Milk drop in a freshly calved cow

Question 1

what is a freshly calved cow?
why does milk drop happen at this stage?

Answer 1

Generally means calved in the last few weeks (up to ~6wks??)
Why: stage where milk yeild is going up quickly and cow can’t eat enough food, NEB

Question 2

what are the common differentials for a cow 2 weeks in milk, no calving problems, that has had a significant drop in milk over the last 2 days?

Answer 2

• Metritis
• Left displaced abomasum
• Primary ketosis
• Traumatic reticuloperitonitis
• Mastitis

Question 3

What are the main differentials for pyrexia in a cow?

Answer 3

• metritis
• mastitis
• pneumonia (incl IBR)
• salmonellosis
• Leptospirosis

Question 4

what are the main differntials for decreased rumen turnover in a cow?

Answer 4

• LDA
• trumatic reticuloperitonitis
• peritonitis
• RDA
• caecal dilation (+/- torsion)
• abomasal torsion

Can be due to pain and thus reduced food intake but main diff are GIT related

Question 5

what are the main differentials for a cow with a ping on percussion auscultation?

Answer 5

• LAD
• RDA
• caecal dilation (+/- torsion)
• Abomasal torsal

Question 6

what is the aetiology, epidemiology and presentatino of peritonitis in cows?

what is the diagnosis and treatment?

Answer 6

Aetiology: Acidosis, perforated abomasal ulcer, chronic LDA/RDA, TRP, uterine or vaginal tear… (etc!)
Epidemiology: usually sporadic
Presentation: tend to be mild/ chronic cf other species, +/- abdominal pain, +/- pyrexia
Diagnosis:
* Can be challenging/by exclusion for chronic diffuse peritonitis
* Tests for TRP may be positive
* +/- pain on rectal examination
* Clin path: neutropaenia, left shift, incr fibrinogen (not all that consistent)
* Ex lap?

Treatment:
* Conservative..
* Antibiotics (>5-7d)
* NSAIDs
* Fluid therapy
* Surgical
* Ex lap – establish cause if possible, debride/lavage…

Question 7

what is the aetiology of caecal dilation?
what is the presentation?
what is the treatment?

Answer 7

Aetiology – poorly understood but possibly associated with decreased GI motility, Caecal atony –> dilation –> torsion
Presentation/diagnosis
* Typical “sick cow”!
* May be colic signs if torsion
* ‘Ping’ caudodorsal R side

Treatment – conservative - NSAIDs, ?calcium
Treatment – surgical
(if unresponsive, signs severe or torsion suspected)
R flank laparotomy, externalise and empty (purse string suture), +/- reposition

Question 8

what is the aetiology of abomasal torsion?
what are the clinical signs?
what is the treatment and prognosis?

Answer 8

Atiology: Usually a complication of an RDA (RDA –> torsion)
Signs: Often colic and more severe systemic signs, R side ‘ping’
Treatment: Surgical correction – R side laparotomy, empty, reposition and pexy
Prognosis guarded