Exam 2: Bovine Digestive Problems Flashcards
This pain response test, called the withers depression test,
is also known as the _______ test.
If the cow does not move away from pressure exerted,
they are painful deep in abdomen and may have an
expiratory grunt
SCOOTCH
_______ in feces is indicative of inflammation/infection,
and seen in diseases such as Salmonella and BVD
Fibrin
In regards to pH:
The rumen is normally _______.
Fiber diets have _________ pH and
grain/starch diets have __________ pH
The rumen is normally acidic
Fiber diets have higher (basic) pH and
grain/starch diets have lower (acidic) pH
Which of the following can be involved in primary indigestion:
Rumen
Reticulum
Omasum
Abomasum
Rumen
Reticulum
Omasum
NOT ABOMASUM
Which of the following can be involved in secondary indigestion:
Rumen
Reticulum
Omasum
Abomasum
Abomasum!
(along with liver, pharynx, systemic dz, high fever, mastitis, foot rot)
In regards to normal forestomach physiology:
Contraction starts in the ________, the dorsal sac first, then the ventral sac.
Reticulum
In regards to normal forestomach physiology:
The primary cycle is responsible for _________
and
The secondary cycle is responsible for _________
primary = MIXING
secondary = ERUCTATION
BLOAT is defined as distension of the ________ with gas,
and is due to a failure in ________
BLOAT is defined as distension of the rumen with gas,
and is due to a failure in eructation
Microbial fermentation results in these two gases to
be formed in the rumen
methane
carbon dioxide
T/F:
Bloat is due to excess gas production from overactivity of microbes in the rumen
FALSE!
Bloat is due to failure of the ERUCTATION process
Cows fed clover, alfalfa, and soybean,
can have legume pasture bloat,
which is also known as this type of bloat,
where gas is trapped in bubbles and cannot be eructated
FROTHY bloat
The 3 causes of bloat:
Failure of the ________ to relax
Obstruction of the _________ or ________
Failure of the ________ muscle contraction
The 3 causes of bloat:
Failure of the cardia to relax
Obstruction of the esophagus or cardia
Failure of the reticulo-ruminal muscle contraction
How is bloat diagnosed?
Passing a stomach tube to
determine if obstruction, frothy bloat, or free gas bloat
This is the emergency treatment for bloat in ruminants
where a hole is created in the rumen to release the pressure.
Before removing, it is important to instill
___________ to reduce the risk of peritonitis
Trocharization
Procaine-Penicillin
For acute bloat or frothy bloat, foam destabilizers can be administered.
Therabloat, also known as _______,
is a surfactant specifically designed for treating bloat.
It destabilizes the foam to the free form so the animal can eructate
POLOXALENE
Ruminal hypomotility or stasis results from
absence of ______ input from gastric centers
vagal
What do you expect to see on bloodwork
of an animal with traumatic reticuloperitonitis?
Neutrophilic leukocytosis with a left shift (between 12,000 and 20,000)
Immature WBCs seen in peripheral blood
An animal presents with fever and is depressed.
You hear an expiratory grunt and an arched back stance with abducted elbows.
In addition, you hear muffled heart sounds and see distended jugular veins.
What is your primary ddx?
Traumatic reticuloperitonitis from a sharp foreign body
that has resulted in pericarditis due to penetration of the heart
In order to prevent hardware disease, a heavy magnet can be given
prophylactically, and is dropped into the reticulum
in heifers ________ years old
1.5 - 2 years old
Anterior functional stenosis results in ________ transport failure,
but ingesta will NOT reflux back into the rumen in this case
omasal
Posterior functional stenosis results in a failure of the
_________ to empty into the pylorus.
This is characterized by ingesta refluxing back into the rumen
abomasums
What is the normal level of chloride in a cow?
99 - 110
In regards to vagal indigestion,
how is anterior and posterior functional stenosis differentiated?
In posterior functional stenosis, the cow refluxes fluid from
abomasum back into the rumen, resulting in sequestration of chloride.
You will see HYPOchloremia on bloodwork which differentiates the two.
The lower it gets, the worse the prognosis.
What is the pH of normal RUMEN fluid?
slightly ACIDIC
roughage diet = 6.0 - 7.0
grain diet = 5.5 - 6.5
What is the chloride concentration in normal RUMEN fluid?
<30 mEq/liter
What microbes are found in normal RUMEN fluid?
Bacteria (mostly anaerobes)
and
Protozoa
Acute ruminal acidosis is the most severe
form of _______ indigestion,
due to excess amounts of carbohydrates
fermentative
If an animal survives Acute Ruminal Acidosis,
what problems may you see as a sequela to this?
