Production Animal ESE Flashcards
Describe the steps for physical exam (areas of the cow)
Tail -> urine, blood, temp, RR, BCS
Right Side
Head
Left side
Tail - repro/MM
HR for cow
60-80
Temp for cow
38-39
RR for cow
25
How is ketosis diagnosed? What are the ketone bodies?
Ketone bodies in blood plasma, milk and urine. Milk and urine are diagnosed 2d later than blood
Beta hydroxybutyrate - blood
Acetoacetate - urine
Pathophysiology of ketosis - cause, results in
Cause -> inadequate nutrient supply for fat and carb metabolism needed for lactation
Results in -> Hypoglycaemia, reduced milk yield, low BW, ketone bodies in fluids
May be clinical or subclinical (ketonuria or ketonemia without clinical signs)
What are clinical signs in ketosis caused by?
Hypoglycaemia rather than mobilisation of ketones
What can ketosis occur secondary to?
LDA, RDA, lameness, metritis
2 types of ketosis
type 1 -> high yielding dairy cows 2-8wks post calving due to inad. intake
Type 2 -> occurs within 2 wks of calving due to excess fat deposition into the liver in late pregnancy resulting in insulin resistance
6 risk factors for ketosis
Feeding poor quality silage with high butyrate concentrations
Poor rumen function
SARA
Cows with BCS >3.5 at calving
High protein diet
High milk production demands
5 treatments of ketosis
- Propylene glycol -> gluconeogenesis 300ml/d
- Dextrose -> 500ml 40-50%. IV bolus for hypoglycaemia. Only effective short term
- Steroids -> dexamethasone to get hyperglycaemic state. But immunosuppressive
- Insulin -> used with glucocorticoids, suppress NEFA, long acting done again 24-48h later
- B12 -> appetite stimulant
Ideal treatment plan for ketosis
- 500ml dextrose 4% IV
- Single injection of corticosteroid
- Oral propylene glycol BID for 4d (200ml BID)
Liver abscess formation - how, why, where can they go?
Cattle fed high grain diets are at risk, generally form from infection with anaerobic bacteria (fusobacterium, truperella) that contain leukotoxins
Enter liver in portal vein, hepatic artery or bile duct, or from site of trauma
Occur following ruminitis (after acidosis)
Caudal vena cava syndrome -> gut infected, to liver, to lungs
Clinical signs and diagnosis of liver abscess
Anorexia
Ultrasound, CBC, biochem, elevated GGT, SDH, hyperbilirubinaemia, elevated serum proteins, hypoglycaemia, hypoalbuminaemia
Treatment of liver abscess
Peniciliin and macrolides, but cattle rarely treatment as recovery is rare
Prevention of liver abscesses
In feed antimicrobials
Vaccinate for fusobacterium and arcanobacterium pyogenes
Manage grain feeding to prevent acidosis
Gross pathology of liver abscess
Purulent spheres encapsulated in thick fibrotic walls
Hyperaemia around abscess
Pyogranulomatous abscesses
Aetiology of fatty liver syndrome - who, risk factors
Occurs in high producing dairy cows (month after parturition)
Risk factors -> increased BCS, NEB due to fetal growth lactation, feed consumption, disease
Hypoglycaemia = decreased insulin and glucagon which converts tissue fat to FFAs, NEFAs and glycerol. Glycerol has role in oxaloecetate which if deficient, we get ketone production
Large amounts of body fat mobilised, liver overwhelmed and stores TG in hepatocytes
Risk factors for fatty liver syndrome
Change to milking diet
Decreased feed intake
Low protein diets
Concurrent illness
Clinical signs of fatty liver syndrome
Obese cow, depression, anorexia, weight loss, weakness, decreased rumen motility and milk production
Diagnosis of fatty liver syndrome
Liver biopsy
CBC, biochem -> increased liver enxymes, leukopaenia, degen. left shift, NEFA increased, decreased TG and cholesterol
Treatment of fatty liver syndrome
IV glucose -> 100-200mg/kg/h to induce insulin
Insulin
Glucagon (too spenny)
Corticosteroids
Polypropylene glycol
Make them eat
Transaunation of ruminal fluid
Reasons for an LDA occuring and how
Pregnancy -> pushes rumen cranially and dorsally allowing abomasum to shift to the left
Decreased feed intake -> lack of rumen fill
Following birth -> rumen fails to fill void, omentum on abomasum is stretched, abomasal atony allowing gas to fill
Feed low in fibre increase VFA = atony and gas
Risk factors -> ketosis, feed intake, grain, hypocalcaemia, excess BCS
Clinical signs of a LDA
Anorexia, abdominal pain, abscense of rumination
Decline in milk
