Lecture 2 - Cardiovascular, respiratory and GI system examinations

Question 1

The heart lies in the anterior part of the thorax, between which rib pairs?

Answer 1

The heart lies in the anterior part of the thorax, between 3rd and 6th pair of ribs.

The big blood vessels are in the level of 3rd rib.
The apex is low down in the chest and level with the 6th rib.

Question 2

locations of palpation of Peripheral pulse on cattle (3)

Answer 2

The caudal artery (tail)
The median artery /digital artery of the front leg
The femoral artery in calves

Question 3

where is the caudal artery palpated

Answer 3

Palpable om the ventral surface of the tail, 5-10cm from the tail head

Question 4

where is the median artery palpated

Answer 4

The median artery runs subcutaneously on the medial aspect of the forelimb at the level of elbow joint

Question 5

where is the digital artery palpated

Answer 5

The digital artery on the lateral aspect of the forelimb just caudal to metacarpus

Question 6

a Weak pulse on clinical exam can indicate (3)

Answer 6

• A reduced cardiac output or a loss of blood volume
• Terminally ill animals
  Severe blood loss
  Heart failure
• Hypocalcaemia

Question 7

places to assess CRT in cattle

Answer 7

• Lips
• Dental pad
• Vulva

Measure of effective cardiac function.
The colour should return <2 seconds.
>4 seconds → poor circulation (cardiovascular disease,
dehydration)

Question 8

What mineral/electrolyte deficit can result in an increased intensity of heart sounds?

Answer 8

hypomagnesemia
can cuase ventricular arrythmias

Question 9

Normal heart rate in adult cattle?
In calves?

Answer 9

• Adult cattle 60-80 x min (15s x 4 / 20s x 3)
• Calf 100-120 x min

Question 10

Grading of abnormal heart sounds

Answer 10

• Grade 1 – very quiet, difficult to hear
• Grade 2 – quiet, but easily heard
• Grade 3 – equal intensity with the normal heart sounds
• Grade 4 – louder than the normal heart sounds
• Grade 5 – very loud with a vibration that is palpable through the
  chest wall
• Grade 6 – very loud and audible through a stethoscope held just off
  the chest wall

Question 11

Description of some common cardiac murmurs
Ventricular septal defect

Answer 11

• Murmurs on both sides
• Right side → systolic, plateau murmur, grade 3-6, PMI over the T valve
• Left side → systolic crescendo-decrescendo murmur, grade 3-6, PMI over P valve

Question 12

Description of some common cardiac murmurs
Patent ductus arteriosus

Answer 12

Continuous murmur, grade 3-5, PMI over the left side of heart base

Question 13

Description of some common cardiac murmurs
Endocarditis

Answer 13

• Systolic, plateau murmur, grade 2-6, PMI over T/B valve
• Diastolic, crescendo murmur, grade 1-5, PMI over A valve
• The heart sounds can be muffled (pericardial effusion)

Question 14

Description of some common cardiac murmurs
Pericarditis

Answer 14

Pansystolic tinkling sounds if free fluid is present in the pericardial sac

The murmur – a friction rub – may be quiet, loud or occasionally absent

Question 15

PMI

Answer 15

Point of maximum intensity of a murmur

Question 16

White muscle disease is what deficiency

Answer 16

selenium deficiency

Question 17

what condition could cause hemoptysis and epistaxis in cattle?

Answer 17

Thrombosis of the caudal vena cava

Liver abscess formation may lead to phlebitis and thrombus formation in the caudal vena cava → abscessation in the lungs, chronic pneumonia, aneurysm

Question 18

Blood clotting defects specific to cattle (2)

Answer 18

Idiopathic thrombocytopenia in calves
Factor XI deficiency

Question 19

Spleen lies where in cattle?

Answer 19

n the anteriolateral aspect of the left side or the rumen beneath the last four ribs

Question 20

Reticulum lies where in cattle?

Answer 20

medial to the 6th-8th ribs on the left side with the anterior wall at the level of elbow

Question 21

left kidney where in cattle?

Answer 21

Left kidney is displaced by the rumen to the right side of the sublumbar region, beneath 3-5th lumbar vertebrae

Question 22

omasum where in cattle?

