Lecture 2 - Cardiovascular, respiratory and GI system examinations Flashcards
The heart lies in the anterior part of the thorax, between which rib pairs?
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.
locations of palpation of Peripheral pulse on cattle (3)
The caudal artery (tail)
The median artery /digital artery of the front leg
The femoral artery in calves
where is the caudal artery palpated
Palpable om the ventral surface of the tail, 5-10cm from the tail head
where is the median artery palpated
The median artery runs subcutaneously on the medial aspect of the forelimb at the level of elbow joint
where is the digital artery palpated
The digital artery on the lateral aspect of the forelimb just caudal to metacarpus
a Weak pulse on clinical exam can indicate (3)
- A reduced cardiac output or a loss of blood volume
- Terminally ill animals
Severe blood loss
Heart failure - Hypocalcaemia
places to assess CRT in cattle
- Lips
- Dental pad
- Vulva
Measure of effective cardiac function.
The colour should return <2 seconds.
>4 seconds → poor circulation (cardiovascular disease,
dehydration)
What mineral/electrolyte deficit can result in an increased intensity of heart sounds?
hypomagnesemia
can cuase ventricular arrythmias
Normal heart rate in adult cattle?
In calves?
- Adult cattle 60-80 x min (15s x 4 / 20s x 3)
- Calf 100-120 x min
Grading of abnormal heart sounds
- 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
Description of some common cardiac murmurs
Ventricular septal defect
- 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
Description of some common cardiac murmurs
Patent ductus arteriosus
Continuous murmur, grade 3-5, PMI over the left side of heart base
Description of some common cardiac murmurs
Endocarditis
- 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)
Description of some common cardiac murmurs
Pericarditis
Pansystolic tinkling sounds if free fluid is present in the pericardial sac
The murmur – a friction rub – may be quiet, loud or occasionally absent
PMI
Point of maximum intensity of a murmur
White muscle disease is what deficiency
selenium deficiency
what condition could cause hemoptysis and epistaxis in cattle?
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
Blood clotting defects specific to cattle (2)
Idiopathic thrombocytopenia in calves
Factor XI deficiency
Spleen lies where in cattle?
n the anteriolateral aspect of the left side or the rumen beneath the last four ribs
Reticulum lies where in cattle?
medial to the 6th-8th ribs on the left side with the anterior wall at the level of elbow
left kidney where in cattle?
Left kidney is displaced by the rumen to the right side of the sublumbar region, beneath 3-5th lumbar vertebrae
omasum where in cattle?
in the lower part of the anterior abdomen between reticulum and anterior rumen to the left, liver on the right, opposite ribs 7-11
abomasum where in cattle?
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.
liver where in cattle?
is on the right side of the anterior
abdomen against the diaphragm opposite
the upper part of the last three ribs
right kidney where in cattle?
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
Adult cattle ruminate for
8 hours, each period lasting for 10 to 60
minutes.
Rumen movements are controlled by
the vagus nerve
cattle vertebrae/ribs numbers
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.
ruminal contraction frequency?
Normal: contraction lasts for 5-8s, 1 contraction/1,5-2min
Hypomotility: <1 x 2 min
Hypermotility: >5 x 2 min (less common!)
What is the Withers pinch?
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.
What is the bar test?
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.
What is the knee test?
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.
What is the Eric Williams’ test?
Listen over the trachea, if there is pain during the ruminal/reticular contraction, the animal will grunt (otherwise inaudible sound).
Displaced abomasum on auscultation sounds like
Musical metallic tinkling sounds → gas bubbles escaping the abomasum
How to check for displaced abomasum?
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
What organs can you examine from the right flank? (3)
*Gravid uterus
*Intestines
* Liver
define succussion
the action or process of shaking of the body or body part to ascertain if fluid is present in a cavity
Normal respiratory rate for adult cattle and calves
Adult 15-35 x min
Calves 20-40 x min
Oligopnoea =
reduction in the respiratory rate
→ metabolic alkalosis
stridor
noisy breathing
BAL =
Bronchoalveolar lavage
Identification of viruses, bacteria and cytology
Used if there is an outbreak of pneumonia/respiratory diseases
Recommendation: 5 animals from herd
Increased effort on inspiration is a sign of an issue where?
→ upper airway
Increased effort on exspiration is a sign of an issue where?
→ lower airway
Normal temperature of adult cattle is usually between … °C
38,0-39,0
? double check this, normal could be up to 39,5’C
what does the rumen fill score show?
last 24h food intake
