Ruminant GI Disease, Pt. 2 Flashcards
What are the 2 general types of bloat? What are the major etiologies?
- free gas
- frothy
- diets high in soluble proteins, like alfalfa, clover, and winter wheat, cause bubbles to develop
- feedlot diets high in grain increase mucinolytic and slime bacteria, which also cause bubbles to develop and frothy bloat
What causes free gas bloat? What are some examples?
anything that disrupts or prevents eructation
- lack of rumen motility
- positional
- blockage of the esophagus
- disruption of the vagus nerve - abscesses, hardware, cancer, enlarged LNs
How is bloat diagnosed?
pass a tube
- gas released = gas bloat
- no gas released = small bloat, frothy bloat
What farm animal commonly looks bloated?
pigmy/dwarf goat breeds –> normal conformation
What clinical signs are associated with bloat?
- distention of left paralumbar fossa
- dyspnea, severe respiratory distress
- death
- uncomfortable
Which type of bloat is easier to treat successfully with no recurrence? Which one does a “home remedy” work best on?
frothy - typically due to diet
frothy - Therabloat (poloxalene), detergent or vegetable oil deposited at the cardia (8th ICS) + walk the cow to mix medication in the rumen
Why is it important to reduce pressure on the diaphragm in cases of bloat?
allows cow to breath comfortably
In what type of bloat are trocars useful?
free gas, use in cases of life or death
- places in L paralumbar fossa
How is free gas bloat treated?
- correct the problem that causes the bloat - get sternal
- agonal = trocharization
What is prognosis of bloat like?
- frothy = good once treated
- free gas = typically recurs
How can antemortem and postmortem bloat be differentiated?
ANTEMORTEM = pressure in chest causes decreased venous return, resulting in a bloat line to develop
What are 5 options for controlling frothy bloat?
- limit legume pasture access
- Bloat Guard - poloxalene given daily
- fill cows with grass hay before turnout
- never let hungry cattle graze legumes
- monensin - reduce bloat potential by altering rumen microflora
What are the best 3 options for controlling feedlot bloat?
- provide at least 10-15% roughage
- avoid overfeeding
- avoid fine grinding of grains, which promotes frothiness
(poloxalene not very effective)
What should an owner of a choked cattle do prior to the time a vet can arrive if the animal is in distress?
a. pass a tube
b. trocarize the rumen
c. give banamine
d. put cow in a dark room
B
All of the following are control measures for frothy bloat except…
a. Bloat Guard
b. limit access to pasure
c. feed finely ground grain and some hay prior to turning out on problem pasture
d. fill with grass hay and limited amounts of whole corn prior to turning out on problem pasture
e. feed ionophores
C
finely ground grain makes it worse
What signs are indicative of simple indigestion? Where is percussion heard?
- off feed and milk
- abnormal rumen motility
- diarrhea
- dehydration
high up on the right side by the last couple ribs ~12” in diameter, comes and goes –> where duodenum is found
What are 3 causes of simple indigestion? How can it be diagnosed? What must be ruled out?
- overconsumption of nonfood
- overeating damaged feed - bottom of silo is poorly mixed
- sudden change in feed
(rarely a herd problem)
check rumen pH and protozoa
DAs, lactic acidosis, ketosis, hardware
What are 3 parts of treating simple indigestion? What is prognosis like?
- restore rumen flora
- laxatives
- fluids
good - most recover within a few days
What 3 feeds are associated with simple indigestion? How is it prevented?
- new silage - improperly fermented
- bottom of silo
- moldy feeds
only feed quality feed and change gradually
What signs are associated with ruminal acidosis?
- depression
- staggering
- hyper to atonic rumen
- anorexia
- fluid-filled rumen - hard to feel fiber
- diarrhea, dehydration
EMERGENCY, commonly happens in a group
What causes ruminal acidosis?
overconsumption of carbohydrates (CHOs) in grain, silage, or bread causes the Gram+ organisms in the rumen to produce lactic acid –> decreases rumen pH causing the G- organisms and protozoa to die (eventually G+ too)
Why does ruminal acidosis cause a splashy rumen? What is a common sequela?
rumen osmotic pressure increases and D-lactate increases, which draws fluid into the rumen –> oral fluids NOT recommended
acid damages rumen mucosa and sets up a secondary bacterial and fungal infection –> liver abscesses, caudal vena cava syndrome
Ruminal acidosis is suspected in a herd. What test can confirm suspicions the fastest?
a. CBC
b. chemistry profile
c. blood gas
d. rumen pH
e. smell of rumen contents
D
normally >5.5 –> more roughage = higher
What is the best option for diagnosing rumen acidosis?
rumen tap
- protozoa will be dead
- pH < 5.5
How is ruminal acidosis treated?
- IV fluids - bicarbonate
- antibiotics - PPG into rumen to prevent liver abscesses
- NSAIDs - enterotoxemia
- empty rumen - shop vac, Kingman tube flush
- neutralize rumen - magnesium sulfate, MgOH
- thiamine
- transfaunation
What sequela are associated with ruminal acidosis? What is prognosis like?
- liver abscesses
- abortion
- polioencephalitis
- laminitis
most treated in a timely manner recover –> get fluids started ASAP
What is SARA?
subclinical ruminal acidosis
repeated insult of <5.5 pH, but not a downer or sick –> rumen wall still affected and can lead to vena cava syndrome
Which lactate is associated with ruminal acidosis?
D-lactate
(worse than L lactate)