Down cow Flashcards
1
Q
Causes of downer cow syndrome (broad categories)
A
- metabolic
- traumatic
- neurological
- toxic
2
Q
What is down cow syndrome?
A
- inability of cattle to rise and stand for a period of at least 12-24h for undetermined reason
- also caused bovine secondary recumbency
- a cow becomes a downer cow when the initial cause resolves but the cow still doesn’t rise
3
Q
Metabolic causes of down cow syndrome
A
- unresolved hypocalcaemia (check phosphorous levels too - creeper cows)
- hypomagnesaemia (generally a cause of becoming a down cow, rather than a chronic situation)
- ketosis (beware angry nervous ketosis cow, is the ketosis primary or secondary?)
- hypokalaemia (often give potassium as part of tx, look for muscular fasciculations)
- fatty liver dz (if fatty liver alone has result in a down cow, the prognosis is poor)
- fog fever
4
Q
Fog fever
A
- autumn time most likely (foggy mornings)
- movement from sparse to lush pasture
- L-Tryptophan in the pasture converted by the rumen to 3-Methylindole
- this is toxic to lungs
- causes Acute Bovine Pulmonary (O)edema and Emphysema (ABPEE)
- cows can get used to L-Tryptophan with a slow introduction
- if suspicious of fog fever but currently only 1 cow down its likely many others are about to go
5
Q
Hypomagnasaemia
A
= grass staggers
- seen in the spring with a new flush of grass
- seen in the autumn with stale grass
– situation made worse by high potassium and high ammonium fertiliser
– situation improved by more broad leaf, slower growing plants in the sward (clover, chicory)
- cows and sheep don’t store Mg
– require daily dose to top them up
- lots of magnesium goes into milk
6
Q
Grass staggers tx
A
- true emergency as will die very fast
- IV magnesium will cause cardiac arrest
- can get away with a small amount given really slowly and warmed- in ‘red top’ calcium
- should take 15 mins to administer bottle IV
7
Q
Grass staggers prevention
A
- by ensuring adequate is in diet
- can supplement water, but beware this reduces palatability of the water
- take other cows off pasture
8
Q
Traumatic causes of downer cows
A
- sacroiliac luxation
- coxo-femoral luxation
- gastrocnemius rupture
- ^ 3 often a sequel to struggling to stand
- pelvic fracture
- profound anaemia as a result of haemorrhage
- profound foot lameness
9
Q
Neurological causes of downer cows
A
- obturator paralysis
- bilateral peroneal paralysis
- rarely - lymphosarcoma infiltration into spine (cows rarely live long enough for these to develop)
- BSE
10
Q
Toxic causes of downer cows
A
- septic metritis
- acute toxic mastitis, usually with a coliform
- tetanus
- botulism
11
Q
Causes of primary recumbency
A
- 46% dystocia (obturator nerve paralysis, pelvic fractures, tears, haemorrhage, etc)
- 38% milk fever
- 16% other
12
Q
When does it occur?
A
- 50% occur within 24h of parturition
- can see seasonal variation -> diet when housed and room to move around when calving, so see higher incidence in winter
13
Q
What happens when a cow becomes recumbent?
A
- weight on muscles
- compartment syndrome (esp in hindlimbs) (occluded blood vessels causing necrosis of the muscles/tissues - as bp not good enough to keep blood flowing to these areas when down)
- may remain bright and alert (can be a good sign in prognosis, if eating nursing becomes easier to achieve)
14
Q
History qs
A
- when did she calve?
- was it assisted?
- what degree of traction was used?
- calf alive or dead?
- how long has she been down?
- did she stand after calving?
- is she moving around?
- did she go down here or was she moved here?
- how did you move her here?
- has she eaten/drunk/been drenched?
- has she been treated already?
- have you had any others like this?
15
Q
Treat any underlying conditions
A
- oral fluids +/- additives
- IV treatments - Ca, P, K, Mg? fluids?
- NSAIDs
- injectable vitamin supplements - B12 (appetite stimulant)
- antibiotics
- propylene glycol instead of glucose: rumen bugs will just use glucose and so none will get to the cow
- hobbling
- splints
