Midsem 1 Flashcards
Left displaced abomasum: presenting signs clinical signs risks Treatment
Presenting signs:
- low milk after calving
- gaunt appearance
- failing to respond to tx
- no appetite
- loss of condition after calving
Clinical symptoms:
- ping over 9-12th rib on left
- rumen contractions decreased and rumen sunken in on side of cow
- ketosis
- small, soft faeces (+- diarrhea)
- chronic; hypochloraemic, hypokalaemic metabolic acidosis
- cannot palpate abomasum in rectal, possibly seen as sprung rib cage
Risks:
- high concentrate/low fibre-> decreased rumen filling
- first calf heifers (soon after calving)-> large void left by uterus (not taken up by rumen)
- dairy
- abomasal atony: hypocalcaemia- SM contractions and increased VFA
- increased gases in abomasum- floats upwards
- decreased rumen motility due to decreased fill and increased VFA causes abomasum to move upwards
- omentum attached to abomasum stretched
- decreased peri-parturient feed intake
- not enough concentrates prior to calving-> papillae and microbes not adapted
TX:
- rolling and blind tacking
- SX: right or left paralumbar fossa omentopexy
- left paralumbar fossa abomasopexy
- right paramedian abomasopexy (recumbent)
- oral or systemic calcium, oral electrolytes, oral propylene glycol, IV dextrose (ketosis), Antibiotics, NSAIDs
Right displaced abomasum: presenting signs clinical signs Risks Treatment
High concentrate/low fibre diet-> Abomasum becomes dilated (atony and accumulation of ingesta)-> dorsally displaced on right
Abomasum twists 180-270 anticlockwise around lesser mesentery->volvulus->irreversible neurovascular and lumen damage
Presenting signs:
- adult dairy cows (few weeks to any time after calving)
- not interested in feed
- reduced/no faeces (+- diarrhea)
- loss of body condition
- not responding to other treatments
Clinical signs:
- increased HR (80-90)
- sudden abdominal pain
- dull (no fever)
- ping on upper right and splashing on lower right last five ribs
- varying ketosis
- reduced rumen contractions
- dehydrated
- hypochloraemic and hypokalaemic metabolic acidosis (trapped in abomasum)
- rectal: can palpate in upper right quadrant. rectum empty cut can find autolysed blood
TX:
- smasmolytic drugs, diet, calcium
- right paramedian abomasopexy
- right flank pyloropexy or omentopexy
- incise, reduce abomasum, replace in abdominal cavity and three layer closure (first stitch including abomasum)
- (L of paravertebral block) lignocaince, flunixin meglumine (analgesia), aftercare: oxytetracycline, oral propylene glyocol, electrolytes
PX: poor if >15% dehydrated, abomasum is necrotic, HR >120
Differentials for left sided pings
LDA atonic gas pneumoperitoneum air in uterus (physometra) check: - stomach tube- pH of contents - rectal exam (rumen contents) -
Differentials for right sided pings
RDA (dilation and volvulus)
Dilation, torsion or volvulus of caecum
Distention of proximal colon
Intestinal tympany- post-partum ileus, intussusception or torsion of root of mesentery
Torsion of coiled colon
Pneumoperitoneum, air in rectum and uterus
Abomasal ulceration Types Risks Clinical presentation DD Treatment
Subclinical- erosions with no perforation
Ulceration with intraluminal haemorrhage
Perforated ulceration with local peritonitis
Perforated ulceration with diffuse peritonitis
Risks:
- dairy cows 6 weeks post calving
- dairy calves on bucket feeding
- transition from milk to high fibre feeding
- silage and concentrate
- inappetence->low pH
Clinical signs: Severe: - inappetance and reduced rumen activity - low milk yield - intermittent diarrhea - pain (grinding teeth) esp. on palpation of lower right abdomen below rib - ketosis - loud fast HR - fast shallow RR - pale mm - Weak and collapse - melaena (~24 hours)
Localised peritonitis:
- mild fever
- significantly reduced milk
