Ruminal Lactic Acidosis

Question 1

two 2yo pygmy goats were found lethargic and anorexic, one was regurgitating. they’re both typically kept in a dry lot, and fed ad lib hay and one cup of grain.

PE Findings: splashy rumens, cold extremities, negative menace, positive PLR, pale/tacky MM, CRT 3sec

LIST SOME DIFFERENTIALS

Answer 1

acute ruminal acidosis
plant toxicity
mineral toxicity
pneumonia

Question 2

what would you diagnose with based on the diagnostic test results?

Answer 2

ACUTE RUMINAL LACTIC ACIDOSIS

Question 3

you run a blood gas analysis and receive these results. what can you conclude from it?

Answer 3

metabolic acidosis

Question 4

what effect does highly digestible CHO have on ruminal environment?

Answer 4

VERY LOW pH kills rumen microbes
increase in VFA and lactate
kill protozoa
eventually grow fungi

Question 5

explain dehydration when the rumen is full of fluid

Answer 5

due to the gram positive “bad” bacteria forming in the rumen, which causes all of the water to be pulled into abdomen
**increased osmolarity

Question 6

what diet type causes acute ruminal acidosis?

Answer 6

highly fermentable CHO&raquo_space;> multisystemic disease

Question 7

ingestion of ___ occurs at pH 7

Answer 7

CHO

Question 8

increased ___ -> mild drop in pH causes growth of S. bovis and death of gram ___
pH 5.5

Answer 8

increased VFA
gram negative

Question 9

strep bovis -> lactic acid -> decrease pH, causes death of lactate using ___
pH 5

Answer 9

bacteria

Question 10

pH <4.5 causes continued death of ___ and ___, causing ___ lactic acid

Answer 10

gram negative and protozoa
MORE lactic acid

Question 11

lactate ___ rumen osmolality

Answer 11

increases

Question 12

what are the main effects of ruminal lactic acidosis?

Answer 12

rumen stasis (increased VFA and LA)
dehydration
diarrhea
acidosis
chemical rumenitis
liver abscesses
endotoxemia

Question 13

what is chemical rumenitis?

Answer 13

lactic acid is highly corrosive
epithelial necrosis/sloughing
fungal/bacterial invade
travel to liver via portal vein

Question 14

what is endotoxemia?

Answer 14

death of large numbers of gram negative flora

Question 15

what are the treatment goals for rumen lactic acidosis in goats?

Answer 15

remove undigested CHO
correct systemic and ruminal acidosis
fluid and electrolyte replacement
reduce endotoxemia effects
restore rumen environment
prevent development of SEQUELAE

Question 16

what is sequelae?

Answer 16

long term effects

Question 17

what are the “five M’s” to be concerned about in a post-partum down cow?

Answer 17

mastitis
metritis
musculoskeletal/neuro problem
metabolic problems
massive sepsis