Neurological Causes of Musculoskeletal Disease in Ruminants Flashcards
What is neurological lameness most closely associated with? How is it treated?
TRAUMA or estrus
quick administration of NSAIDs (> 12 hr can be too late)
What is indicative of spinal abscesses?
dog-sitting + knuckling = losing function of rear end, lacking feeling and ability to pass manure; subtle lameness can look like rabies
- more common in calves
What are 4 common causes of peripheral nerve disorders?
- prolonged lateral recumbency
- dystocia (calf AND cow)
- injections of Tetracycline
- fractures
What is the brachial plexus? What is a common cause of trauma?
network of nerves controlling movement and sensation in the forelimb
forceful pulling or stretching of forelimb
What are the 2 presentations of radial nerve paralysis based on injury?
- higher up = whole limb unable to support weight
- lower = can support weight, flops foot forward when walking
What is indicative of obturator and sciatic nerve damage? How do they compare?
back legs splay out, forcing the cattle into recumbency
SCIATIC = more severe, likely unable to get up
How can further damage to obturator/sciatic nerves be avoided?
proper footing + hobbles
- concrete can become slick, especially in dairies
What nerve is likely damaged?
a. obturator
b. peroneal
c. radial
d. sciatic
e. tibial
f. whole spinal cord
A, D
What nerves are commonly affected by dystocia?
- obturator
- sciatic
- tibial
consider cow AND calf
What is indicative of tibial nerve injury?
dropped hock and knuckled fetlocks on hindlimb of adult cattle
What is indicative of peroneal nerve injury?
knuckling causes calf to walk on pastern or fetlocks on hindlimbs
- NO dropped hock
What nerve is likely damaged?
tibial - adult cow, flexed fetlock with dropped hock
What cattle is most commonly affected by femoral nerve injury? How do they present?
calves with history of pulling (dystocia, trauma)
hunched/crouched appearance
What nerve is likely injured?
femoral - calf, hunched
What nerve is affected?
tibial
- dropped hock
- flexed fetlock
What neve is likely affected?
radial
- likely lower, some weight bearing seen
What commonly causes staggers in cattle? When is this most commonly seen?
Dallisgrass - invasive growth in pasture
not common in winter - plant dies —> late spring into fall allowing for time for the seed heads to grow
How is Dallisgrass Staggers treated?
- remove dallisgrass from pasture
- move individuals into a different pasture with mized forage (dilutes toxin ingestion)
should recover in a few days
A cow has a history of dystocia and has been noted to have splayed hindlimbs. Following lifting in a water rising system, she regained use of the limbs. What nerve was likely affected?
obturator —> splayed, able to get up and weight bear
- sciatic would be much more severe, unlikely to get up
What breed of cattle is commonly affected by progressive ataxia? How long does this typically take to occur?
Charolais - recessive defect
between 6 months to 3 years old
What are the 2 most common clinical signs associated with progressive ataxia of Charolais? What treatment is available?
- progression from slight incoordination to downer status
- abnormal urination, esp females
NONE (confirmed by histopath)
What breed of cattle is most commonly affected by Weaver syndrome? What sign is most common?
(progressive degenerative myelencephalopathy)
Brown Swiss
hindlimb ataxia with a weaving gate, commonly appearing around 6-8 months and progressing to inability to rise
How do cows with spinal LSA present?
crouched, knuckling, 3 legged lameness
(common during parturition)
What parasite is associated with spinal lesions? Why must they be carefully treated?
Hypodermal bovis (H. lineatum migrates toward diaphragm and esophagus) —> sudden or acute downers
part of life is in the spinal cord and killing them can cause an inflammatory reaction
In what species is spinal fracture and trauma common?
cria —> young llamas
What nerve is likely affected?
a. obturator
b. peroneal
c. radial
d. sciatic
e. tibial
B
- knuckling without dropped hock