Calving in last month
Reduced feed intake
Soft faeces, sunken paralumbar fossa, OR
Buldge in upper left PLF (severe cases)
Diagnosis of an LDA
Ping over 9-12th rib on LHS
Rumen tinkle on ballottment of lower abdomen behind last rib
Biochem-> hypochloraemia, hypokalaemia, metabolic alkalosis
Abomasal fluid sample no protozoa, pH <4
Treatment of LDA
Abomasopexy
Ometopexy
Percutaenous tacks
RDA aetiology
Unknown - more likely atony
Gas, feed and liquid causes it to swell and go dorsal
Occurs 3-6 weeks post calving
Same risk factors as LDA
RDA clinical signs
SAme as LDA
Reduced amount of diarrhoea faeces, may be melena
Elevated HR - volvulus can be up to 140
Dehydration
DDx volvulus -> decreased peripjheral circulation, pale MM, auscultation large gas fill in upper right quadrant of abdomen
RDA diagnosis
Metabolic alkalosis - hypochloraemia, hypokalaemia
Percussion and auscultation over right middle to upper 1/3 of abdomen gets ping
Tinkles under last 5 ribs - rarely extends to paralumbar fossa
Volvulus we get haemoconcentration
RDA treatment
Omentopexy or pyloropexy
Abomasal ulcer formation and location
Greater curvature
Multifactorial - stress mainly, viral causes (BVDV)
High producing cows (stress)
Prolonged inappetance causing sustained low pH in abomasum
4 types of abomasal ulcers
non-perforating
Non-perforating with severe bloodloss
Perforating with local peritonitis
Perforating with diffuse peritonitis
Risk factors for abomasal ulcers
Stress and high grain diets
Clinical signs of abomasal ulcers
Abdominal pain
Anorexia
Decreased rumen motiity
Mild ruminal tympany
GIT haemorrhage
Decreased milk yield
Diagnosis of abomasal ulcers
Faecal occult blood
Abdominocentesis
Decreased PCV with severe bloodloss
Rarely diagnosed antemortem
Treatment of abomasal ulcers
Treatment unrealistic
Antacids limited value
Abomasal impaction - what, clinical signs, treatment
Feed poor quality and fibrous with limited water access causes blockage
Anorexia, scant faeces, distended abdomen, expiratory grunt
Treatment -> fluids, paraggin, abomasotomy
Haemorhagic bowel syndrome aetiology
Acute segmental intraluminal haemorrhage with secondary obstruction to the SI due to clots and sloughing of the jejunum
Pathgenesis unknown
Multifactorial -> feed intake, density, pH of GIT, parity, clostridium perfringens type A is normal commensal, isolated in cases but not primary cause
Risk factors for haemorrhagic bowel syndrome
Management practices
Latation - first 100DIM
Feeding high energy diet and low fibre
Large herds
Clinical signs of haemorrhagic bowel syndrome
Affected animals may be found dead, recumbant or in systemic collapse, still standing but weak and depressed
Decline in production, anorexia, sunken eyes, shock
Rapid progression
MM pale or congested, hypovolaemic shock
Teeth grinding, ruminal distention, dec contractions, dec faecal output, melena, constipation or diarrhoea with clots
Ballottment of lower R abdomen = splashing sound from backed up ingesta
Diagnosis of haemorrhagic bowel syndrome
Laparotomy or PM
Transabdominal ultrasound has intestinal obstruction - distended intestinal loops, blood clots, appear and hyperechoic structures in the lumen
DDx - salmonellosis, intussusception, abomasal haemorrhage + ulceration or volvulus
Bloods -> neutropaenia with marked left shift, hypocal, hyponat, hypokal
Haemorrhagic bowel syndrome gross pathology
May not have time for clinical pathology as disease is acute
Distinct section of jejunum distended by large clots occluding lumen
Necrosis of mucosa maybe
Haemorrhagic bowel syndrome treatment
Medical emergency, antibiotics ineffective
IV fluids + calcium, NSAID and corticosteroids for pain and shock
Surgery -> poor prognosis. Remove clot via enterotomy or intestinal resection or manual massage of affected area to break clot
Prevention of haemorrhagic bowel syndrome
Feed adequate fibre length and quantity
Intestinal phytobezoars (intestinal obstruction) - pathogenesis and clinical signs
Pastures with onion grass
Obstruction due to phytobezoars occurs spring/summer after they dominate in autumn
Large ones lodge in abomasum, smaller in SI
Signs -> fluid + electrolyte loss into lumen proximal to obstruction. Abdominal pain, HR and temp normal but increase with dehydration, sudden and severe decline in milk.