Mycotic rumenitis
Liver abscesses
Polioencephalomalacia (due to thiamine-producing bacteria dying off)
Laminitis
You’re called out to a farm and several cows are
completely anorectic and markedly depressed.
They are dehydrated and abdominal distension is evident.
Upon auscultation, you note rumen atony.
A couple of cows have begun to have diarrhea.
History from the farmer reveals an increase in grain to their diet just yesterday.
What is your primary ddx?
Acute Ruminal Acidosis
You’re called out to a farm and several cows are anorectic, depressed,
dehydrated, with abdominal distension and diarrhea. You diagnose them
with Acute Ruminal Acidosis. How do you treat these cows?
Alkalinizing agents: Bicarb, Magnesium carbonate
Antibiotics: Penicillin (kill strep and lactobacillus)
Fluids
Antihistamines and Flunixin (counteract endotoxin)
Thiamine (prevent polioencephalomalacia)
Rumen Transfaunation
Chronic Rumen Acidosis aka Sub-Acute Ruminal Acidosis
occurs mainly in ______ cows,
and is the basis of many ______ diseases in these cows
Chronic Rumen Acidosis aka Sub-Acute Ruminal Acidosis
occurs mainly in dairy cows,
and is the basis of many hoof diseases in these cows
specifically LAMINITIS
What are some conditions seen in dairy cows
due to Chronic Rumen Acidosis aka Sub-Acute Ruminal Acidosis?
LOW milk butterfat test
Chronic laminitis
Chronic indigestion
How is Chronic Rumen Acidosis aka Sub-Acute Ruminal Acidosis
prevented/treated in dairy cows?
The ration should include MORE fiber and roughage
with adequate PARTICLE SIZE, and buffer the ration with
Sodium Bicarb
Treating abnormal ruminal pH:
What is given to an animal with ruminal pH < 5.5?
Alkalinizing Agents:
Magnesium hydroxide
and
Magnesium carbonate
Treating abnormal ruminal pH:
What is given to an animal with ruminal pH > 7.5?
Acidifying Agents:
Vinegar and Acetic Acid
The proper term for “over-eating disease”
characterized by sudden death in feedlot cattle
ENTEROtoxemia
What is the infectious agent that causes Over-eating disease
(aka enterotoxemia), an acute infectious but NOT contagious disease
characterized by sudden death in feedlot cattle?
Clostridium perfringens Type A, C, or D
In regards to Enterotoxemia:
Which type of clostridium perfringens is associated with
GI hemorrhage in cattle?
It causes acute onset, painful distended abdomen, may see blood clots in rectum
and is seen in 2nd lactation or greater cows <100 days in milk?
Type A clostridium perfringens
In regards to Enterotoxemia:
Which type of clostridium perfringens is associated with
hemorrhagic enteritis in CALVES very soon after birth
(even 10 to 20 mins afterbirth)
due to ingestion of organisms in colostrum
Type C clostridium perfringens
In regards to Enterotoxemia:
Which type of clostridium perfringens is associated with
mucoid and catarrhal enteritis in feedlot cattle, with mortality near 100%
and signs of convulsions, paralysis of posterior limbs, and colic signs?
Type D clostridium perfringens
How is enterotoxemia due to clostridium perfringens prevented?
ANTIBIOTICS in feed
Rumen buffers
Avoid overfilling on concentrates
Gradually getting cattle on feed
Vaccination
What clinical signs are associated with PERITONITIS in cows?
ROACHED BACK stance- arched back, pain
Bruxism- teeth grinding
Expiratory grunt
Rectal exam reveals ADHESIONS or STOVEPIPE RECTUM
Shock, fever, pain, bloated appearance
On rectal exam, chronic peritonitis may reveal adhesions, or
“Stovepipe Rectum”.
Crepitation is felt on palpation.
______ adhesions signify a new event, up to 2 weeks old,
while
____ adhesions signify an older event, and won’t break down with rectal exam
On rectal exam, chronic peritonitis may reveal adhesions, or
“Stovepipe Rectum”.
Crepitation is felt on palpation.
Fibrinous adhesions signify a new event, up to 2 weeks old,
while
Fibrous adhesions signify an older event, and won’t break down with rectal exam
Left Abomasal Displacement is a disease
with a multifactorial etiology.
What are the causes?
