Sudden Death Flashcards
What is sudden death?
Death without clinical signs, looked fine yesterday but dead today, could happen in minutes
What are some things that can help you decide your rule outs for sudden death?
Age and Stage of Cows
Dairy vs. Beef
Juvenile vs Neonate
How do you verify that an animal is dead?
Put a stethoscope on and ensure no heartbeat and check a corneal reflex by touching the eye
Which body systems are most likely to cause sudden death?
Cardiovascular, Neurologic and Respiratory (Repro can and surprised that derm can)
What are some cardiovascular related differentials for sudden death?
-Selenium deficiency/white muscles disease (young animal after exertion)
-Rupture aorta, cranial mesenteric or uterine artery (Prolapse and move)
-Cardiac Tamponade (Hardware, heart tumor)
-Arrythmia
What are some respiratory related differentials for sudden death?
-Pneumonia
-Bloat (diet, positional, choke)
What causes a bloat line?
-ischemia of the cardiac region of the esophagus
-May be artifact in summer time, day in winter, post-mortem
What are some gastrointestinal related differentials for sudden death?
Ruptured Abomasal or cecal ulcer
(Uncomfortable, Cu deficency and c perfingens)
-Bruxism, off feed, dark blood in feces
What are some bacterial related differentials for sudden death?
-Endotoxemia- gram - mastitis (E.coli and pseudomonas, salmonella, grain overload
-Exotoxins - blackleg C Chauvoei
-Enterotoxemia - C Perfringens
-Anthrax (lethal factor and edema factor)
What are some metabolic related differentials for sudden death?
-Hypocalcemia - lack of muscle contraction and nerve conduction
-Hypomagnesemia - nerve conduction and neurologic function
-Salt intoxication/water deprivation - ice or fix broken waterer
What are some exogenous toxins related differentials for sudden death?
Lead, copper in sheep, poisonous plants, urea, monensin, insecticides, rhodedendrum/Azela
What are some Environemtal related differentials for sudden death?
Cold (neonates), Heat Stress (all), Trauma (gunshot or other animal), Lightening
What are good history questions for the owner?
When was the last time you saw the cow, where did you find her, who is she with and how are they, how many today vs over the last week
What are some samples you should take on necropsy?
Lung, Liver, Kidneys, Spleen, Rumen content, urine, eye, bile, blood?
What are common causes of sudden death for the following:
-Lactating Dairy Cows
-Beef Cows
-Weaned Calves
-Neonates
-Lactating:
–Early: LDA, Hypocalcemia, torsion
–Late in Milk, Toxic Mastitis, trauma
-Beef cows: Hypo magnesia, lightening, bloath, salt if no water, toxin
-Weaned Calves - stress BRDC
-Neonates - cold, scours, respiratory, septicemia