Ballottment of right side fluid splashing. Grey/yellow pasty faeces with foul smell. May have nasal discharge
Diagnosis of intestinal phytobezoars
History of onion weeds
Cow suddenly off milk with yellow pasty faeces and fluid in intestines
Ex lap -> via right paralumbar fossa
Intestinal volvulus - types
Physical obstruction of intestinal lumen - twisting of segment causing strangulation of blood supply
Two types:
1. Segmental volvulus of jejuno-ileum
2. Volvulus up to 360 degrees of small and large intestine around root of mesentery
Intestinal volvulus - causes
Unknown
Rolling of cow to correct uterine torsion or LDA
Calves -> excessive feeding of reconstituted milk replacer. Excess flow out of abomasum into SI, rapid lactose fermentation and gas production
Clinical signs of intestinal volvulus
Sudden onset
Severe colic
Bilateral ab. distenstion, multiple areas of tympanic resonsance over R abdomen at paralumbar fossa and extending over the ribs
Faeces nromal then scant/absent
Elevated rectal temo, HR, rapid dehydration and recumancy
Multiple gas distended loops in SI on rectal exam
Death in 12 hours
Treatment of intestinal volvulus
Courageous surgery but may recover
R paralumbar fossa approach standing -> liberal vertical incision , see distended SI, follow mesentery to root and find site and direction of twist to reposition.
IV fluids and antibiotics after
Death post surgery due to release of toxins sequestered in occluded bowel
Colic aetiology - cause, signs
Severe paraoxsymal pain due to abdominal organ
Discomfort, kicking, lying down, up and down,
Less likely than horses to develop intestinal ischaemia due to thick mesenteric fat layer
Mild, moderate or severe
Moderate colic causes
Intussusception, volvulus or incarceration
Severe colic causes
Rarely observed in cattle
Torsion of mesenteric root
Extreme pain signs
Spasmodic colic clinical signs
Severe and sudden onset with intesne pain
Cardinal signs normal, abdominal sounds increased
Treatment -> Spasmolytic drug and/or sedative like xylazine. Should recover in 4-6h if not needs re-exam
What is paralytic ileus?
A state of functional obstruction of intestines or failure of peristalsis mimicking complete physical intestinal obstruction
May be localised or affect whole small and large intestines. Common cause of failure to pass faeces in dairy cattle
Pathogenesis of paralytic ileus
loss of intestinal tone and motility due to reflex inhibition
Causes -> acute peritonitis, prolonged distension from enteritis, surgery outcome, Severe toxaemia, electrolyte disturbances, dehydration
Pain amd can predispose to secondary torsion of mesentery
Clinical signs of paralytic ileus
Intestinal distention, abdominal pain, dehydration, scant faeces
R abdominal distension and ausculatated pings, splashing and tinkling
Rectal exam -> distended spiral colon, caecum or SI. No faeces passed but rectal glove may be coated with sticky mucus
Diagnose with clinical signs
Treatment of paralytic ileus
Resolve without
Cause dependent -> electrolytes, fluid therapy, IV or SC calcium solution and oral laxative antacids like magnesium hydroxide 0.5-1g/kg repeated daily
NSAIDs for pain control
Surgical decompression of bowel may be required
Intussuception aetiology
Strong peristalsis (calves with diarrhoea) or tumour/inflammatory growth in lumen
Mesentery drawn in occluding blood flow. Dehydration + electrolyte imbalances with toxaemia from sichaemia and necrosis of the bowel
Clinical signs of intussusception
Sudden onset increased HR and RR, off milk and anorexic, colic + pain, rumen stasis, R abdomen enlarges from SI distention
Blood + tarry faeces, recumbency
Diagnosis of intuss.
Dehydration = GI secretions accumulate in gut lumen and hypochloraemia, hypokalaemia, metabolic alkalosis develops
Tarry faeces very indicative
Voluminous peritoneal fluid with high conc. of protein
WBC normal-high depending on degree of peritonitis
Confirmed with ex-lap of R paralumbar fossa
Treatment of intussusception
Surgery -> proximal gut always dilated, fluid filled and distal narrow and empty
Intuss. will be spongy-solid, painful coiled part
Hard to maintain good analgesia and animal will kick and lie down once manipulated
Caecal volvulus/torsion pathogenesis
Atony/hypotony affected caecum starts the disease
Caecum and colon main sites of microbial digestion, so starch escaping forestomach are metabolised here into VFA’s which lower pH of caecal contens and inhibit caecal motility = caecal dilation due to gas = displacement
Diets rich in rumen resistant starches are factor
Apex or posterior 1/3 of caecum is free from mesenteric attachment and most likely involved in torsion
Clinical findings and diagnosis of caecal volvulus vs simple marked dilation
Simple marked dilation -> reduced milk yield, reduced appetite, mild abdominal discomfort, dec faecal output, upper right abdomen near flank distended
- R dorsal area of tympanic resonance from tuber coxae to 11th/12th rib
- Rectal palpation - distended with apex in pelvic cavity
Caecal volvulus -> R abdomen marked distended, varying degrees of dehydration, scant faeces, ping in right paralumbar fossa extending in greater area than simple marked dilation.
