Cow with Abdominal Problem/LDA Flashcards
What is the normal volume of the rumen?
180-200L
What is the primary function of the rumen?
Cellulose digestion
What is the main VFA produced at normal rumen pH and what does this impact?
Acetate = milk fat %
What are the main VFA’s produced at a lower (more acidic) than normal pH and what does this impact?
Priopionate and Butyrate
Results of microbe starch and sugar digestion
What VFA is produced at a VERY low rumen pH and what serious issue can this cause for cows?
Lactate –> Rumenal acidosis/Rumen stasis
What is the main buffer system in the rumen? What is the buffer component of saliva?
Saliva - Bicarbonate (HCO3-)
How many L of saliva does a cow produce per day?
100-150L
What encourages cow saliva production?
Fiber in diet –> chewing
What does a cow need in order to adequately produce saliva?
Comfortable housing, Laying down, Upwards of 14 hrs per day!
What is acute ruminal acidosis and what is it caused by?
Life threatening clinical emergency caused by sudden ingestion of large amounts of fermentable carbohydrates (Ex. animals breaking into feed stores, overfeeding of concentrates, underfeeding of forage, high energy animals on too high carb diet (poor transition period management), sudden lack of forage or straw bedding (decreased saliva production)
What is the prognosis for a cow with acute ruminal acidosis?
Poor/Guarded
What are the clinical signs of a cow with ruminal acidosis?
Dull/recumbent
Incoordination/Ataxia
Anorexia
Blindness
Laminitis
Rumen stasis, abdominal distension
Dehydration
Increased pulses
Sunken eyes
What is the treatment protocol for Acute ruminal acidosis?
5% sodium bicarbonate (baking soda, any kind of base) given slow IV - 5L per 450 kg body mass over 30 mins
- OK to give non-sterile solution, just make it as clean as possible
IV isotonic NaCl 150 ml/kg over 6-12 hrs
- Very difficult to accomplish (volume availability on farm)
Oral magnesium hydroxide 500g per 450 kg
- Laxative
Rumenotomy or Rumen lavage (scoop out rumen contents and flush)
- Last resort, very invasive procedure, not clean, not always successful
What is SARA?
Subacute Ruminal Acidosis
Ill-defined herd syndrome - generalized low milk yields, decreased appetite
Laminitis (solar ulcers/hemorrhages)
Liver abscesses (PM/abattoir finding)
Hemoptysis (coughing up of blood)/epistaxis (blood from nose) caused by thrombosis of caudal vena cava (cow dies with pool of blood around head/nose)
Repeated cases of epistaxis/hemoptysis within herd is diagnostic of what kind of herd problem?
SARA
What causes thrombosis of vena cava in SARA?
Occurs as a result of liver abscesses which cause damage to the vena cava closest to the liver
What is this condition?
Rumenal Bloat (tympany)