal
o Respiratory rate: normal • Digestive symptoms
o Appetite: variable
o Rumen: small, firm, decreased motility (because of lower feed intake)
o Abomasum: not visible and not palpable (1:100) (covered by ribs)
o Faeces: thin-pasty→viscous, diarrhoea (caused by ketosis) (approx. 20%)
o Milk production: dropped (easily detectable: drops few litres per day)

Question 2

Left sided abomasal displacement (LAD)/Left displacement of abomasum (LDA)

Diagnosis

Answer 2

• Clinical signs: No (chronic)
• Laboratory data: not practical, because not real time, but nowadays there are machines that
can measure certain lab parameters in real time → valuable info (cow side tests)
• Targeted examination of the abomasum→physical examination methods

Question 3

Left sided abomasal displacement (LAD)/Left displacement of abomasum (LDA)

Physical examination methods

Answer 3

• Auscultation
    o Large fluid→spontaneous “tinkling sound”
        ▪ Sensitivity: 30.8%
        ▪ Specificity: 40.8%
• Auscultation with ballotment
    o Large fluid→“splashing sound”
        ▪ Sensitivity: 48.8%
        ▪ Specificity: 53.7%
• Auscultation with percussion
    o Gas accumulation→“Ping = metallic sound” (steel band effect)
        ▪ Sensitivity: 97.7%
        ▪ Specificity: 92.3%

Question 4

Left sided abomasal displacement (LAD)/Left displacement of abomasum (LDA)

Degrees of LDA

Answer 4

Two points:
- Elbow
- Tuber coxae
- Draw a line between the
two points and auscultate
along the line
- Start from left flank

Question 5

Left sided abomasal displacement (LAD)/Left displacement of abomasum (LDA)

Diagnosis of LDA

Answer 5

• But be careful
• The finding can change
• “Floating” LDA (approx. 20%)→LDA will recure (cow is not healed if abomasum returns to
normal place)
• Endoscopic surgery
• Screening examination
• Use of auscultation with percussion immediately before treatment