Ping more caudal than right RDA/torsion. R flank ballott shows fluid splashing
Rectal -> distneded body of caecum palpable at entrance to pelvic cavity and apex displaced cranially/medially or laterally.
Treatment options for caecal volvulus
Medical management -> good hay 2-4d recovery. used for simple caecal dilation. Instant coffee 0.5kg oral or parrafin oil. Metamizole IV, bethanechol SC
Surgery -> for severe cases. Indicated with tachycardia >90, marked abdominal pain and scant faeces
Pre-operative requirements for caecal volvulus surgery
Analgesia
Should be eating and pooing in 24h normally
Long term recurrance 10-20%. Can remove apex (free mobile part) so remainder can be more firmly attached to adjacent structures
What does CK indicate, what increases it
Muscle damage
Increased with exercise or long transport
T1/2 4h = prolonged increases mean active and continuing muscle damage
What does AST indicate
Found in high concentrations in muscle (skeletal and cardiac), liver, RBC’s and kidney
Elevations may persist for weeks, useful when compared to more specific tissue enzymes
What does ALP indicate
Sensitive indicator of cholestasis
Slightly elevated in bone disease or fractures
Neonates consuming colostrum may have increase
What does GGT indicate
Cholestasis
Increased with hepatic necrosis and indicative of ongoing hepatic damage
GLDH indicates:
Hepatic necrosis
Indicative of severe hepatocellular damage if increased
Bilirubin may increase due to
Liver failure or haemolytic anaemia (suggested with RBC conc)
Urea - control
Excreted by kidney in glomerular filtration
Excretion in ruminants governed by nitrogen intake and GIT can excrete also
L-Lactate increases may mean
Sepsis
Seen when pH is elevated and in an alkalotic state
BOHB increases mean:
ketosis
Hypermag and Hypomag reasons
Hypermag -> seen commonly in postpartum or over administration
Hypomag -> clinical when <0.4mmol/L (lactation, inappetance)
Causes of hypophosphataemia
Milk fever, post parturient decreased release from bone and increased loss in milk, and starvation
Excreted in urine and faeces
Causes of hyperphosphataemia
Seen in young aniamls
Caused by vitamin D toxicity, haemolysis, anorexia
Calcium is regulated by?
Diet, calcitonin, PTH and vitamin D
Hypocalcaemia is caused by?
Milk fever, hypomag, anorexia
Hypercalcaemia is caused by?
Excess Ca administration or hypervitaminosis D (promotes absorption of Ca and P)
Reasons for hypochloremia
Acid base disturbance
Increasees in bicarbonate
Reasons for hypokalaemia
Depletion of body stores and acute alkalosis
Adminstration of glucose or insulin - shifts potassium into the cell
Hyponatraemia reasons
Diarrhoea, renal losses
Usually seen with urea elevation
Displaced or torsed abomasum biochem
Alkalosis
Hypochloraemia
Hypokalaemia
Hyponatraemia
Dehydration (hyperproteinaemia and PCV)
Abomasal ulcers biochem
Leukocytosis - neutrophilia and hyperfibrinogenaemia if peritonitis there
Liver abscessation biochem
HYPERglobulinaemia, bilirubinaemia and fibrinogenaemia
leukocytosis
Increased GGT and SDH
Hypoalbuminaemia and hypoglycaemia
Ketosis biochem
Hypoglycaemia, high NEFA’s
Ketonuria, ketolactia
High Betahydroxybutyrate in blood
traumatic reticuloperitonitis biochem
Leukocytosis - neutrophilia with left shift
Hyperfibrinogenaemia
Hyperproteinaemia
Normal acid base - except if peritonitis = hypomotility - alkalosis
Vagal indigestion biochem
Peritonitis -> leukocytosis, increased TPP
Hypokalaemia
Parasitic gastoenteritis biochem
Eosinophilia
Hyperproteinaemia
Acute neonatal diarrhoea
Metabolic acidosis
Hyperkalaemia