- pain on right ventral abdomen
- anorexia
- reduced rumen activity
Acute diffuse septic peritonitis:
- cold extremities
- fast HR, RR
- intense pain
- recumbency, death
DDx:
- intussuscetpion (decreased faeces and increased PCV)
- duodenal ulceration
- jejunal haemorrhage syndrome
- acute traumatic reticuloperitonitis
TX: supportive
- Iv fluids
- NSAID contraindicated
- blood transfusion
Causes of dietary abomasal impaction
High fibre (poor quality) in winter
- anorexia
- poor BCS masked by right abdominal distention
- increased RR, HR, expiratory grunt
- dry , scant faeces
DD: vagus indigestion, twins, hydroallantois, chronic peritonitis
Physical impaction: pylorus
large phytobezoars: chronic diarrhea and ill thrift
small phytobezoars: complete obstruction
- sudden milk drop
- gradual distention
- fluid splashing
- pasty and scant faeces
Abomasitis and abomasal distention
Uncommon. calves <1 month
Diffuse inflammation and gas accumulation
CS:
- depression
- rapid distention
- high HR
- colic
- death
Risks:
- too much milk
- poor milk hygiene (clostridium perfringens)
- irregular feeding times
- milk temperature
Difficult to reduce with stomach tube
Calves: right sided abdominal distention DD
Right dilation and volvulus of abomasum
Abomasal bloat syndrome
Intestinal: torsion, intussusception or obstruction
Abominal examination
Visual Palpate Auscultate Auscultate + percuss Ballot Auscultate + ballot Rectal
Special:
- grunt test
- stomach tube
- ruminocentesis
- abdominocentesis
- lab work
- diagnostic imaging
- ex lap
Ruminal indigestion
Pathophysiology
Risks
Clinical symptoms
Microbes not adapted (need 1-2 weeks)
- wet feed
- frost, overheated, sour
- concentrates
- antibiotics (kill microbes)
- indigestible roughage
CS:
- decreased rumen activity (tympany)
- large doughy rumen
- afebrile
- anorexia
- slight milk drop
- small faeces and then malodourous
- rumen pH <6 or >7
- protozoa number and size in rumen decreased
- multiple animals
TX;
- spontaneous recovery
- good hay
- 1-2mg/kg epsom salts
- gastric stimulant powder orally
- Vitamin B
Prevent:
- gradual adaptation
Primary or frothy bloat
Lush, high protein legumes: rye grass, clover and lucerne
excess gas production and increased viscocity in rumen-> Gas bubbles trapped in foam->cannot erructate->cardia doesn’t relax and gas cannot escape to oesophagus
Presenting signs:
- left paralumbar fossa distention 1 hr post feeding
- abdominal pain: kicking, up and down, bellowing
- one animal
Clinical signs:
- rumen hypomotility
- severe respiratory distress, tongue out
- vomit frothy rumen contents
PM:
- ab distension
- blood tinged exudate
- hemorrhage, oedema, congestion of muscles in head and neck
- bloat line in oesophagus
TX;
- careful remove from pasture and supplement
If not lifethreatening: -> bloat oil (alcohol or pluronic based, or paraffin, mineral or vegetable oil)
If in severe resp distress: -> emergency ruminotomy (if large need sutures) + antibiotics
can pass tube easily but no gas
Prevention;
- gradual introduction to (genetically selective bloat safe) pastures
- antifoaming agents: tallow detergents, bloat oil, paraffin,
- alcohol ethoxylate- based preffered
- spray on feed, add in water, on flank, in blocks, oral
Secondary or gaseous bloat
causes
possibilities passing a stomach tube
Free gas trapped in dorsal sac of rumen
From physical or functional obstruction
Often chronic and recurrent o
Acute: physical obstruction, oesophageal groove (placenta)
Chronic: lesions affecting cardia (fibro-papillomas), reticulum (peritonitis, vagus indigestion) oesophageal groove (actinobacillus)
tetanus and hypocalacemia
calves following weaning
Recumbency- prevents erructation
Occasionally lesions compressing oesophagus: enlarged Ln and lymphoma
Tubing:
- easily passed, no gas= primary bloat