Genetic factors
Physical factors
(lack of exercise, stomach displacement due to pregnancy, reclining on the right side)
Nutrition (small particle size)
Atony of the ABOMASUM
(secondary to another disease or diet with too much VFAs)
________ Displaced Abomasum
is primary seen in female dairy cows
and is VERY RARE to see in beef cows
LEFT displaced abomasum (LDA)
LEFT displaced abomasum (LDA) is usually diagnosed
within _____ weeks post-partum in lactating cows (4 - 6 years old most common).
If they are kept in stalls in the dry period, condition is also more likely
6 weeks
A 5 year old holstein heifer that calved about a month and a half ago,
has a selective appetite for roughage and won’t eat grain.
She has decreased milk production.
Auscultation of the left flank reveals a “tinkling” sound,
and a ping that sounds like flicking a basketball is heard.
Bloodwork shows hypochloremia and a metabolic alkalosis.
What is your primary ddx?
LEFT displaced abomasum
How is LEFT Displaced Abomasum treated conservatively?
ROLLING the cow
- Put cow down on RIGHT side, roll into dorsal recumbency, roll onto left,*
- let her stand when ready. Fill rumen with warm water and give*
- smooth muscle stimulants afterwards*
A bull presents very ill with sudden onset of distended abdomen, high fever,
and is not passing feces. He is not eating grain OR roughage,
and bloodwork reveals HYPOchloremia and metabolic alkalosis.
What is your primary ddx?
RIGHT displaced abomasum
(omasum or reticulum may also be affected)
Prognosis poor with anion gap > 30 mEq/L
This condition has a high rate of occurrence in veal calves,
and may be a sequela to GI disease like BVD or LSA.
Anemia and poor thrift result, and peritonitis might be seen.
Melena is the primary clinical sign seen.
Abomasal ulcers- large bleeding type
How are abomasal ulcers treated?
Antibiotics and GI protectants
What type of drugs are contraindicated in treatment of abomasal ulcers?
ANTIPROSTAGLANDIN drugs
What is the most likely cause of abomasal impaction in beef cattle?
ingestion of poor quality roughages in large amounts
What is the most likely cause of abomasal impaction in CALVES?
Hair balls from grooming that block the pylorus
What is the most likely cause of abomasal impaction in ALL cattle?
sand or foreign bodies, like TWINE
aka PICA
eat sand when craving roughages
A cow presents with a peculiar stretching stance (trestle-table stance).
She has reduced fecal output and has a slightly increased heart rate.
She is hypothermic and depressed, and bloodwork shows
HYPOchloremia.
What is your primary ddx?
Intestinal obstructions
(trestle-table stance in order to take weight off the abomasum)
_______ prolapse is seen in sheep when the tail is docked too proximally
Rectal prolapse
Rectal prolapse is usually a sequelae to _______
tenesmus
What are some toxins associated with rectal prolapse?
Lead
Zinc
Estrogen
How is rectal prolapse treated?
SUGAR (draw out fluid and edema)
+
PURSE STRING SUTURE
How is salmonellosis transmitted?
Fecal-oral route
T/F:
The majority of cases of salmonellosis are subclinical in cattle
TRUE
Septicemic animals with salmonellosis shed in which secretions/fluids?
Oral/nasal secretions
Urine
Feces
Aerosol
salmonella is killed by exposure to ________ in normally functioning rumens
VFAs
Which type of salmonella is responsible for significant zoonotic disease,
like in kids playing with turtles for example?
Salmonella typhimurium
What are the 5 iceberg diseases we talked about in class?
Anaplasmosis
Johne’s Disease
Bovine Leukosis
Salmonella
Mastitis
What is the etiology of Winter Dysentery?
Coronavirus
In January, you’re called to a farm because all of a sudden, an entire dairy herd presents with severely depressed milk production.
Some of the cows have watery brown, fetid diarrhea with flecks of blood,
but there is no fever, and they have a good appetite.
What is your primary ddx and how do you treat?
Winter Dystery (Coronavirus)
Intestinal astringents- Oral TANNIC ACID, COPPER SULFATE
This parasite is found in the abomasum of grazing/pasture cattle
and can result in BOTTLE JAW, ill thrift, diarrhea, and a poor hair coat.
Ostertagia
The plasma level of ________ is elevated in
cases of Ostertagia in the abomasum
Elevated plasma PEPSINOGEN
You’re called out to an old farm. Cattle are showing signs of
HEMORRHAGIC DIARRHEA, and some have CNS signs.
A couple cows have died, but the suckling calves are completely
unaffected. What is your primary ddx?
Arsenic toxicosis
(Lead arsenic binds to milk- suckling calves unaffected)
What is the number 1 cause of diarrhea in neonates?
E. coli
What is the #1 risk factor for development of
neonatal diarrhea complex?
