Intestinal Diseases

Question 1

What causes Hemorrhagic Diarrhea?

Answer 1

• Bovine Coronavirus
• Salmonella
• Clostridium perfringens
• Coccidia (unlikely in mature cattle)
• BVD
• Oak toxicity
• Colitis (Enteroviruses (Bovine enterovirus type II), NSAIDS, Steroids

Question 2

What causes Watery Diarrhea?

Answer 2

• Johne’s Disease, other Mycobacterium spp. Prototheca
• Ostertagia
• Toxic (ionophores, Oak and other caustic plants)
• Indigestion (acidosis, abrupt feed changes, fresh grass)
• Peritonitis

Question 3

What causes Tenesmus/Mucus?

Answer 3

• Obstruction/displacement
• Mucus indicates decreased transit time through colon which can occur with generalized Malaize from various causes

Question 4

What is Winter Dysentery

Answer 4

• An explosive diarrhea outbreak most commonly associated with adult dairy cows
• High morbidity: low mortality
• 3-5 day clinical course in individuals
• Agent is thought to be a Coronavirus
  
  • possibly the same one that causes calf scours
• Respiratory disease often accompanies diarrhea
• Brown/bloody diarrhea w/ ‘sweet’’ stinking smell - characteristic

Question 5

What are the clinical signs of Winter dysentery?

Answer 5

• Most sever in cows >2yo
• Effortless, projectile diarrhea
  
  • may see hemorrhage
• Dramatic decrease in milk production
• Mild changes in TPR

Question 6

How is Winter Dysentery diagnosed

Answer 6

• ID BCV in feces

Question 7

How is Winter Dysentery Treated/controlled?

Answer 7

• Maintain hydration
• Can try cathartics - charcoal
• NO vaccines - will run its course in 2-3weeks

Question 8

What are the risk factors for Winter Dysnetery?

Answer 8

• Presence of adult cattle with low coronavirus titers
• BVD within the herd
• Tiestall or stanchion barn housing compared to free-stall or dry lot facilities
• Use of equipment to handle manure and subsequently handle feed

Question 9

What is Salmonellosis?

Answer 9

• Acute diarrhea, not always hemorrhagic
  *

Question 10

What is Hemorrhagic Bowel Syndrome?

Answer 10

• Intramural/Intraluminal hemorrhage

Question 11

Pathogenesis fo Hemorrhagic Bowel syndrome

Question 12

Clinical signs of Hemorrhagic Bowel syndrome

Answer 12

• TPR - depends on stage of disease
  
  • HR>100bpm
• Abdominal percussion, succussion
  
  • splashing sounds, variable pings
• Rectal palpation:
  
  • multiple loops of distended intestine
  • segments of “sausage”

Question 13

how is Hemorrhagic Bowel syndrome diagnosed?

Question 14

How is HBS managed?

Answer 14

• High doses of Penicillin (20-30K IU/lb)
• Oral laxatives and Water
• NSAIDS
• IV fluid therapy
• Surgery:
  
  • Resection and anastomosis - poor
  • Enterotomy - poor
  • Manual manipulation of hematoma
• Poor to Grave prognosis if obstructed

Question 15

How can HBS be prevented

Answer 15

• Vaccination
  
  • Autogenous from clinical animal
• Ration and feed management

Question 16

What are the daily fluid requirements of cattle?

Answer 16

• Non-lactating - 5%BW (50ml/kg) per day
  
  • 6gal for 500kg cow
• Lactating - have to replace fluid loss from milk production as well
  
  • lactating with diarrhea in the heat of summer may require 200ml/kg/day (25gal for 500kg cow)
• Easy way to estimate maintenance:
  
  • 1ml/lb/hr ~ equal to 24hr needs

Question 17

How can dehydration be estimated?

Answer 17

• Enopthalmus and skin tent
• PCV and TP

Question 18

How can IV fluids be given to cattle?

Answer 18

• Jugular vein
• Auricular vein

Question 19

How much water can be safely given to a cow at one time

Answer 19

5 - 10 gallons

Question 20

What fluids are used for dehydration in cattle

Answer 20

• Saline (Nromal, ½ strength, or hypertonic)
• Ringers (not lactated)
• NON- alkalinizing solutions
  
  • except in choke, grain overload, renal failure, pregnancy toxemia, severe diarrhea/pneumonia (sometimes)
• Added Calcium and potassium frequently performed
  
  • mature cattle almost always hypochloremic, hypokalemic and alkalotic

Question 21

How does Hypertonic Saline work for dehydration in cattle

Answer 21

• For rapid vascular fluid expansion
• 4ml/kg bolus over a few minutes
  
  • follow with oral fluids (~8x vol of IV dose)
• Produces rapid redistribution of interstitial fluids and rumen fluids for vascular support