Answer 22

in the lower part of the anterior abdomen between reticulum and anterior rumen to the left, liver on the right, opposite ribs 7-11

Question 23

abomasum where in cattle?

Answer 23

on the abdominal floor at about the midline/just to the right side, with the pylorus at about the level of the ventral end of the 11th/12th rib.

Question 24

liver where in cattle?

Answer 24

is on the right side of the anterior
abdomen against the diaphragm opposite
the upper part of the last three ribs

Question 25

right kidney where in cattle?

Answer 25

is anterior to the left kindney and lies ventral to the last rib and first two lumbar transverse processes, with the anterior pole surrounded by the liver

Question 26

Adult cattle ruminate for

Answer 26

8 hours, each period lasting for 10 to 60
minutes.

Question 27

Rumen movements are controlled by

Answer 27

the vagus nerve

Question 28

cattle vertebrae/ribs numbers

Answer 28

7-13-6-5

The cow has 7 cervical vertebrae, 13 thoracic vertebrae (and ribs), 6 lumbar vertebrae, 5 sacral vertebrae, and 18-20 coccygeal vertebrae.

Question 29

ruminal contraction frequency?

Answer 29

Normal: contraction lasts for 5-8s, 1 contraction/1,5-2min

Hypomotility: <1 x 2 min
Hypermotility: >5 x 2 min (less common!)

Question 30

What is the Withers pinch?

Answer 30

A pain test.

One common diagnostic test for traumatic reticuloperitonitis is the withers pinch test, in a normal cow if you pinch their withers the cow should dip and perform a shrug like action.

In a cow with tyre wire they will be reluctant to perform the dip, or will grunt whilst dipping; indicating pain.

Question 31

What is the bar test?

Answer 31

A pain test.

A metal/wooden bar placed beneath the animal, behind the processus xiphoideaus, people hold both sides and lift → if there is pain, the animal will grunt and show discomfort.

Question 32

What is the knee test?

Answer 32

Apply a sudden upward force with your knee in the area of processus xiphoideaus → if there is pain, the animal will grunt and show discomfort.

Question 33

What is the Eric Williams’ test?

Answer 33

Listen over the trachea, if there is pain during the ruminal/reticular contraction, the animal will grunt (otherwise inaudible sound).

Question 34

Displaced abomasum on auscultation sounds like

Answer 34

Musical metallic tinkling sounds → gas bubbles escaping the abomasum

Question 35

How to check for displaced abomasum?

Answer 35

Percussion + auscultation
In the sublumbar fossa → use your thumb and forefinger to hit the abdominal wall,
listen with your stethoscope → high pitched resonant pings

• Clinical evaluation should be focused along a line drawn from the left elbow to the
  left tuber coxae. Clinical evaluation from the 9th to the 13th rib is most rewarding.
• The fluid and gas filled displaced abomasum is between the left abdominal wall and the rumen

Question 36

What organs can you examine from the right flank? (3)

Answer 36

*Gravid uterus
*Intestines
* Liver

Question 37

define succussion

Answer 37

the action or process of shaking of the body or body part to ascertain if fluid is present in a cavity

Question 38

Normal respiratory rate for adult cattle and calves

Answer 38

Adult 15-35 x min
Calves 20-40 x min

Question 39

Oligopnoea =

Answer 39

reduction in the respiratory rate
→ metabolic alkalosis

Question 40

stridor

Answer 40

noisy breathing

Question 41

BAL =

Answer 41

Bronchoalveolar lavage
Identification of viruses, bacteria and cytology
Used if there is an outbreak of pneumonia/respiratory diseases
Recommendation: 5 animals from herd

Question 42

Increased effort on inspiration is a sign of an issue where?

Answer 42

→ upper airway

Question 43

Increased effort on exspiration is a sign of an issue where?

Answer 43

→ lower airway

Question 44

Normal temperature of adult cattle is usually between … °C

Answer 44

38,0-39,0

? double check this, normal could be up to 39,5’C

Question 45

what does the rumen fill score show?

Answer 45

last 24h food intake