Colostrum deficiency (poor quality or inadequate volume)
A 3 day old calf presents with diarrhea with fresh red blood
and is straining. All signs point to Coccidiosis (Eimeria), but
fecal smear is coccidia negative.
What is the cause of the diarrhea in this neonate?
Cryptosporidia (no treatment)
T/F:
Cryptosporidia is zoonotic
TRUE
At LEAST _______ mg/dL of immunoglobulin in colostrum
is considered adequate
1,000 mg/dL
What device is used to tell you how much immunoglobulin
is in colostrum?
Colostrometer
Acute death from E.coli in calves is due to
dehydration
_______ contaminated feed and water resulting in septicemic invasion
results in low-grade diarrhea mostly in young calves under 4 days old
E. coli
This agent of neonatal diarrhea complex, is usually seen in
calves less than 2 weeks old.
Death can come so quickly that clinical signs are never noted.
Calves on a HIGH PLANE OF NUTRITION (the ones that are doing the best),
are the ones that get sick from this.
Clostridium perfringens Type B and C
enterotoxemia
This viral agent of neonatal diarrhea complex
is isolated in feces from both healthy and sick calves.
Usually affects calves that are a few days old.
Calves recover but are predisposed to other infections that kill
due to intestinal damage caused by this agent.
ROTAVIRUS
This agent of neonatal diarrhea complex
is usually seen in calves 3 weeks and older.
It can be spread on the farm by CATS and DOGS,
and just 1,000 oocysts can result in the destruction of 24 billion intestinal cells.
Coccidiosis
This agent of neonatal diarrhea complex
is usually detected at 10 to 12 days of age, but affects
calves less than 3 days old. It is ZOONOTIC, and the only treatment
is fluids and electrolytes.
Cryptosporidia
In the pathogenesis of neonatal diarrhea complex:
________ cause hypersecretion by crypt cell epithelium
Enterotoxins
In the pathogenesis of neonatal diarrhea complex:
________ due to viral damage leads to malabsorption
Villous atrophy
How is neonatal diarrhea complex treated?
ISOLATION of calf
Withhold milk for at least 24 HOURS and feed glucose/electrolyte solution instead
Plasma/Immunoglobulins
Aspirin/Flunixin (block endotoxin)
Bismuth/Kaopectate (coat GIT)
Why do you withhold milk for at least 24 HOURS and feed glucose/electrolyte solution instead, rather than feeding milk and solution together
in neonatal diarrhea cases?
Electrolytes interfere with CURD FORMATION IN THE ABOMASUM
if given at the same time
T/F:
If giving oxytocin to let down milk, there will not be enough
immunoglobulins in the milk to confer adequate passive transfer to the calf
TRUE
Colostrum absorption is best during the first
_______ hours of birth.
After _______ hours, colostrum is not absorbed any longer
Colostrum absorption is best during the first
8 hours of birth.
After 24 hours, colostrum is not absorbed any longer
What blood test is used to test calves for IgG transfer levels?
Midland Quick Test
You test a calf’s blood with a Midland quick test for IgG transfer level.
You see ONE LINE at the “C” position.
What does this mean?
That IgG levels are > 10 mg/mL
and adequate transfer has occured
What 7 diseases can be transferred through colostrum?
Johne’s Dz
Salmonella
BVD
Infectious Mastitis
Bovine Leukosis
Mycoplasma
Leptospirosis
What is the 4x4x4 Rule?
Feed:
4 QUARTS of colostrum
to calf within
4 HOURS of life
and within
4 HOURS of parturition
Bovine liver flukes predispose cows to which other diseases?
Bacillary hemoglobinuria via
Clostridium hemolytica
How do you treat for liver flukes in cattle?
Clorsulon
Albendazole
The highest incidence of this disease
occurs in fluke infested cattle
Bacillary hemoglobinuria
What agent causes bacillary hemoglobinuria?
Clostridium HEMOLYTICA TYPE D
________ necrosis is seen post-mortem in animals with
bacillary hemoglobinuria.
Surviving animals may show PORT WINE COLORED URINE
Liver
What is the agent of black leg in cattle?
Clostridium novyi
(associated with immature liver flukes)
What are the 2 causative agents of liver ABSCESSES in cattle?
Fusobacterium
Corynebacterium
Fusobacterium is an organism that causes
small abscesses (white spots) throughout the liver in cattle.
Clinical signs include rumenitis from rumen acidosis,
weight loss, and decreased milk production.
This bacteria is also the cause of ________,
so the vaccine for this helps prevent the liver abscesses.
FOOT ROT
