Neonatal Diseases Flashcards
What are the differentials for a “sick” neonatal ruminant
- Weak calf syndrome
- *Septicemia (and its manifestations)
- Congenital abnormality
- Diarrhea (and associated metabolic derangements)
- Respiratory disease
What is the most important factor in preventing neonatal septicemia?
Administration of high quality colostrum and ensuring adequate passive transfer
What evaluated in the head of a sick neonatal ruminant
- Cranial Nerve Evaluation
- Facial Expression (CN VII)
- Eyeball Movement (CN III, IV, VI, VII)
- Vision (CN II)
- Suckle reflex (CN V, VII, IX,XII)
- Hydration status
- Capillary refill time
- Skin tent
- Eyeball recession
- Mucus membrane color, moisture, CRT
- Oral lesions (proliferative lesions (Orf) erosions (BVDV), cleft palate, petechiae
- Breath odor (necrotic laryngitis)
- Airflow through both nostrils (absent ~ choanal atresia)
What evaluated in the ears/eyes of a sick neonatal ruminant
- Eyelid position (entropion, ectropion)
- Sclera (injection, icterus)
- Cornea/anterior chamber (ulcers, uveitis, hypopion, hyphema, congenital cataracts & micropthalmia (BVDV) dermoids)
- Dropping ear (otitis 2° to Mycoplasma spp, Pasteurella spp, or Haemophilus spp
What eye conditions indicate sepsis in neonatal ruminants
- Scleral injection
- Uveitis
- Hypopion
What is evaluated during thoracic auscultation in a sick neonatal ruminant
- Cardiac arrythmia
- Sporadic in neonates 2° to hyperkalemia associated with neonatal calf diarrhea
- Cardiac murmur
- VSD most common congenital cardiac abnormality in calves
- Pulmonary auscultations
- increased breath sounds and advential sounds noted w/ pneumonia
When a sick neonatal ruminant is being evaluated, what is being looked for when evaluating the abdomen?
- Contour
- Slow distension + decreased appetite seen with atresia of the GI tract
- Distension also secondary to generalized peritonitis from perforating abomasal ulcers in calves
- Succusion
- important for identification of neonates with a dissented viscus
- Umbilicus
- hernia of the umbilicus is common and hereditary
- warm, swollen and painful umbilicus is an indicator of infection
When a sick neonatal ruminant is being evaluated, what is being looked for when evaluating the musculoskeletal system?
- Evidence of birthing trauma
- fractured ribs
- broken limbs
- broken mandible, etc
- Palpate all joints
- joint infection is a common sequela to neonatal septicemia
- Angular limb deformities
- spider lamb disease
- chondrodysplastic syndromes, etc
How do weak neonatal ruminants often clinically present?
- Hypothermia
- Hypoglycemia
- Metabolic acidosis
- Severe metabolic derangement
- hypernatremia
- hyperkalemia
What is Septicemia?
- Invasion of the bloodstream by virulent microorganisms. especially bacteria, and associated toxins from a local site of infection
- 3rd most common cause of neonatal calf mortality
What factors are associated with impaired neutrophil function in calves
- Decreased neutrophil receptors
- Increased cortisol during 1st 10 days of life
- Dampened neutrophil chemotaxis during cold weather
- Depressed neutrophil function from protein energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies
What happens when bacteria release endotoxins in the body?
septicemia may result form bacterial colonization of?
- GI tract
- Respiratory tract
- Umbilicus
What is the clinical presentation of neonatal septicemia?
- Signalment: calf 2-8 days of age
- Altered mentation (depressed)
- Weak to absent suckle reflex
- Hyperemic mucous membranes
- Scleral injection
- +/- abnormal rectal temperature
- Tachycardia
- Tachypnea
What hematologic abnormalities are associated with septicemia?
- abnormal neutrophil count
- Band neutrophils
- Hyperfibrinogenemia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Hypoglycemia
- Metabolic acidosis (lactic acidosis)
What considerations should be made when selecting an antibiotic for neonatal septicemia?
- Be legal
- Be quick (administrate ASAP)
- Be broad (gram -, but broad)
- Route (IV)
- Cidal vs Static
