Cow Abdo Problems Flashcards
What are the 3 most common abdo problems of cattle?
- Bloat
- Traumatic reticulitis
- Rumen acidosis
What is the average volume of the rumen?
180-200l
What is the purpose of the rumen and at what pH does it function?
Digest cellulose -> VFAs
pH 6.2 - 7
What is the main VFA produced in a healthy rumen? What is this used for?
Acetate -> Milk fat
What % milk fat is good for a healthy cow? What do differences in this indicate?
4.2%
Lower indicates rumen issues
How does rumen acidosis occour? How does this affect rumen output?
Starch and sugar digestion decreases pH. Only organisms capable of functioning at low pH survive, main VFAs become propionate and butyrate. Severe pH decreases -> rumen stasis.
How much saliva does a cow produced per day? What stimulates production?
100-150l contains 3.5kg bicarbonate .Chewing and ruminating encourage by fibre in diet. Needs to be comfortable and lying down ~14 hrs/day
What causes acute ruminal acidosis? How common is this? What is the prognosis?
Rare, but life threatening clinical emergency with poor prognosis. Sudden ingestion of large amounts of fermentable carbohydrates eg. animal breaking into feed stores, overfeeding or concentrates or sudden lack of forage/straw bedding. Usually beef cattle.
What are the clinical signs associated with acute acidoisis? What is the prognosis?
- dull/recumbent
-ataxia
-anorexia
-laminitis (may cross legs)
-rumen stasis and abdo distension sometimes
-dehydtrated, ^ pulse, sunken eyes
>guarded prognosis
How is acute rumenal acidosis treated?
- 5% sodium bicarbonate slow i/v 5l/450kg over 30 mins OR drench (-> massive bloating!)
- i/v fluids isotonic NaCl 150ml/kg over 6-12hrs
- oral magnesium hydroxide 500g/450kg
- rumenotomy and/or rumen lavage
Where is SARA usually seen?
dairy herds
What clinical signs are associated with SARA?
- ill defined herd syndrome
- v milk fat and v yields
- laminitis (solar ulcers/solar heamorrhages)
- v apetite
- liver abscesses due to bacteria crossing from rumen. septic foci break down -> thrombosis of the caudal vena cava, bits break off and lodge in lungs, erode blood vessels -> heamoptysis and epistaxis (caudal vena cava syndrome)
- high culling rate in herd
What are the clinical signs assocated with rumen bloat (tympany)
- distension of left flank > mild: distension of sublumbar fossa > more severe: whole left flank > very severe: entire abdomen - sudden death (may die overnight after being turned out at pasture) - may be distressed, dyspnoic - may be recumbent
Which cows are usually affected by frothy bloat?
Cattle at pasture (foaming properties of soluble leaf proteins esp legumes, clovers, alfalfa and rich lush pastures) or high cereal diets. Often multiple cows.
What is the treatment for frothy bloat?
- remove cattle from pasture/feed source
- passing stomach tube will not relieve bloat
- trocar into rumen will not relieve bloat
> treat with antifoaming agent - poloxalene (bloat guard) 25-50g
- mineral oil/corn oil 500ml
- simethicone 100ml (BIRP)
> sit in sternal recumbency
> consider strip grazing, buffer feeding
What may cause gaseous bloat?
- excessive carbohydrate intake
- oesophageal obstruction
- milk fever (will be fine once Ca has been replenished)
- lateral recumbency (blocks cardia)
What may cause oesophageal obstruction?
- choke
- lesions of oesophageal groove (vagus indigestion or actinobacillus)
- enlarge mediastinal LNs following pnumonia
- tetanus
How is gaseous bloat treated?
Stomach tube or rumen puncture