- cannot pass= obstruction
- passed with resistance, release gas= oesophageal compression, distortion of cardia
- passed easily, release gas= tetanus, hypocalcaemia, ruminal stasis, ruminitis, weak contractions due to ruminal distention
Per-acute ruminal acidosis
Ingestion of readily digestible carbohydrates and not enough saliva
- lactate (D and L) up to 300mmol/L (5 normal)
- defaunation of rumen fluid and overpopulation of G+ acid consuming lactic acid producing (lactobaccilus and streptococcus bovis)
- large amounts of VFA produced, overwhelm the pH regulators
- increased osmolarity in rumen, draws in fluid from EV-> dehydration
- Lactate absorbed in circulation->metabolic acidosis
Decreased pH->ruminal stasis and mild bloat
Fusobacterium can invade during chemical ruminitis->abscess to liver
Laminitis due to vasoconstriction
Risks:
- digestion rate: wheat>barley>oats>maize>sorghum
- not adapted to feed
- fine milling
Clinical signs:
- not eating, dull, ataxic
- rumen activity low
- HR up to 120
- rumen distented
- splashing and tinkling
- colic and bruxism
- rumen contents: milky green to brown- pH <5
- malodourous diarrhea
- Neruo: head pressing, staggering
TX:
- 5-10L water + 1g/kg of alkalising agent and then every 12 hrs at 0.25-0.5g/kg
- keep them moving
- severe: rumenotomy and lavage
- access to good feed, not water
- procaine penicillin (rumen and systemic)
- NSAID (endotox)
- calcium borogluconate (hypocalcaemia)
- Vitamin B- prevent PEM
- Rumen transfaunation (3L)
Subacute ruminal acidosis
Sudden change in milk diet: increased starch and inadequate fibre
pH: 5-5.5
Proprionate and butyrate increasing and less acetate
Microflora mainly G-, G+ rising
VFA overwhelm absorption capacity
Herd signs:
- intermittent diarrhea with undigested food particles
- low milk fat
- <50% less cud chewing
- > 30% have rumen pH less than 5.5
- laminitis
Ruminal fluid from oral or nasal intubation or rumenocentesis: 20 cranial to last rib at height of patella
Preventing:
- adaptation to diet
- adequate NDF (effectiveNDF >32% and forage supplies 80%)
high risk: buffers (sodium bicarbonate), neutralising agents (magnesium oxide), antibiotics (virginiamycin) and rumen modifiers (monensin sodium)
Putrefection:
- sour feed ingested
- rumen stasis, distension and alkalosis, mild tympany, ammonia smelling and foamy rumen contents,
- milk gulped into rumen and putrefies
Traumatic reticulo-peritonitis
Foreign bodies:
- sit on floor of reticulum
- cause inflammation and mild clinical disease
- penetrate and cause peritonitis
- migrate into peritoneal and thoracic cavity-> vagus indigestion, pleurisy, abscessation
CS:
- anorexia
- sudden milk drop
- mild ruminal tympany
- arched back, abdominal tension, pain, grunt
- 40-40.5 degrees
- increase HR >90, vagus indigestion <70
- shallow and rapid breathing
- constipation
- symptoms last few days and stop when fibrosis stops movement
- neutrophilia + left shift
- decreased protein: fibrin
- lymphocytopenia
Pericardium involved:
- oedema (ventral, submandibular and brisket)
- muffled heart sounds
- jugular vein distended
- fluid splashing
TX;
- week antibiotics
- cage rest
- rumen magnet
- Exploratory laparotomy and removal
Vagus indigestion
Chronic onset Damage to vagus never, Mechanical restriction to Reticulum motility or oesophageal groove dysfunction - anterior peritonitis - liver or mediastinum abscess - fibropapilloma on cardia - LN - ruptured diaphragm - actinobacillus on reticular wall - pleurisy - outflow problems (RDA, AV)
CS:
- papple shaped abdominal (forestomach) distention- ventral sac extends to right side- L shaped
- gradual milk loss
- bradycardia <50
- poor BCS
- pasty faeces, diarrhea, scant
- froth in rumen
- failure to
- obtruction to cardia or oesophagus
- failure of omasal transport
- failure of abomasal outflow
TX:
