Examination, drug administration and sample collection in calves

Question 1

Examination

Clinical values

Answer 1

Body temperature
    Calf: 39-40°C
    Adult cattle: 38,5-39,5°C
Heart rate
    Calf: 100-120 /min
    Adult cattle: 60-80 /min
Respiratory rate
    Calf: 20-40 /min
    Adult cattle: 15-30 /min
Capillary refill
    Calf: 2-3 s
    Adult cattle: 2-3 s

Question 2

Examination

Examination of different organs

Answer 2

• General condition: visual assesment
o Body condition
o Rate of dehidration
o Appetite(„patienthistory”)
o Navel: Visual assesment, palpation (signs of inflammation)
o Easily noticable symptoms
• Hair/skin, lymphnodes
• Mucous membranes: mouth (colour is paler than in small animals), conjunctiva
• Respiratory organs
o Auscultation over the chest, trachea, larynx • Circulation
o Auscultation of the heart (locomotive murmur)
o Capillary refill
• GI system
o Diarrhea: one of the most important problems
o Abdominal cavity cannot be fully palpated, but the fullness of the stomach and gas in the intestines usually can be assessed
• Urinary and reproductive organs: Visual assessment, palpation
o Normal urination
o Lesions are uncommon in calves (congenital defects can occur)
• Locomotor system: Visual assessment, palpation
o Traumatic injuries, congenital defects • Nervous system: Visual assessment, reflexes

Question 3

Examination

Diagnostic tests

Answer 3

• Blood tests 
    o IgG
    o Haematology, biochemistry: rarely, mostly for experiments
    o Herd level blood collection • Faeces examination
    o Parasitology
    o Quicktests
• Ultrasound
• X-ray (extremities)
• (Endoscopy)

Question 4

Examination

Sample collection

Answer 4

• Blood sampling
o V. jugularis
o The steps are the same as iv. drug administration, but you have to aim cranially • Faeces sample
o As fresh as possible
o Collection from the rectum is optimal
o Adequate shipping container!
• Hair, skin: BVD screening
o Ear tagging provides an option for it
• Urine: rarely
o When they stand up for feeding/via cathether/cystocentesis
o Not very reliable…
• Skin scraping: rarely
o Diagnosisofectoparasitosis

Question 5

Examination

Giving medication per os

Answer 5

• What?
    o Colostrum
    o Probiotics,vitamins
    o Medications: in young calves, when the rumen is still undeveloped, or in case of
dysbiosis 
• How?
    o Mixitwithmilk 
    o Drenching gun 
    o Syringe

Question 6

Giving medication per os

Size of Ruminant Stomach Compartments

Answer 6

Rumen
    Adult: 55%
    Newborn: 29%
Reticulum
    Adult: 7%
    Newborn: 6%
Omasum
    Adult: 24%
    Newborn: 14%
Abomasum
    Adult: 14%
    Newborn: 55%

Question 7

Giving medication per os

Reticular Groove

Answer 7

• Transport milk directly from the esophagus to the abomasum
• Closure is stimulated by
    o Suckling
    o Consumption of milk proteins
    o Consumption of glucose solutions 
    o Consumption of sodium salts
        ▪ NaHCO3
        ▪ effective in calves, but not lambs 
    o Presenceofcoppersulfate
        ▪ Effective in lambs

Question 8

Giving medication subcutaneously

Answer 8

• What?
    o Medications
    o Vitamins
    o Fluidtherapy:smallamountoffluidcan be administered sc., if iv. administration fails
    o Only non-irritant materials
• How?
    o In front of the scapula, upper third of the neck
    o In a sharp angle to the skin

Question 9

Giving medication i.m.

Answer 9

• What?
    o Medications
    o Vitamins,traceminerals
    o Only non-irritant materials • How?
    o In front of the scapula, upper third of the neck 
    o Perpendicular to the skin
    o Be as fast as you can