- treat underlying cause
- rumenotomy- explore
- ruminal fistulations if chronic bloat
- stomach tube to relieve distention
- salvage slaughter
Rumen fluke: paramphistomonas
No problem in rumen and reticulum as adults
Weakness, diarrhea and death in larval states migrating through SI and abomasum
Mainly younger animals
- Oxyclozanide
Colic
Severe ruminal tympany ruminal acidosis Intussusception Phytobezoar Incarceration Volvulus Intestinal and abomasal volvulus Caecal tosion, volvulus and dilation
CS:
- uneasy, treading hind limb, kicking at abdomen, up and down, twisting and turning, throwing themselves on the ground
Spasmolidic: spontaneous
- observed in dairy cows at milking and calves at feeding
- spasmolytic drug
Abdominal pain not associated with GIT
Urolithiasis, pyelonephritis
Peritonitis
Photosensitisation
uterine torsion
Intussusception
Presenting signs
Clinical signs
Treatment
Most common cause of SI obstruction
calves: diarrhea and strong straining
Presenting signs:
- colic (sawhorse stance)
- sudden drop of milk production
- signs will decrease as the intussusception sloughs
- scant faeces->blood and thickened mucous
Clinical signs:
- distended right abdomen
- rectal: empty but can feel distended loops
- Increased HR, RR->normal->HR increases again
- dehydration-> hypochloraemic, hypokalaemic metabolic acidosis
TX:
- right flank laparotomy-> exteriorise and resect intussuscepted bowel with good margins -> cushings for end to end anastamosis-> flush with saline-> close
- pre-op analgesia, paravertebral nerve block and antibiotics
Intestinal volvulus
Calves 3-6 weeks old- red gut (rapid fermentation lactose forming gas)
Presenting signs:
- sudden milk drop
- colic
- bilateral ab distention
- occasionally right paralumbar fossa distended
- normal and then scant or mucoid faeces
Clinical signs:
- increasing HR
- increased temp
- rectal: distended loops
- definitive Dc rare (fast progression)
- dehydrated and recumbent (circ failure)
- sudden death in calves
TX:
- IV fluids and antibiotics
- right paralumbar fossa- liberal incision
- untwist volvulus
Phytobezoars
Usually fibre balls in abomasum, can move to prox duodenum or any SI if small enough
Presenting signs:
- colic
- milk drop
Clinical signs:
- green rumen fluid at nose
- mayonaise like faeces
- fluid splashing
Treatment:
- right paralumbar laparotomy
- paracostal nerve block
- feel for pylorus and then down (commonly in ascending duodenum)
- incise over ball, then use double inverting cushing, connell with 0-dexon, swaged on, round needle
Trichobezoars
Hair ball in abomasal or blocking pylorus
- lice and winter coat
Caecal dilation, volvulus and torsion
High concentrates, low roughage (or not adapted)
Undigested starches into caecam->VFA reduce motility ->lower pH-> gas trapped ->dilation (and displacement) or volvulus (apex moves cranially)
if impacted->torsion
Presenting signs:
- high producing dairy cow within 60 days of parturition
- reduced milk, feed intake
- mild abdominal pain
- reduced faeces
Clinical signs: dilation
- right abdomen distended
- ping from tuber coxae to rib 11
- RECTAL: blind end of caecum into pelvic cavity pathognomonic
- fluid splashing
- normal rumination
Clinical signs: volvulus (more acute)
- increased HR, RR
- sharp milk decline
- anorexia
- ping in larger area than dilation (paralumbar)
- rectal: distended caecum
- dehydration
- scant faeces
Medical TX for dilation only:
- SX if >90HR, abdominal pain doesn’t subside
- buscopan IV (spasmolytic) and calcium borogluconate withhold feed for 24 hours and then good quality hay
SX:
- pre-op analgesia
- right flank laparotomy
- exteriorise and drain caecum (milk intra-abdominal portion towards incision)
- close and replace
- pull omentum over caudally
Torsion:
same SX, more difficult
- may need to resect devitalised tissue
