SUPPORTIVE CARE - Farm Animals Flashcards

1
Q

What are the seven main differences between providing supportive care to farm animals compared to small animals and equids?

A
  • Limited time on the farm
  • Re-checks are rare due to the added expense
  • Most farm animals are not insured
  • Farmers usually have to carry out the nursing and they may have varying capabilities
  • Limited hospitilisation facilities
  • Limited options for referral
  • Farmers often have access to drugs so may begin medicating the animal before you even arrive
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2
Q

If farm animals are insured, which type of insurance is it usually?

A

Loss of use insurance

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3
Q

What point of care diagnostic testing can you do on a farm?

A

Clinical examination
Urinalysis
Ketone meter
Brix refractometer
California milk test (CMT)
Calf scour ELISA

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4
Q

What does a Brix refractometer test?

A

A Brix refractometer tests the quality of colostrum

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5
Q

(T/F) Medication is most commonly administered orally in farm animals

A

FALSE. Medication is most commonly administered via injection in farm animals

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6
Q

Where should you administer intramuscular injections in farm animals?

A

The muscles in the neck

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7
Q

Why should you avoid administering intramuscular injections in the rump in farm animals?

A

You want to avoid intramuscular injections into the rump as you can potentially damage the muscle and this is one of the most valuable portions of the carcass

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8
Q

Where should you administer subcutaneous injections in farm animals?

A

In the skin behind the shoulder or the skin at the neck

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9
Q

Which three NSAIDS are licensed in cows in the UK?

A

Flunixin
Ketoprofen
Meloxicam

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10
Q

(T/F) NSAIDS are only licensed for short term treatment in cattle

A

TRUE. NSAIDS are only licensed for 1 to 5 days of treatment in cattle

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11
Q

(T/F) Steroids are not licensed in cattle

A

FALSE. Steroids are licensed in cattle

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12
Q

Which α2 adrenoreceptor agonists are licensed in cattle in the UK?

A

Xylazine
Detomidine

Remember α2 agonists are good sedatives but poor analgesics

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13
Q

Which local anaesthetics are licensed in cattle in the UK?

A

Procaine
Lidocaine

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14
Q

(T/F) Epidural administration of local anaesthetics is not licensed in cows

A

TRUE. However epidural administration of local anaesthetics is used very commonly in cattle under the cascade

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15
Q

Which analgesic drugs are liscened in sheep in the UK?

A

No analgesics are licensed in sheep in the UK

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16
Q

Which NSAID is best to use for sheep under the cascade?

A

Meloxicam as it is licensed for sheep in other countries

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17
Q

What are the clinical signs of mild dehydration in a ruminant (4-7% fluid deficit)?

A

Skin tent for 2-3 seconds
Slightly sunken eyes
CRT of 2-3 seconds
Moist and shiny mucous membranes

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18
Q

What are the clinical signs of moderate dehydration in a ruminant (8-10% fluid deficit)?

A

Cold and dry nose
Skin tent for 3-6 seconds
Obviously sunken eyes
CRT of 4-5 seconds
Dull and tacky mucous membranes

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19
Q

What are the clinical signs of severe dehydration in a ruminant (over 10% fluid deficit)?

A

Weakness
Collapsed
Skin tend over 6 seconds
Severely sunken eyes
CRT over 5 seconds
Dry mucous membranes

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20
Q

How to you calculate the total fluid requirement for a farm animal patient?

A

Total fluid requirement = Maintenance fluids + Fluid deficit + Ongoing losses

Go over the farm animal fluid quiz in M14.W3 for practice

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21
Q

What is the average total fluid requirement for an adult cow?

A

Approximately 100 litres/day

22
Q

What are the maintenance requirements for an adult ruminant?

A

50ml/kg/day maintenance fluids

23
Q

What are the maintenance requirements for a lactating adult ruminant?

A

100ml/kg/day maintenance fluids

24
Q

Which two routes of fluid administration can you use in ruminants?

A

Intravenous fluids
Oral fluids

25
Q

(T/F) Oral administration is the preferred fluid administration method in ruminants

A

TRUE. Almost all cases that require fluid administration should receive the fluids orally

26
Q

How are oral fluids administered to ruminants?

A

Oral fluids are administered to ruminants using a pump

27
Q

What fluid rate can you use for oral fluid administration in cows?

A

You can administer a maximum of 40 litres of oral fluid at one time in cows. You should wait between 6 - 12 hours before the next administration

28
Q

What is transfaunation?

A

Transfaunation is the process of transferring rumenal fluid containing microbes and nutrients from a healthy ruminant into a ruminant with impaired rumen digestion

29
Q

What are the four indicators for intravenous fluids in ruminants?

A

Shock
Endotoxaemia
If the gastrointestinal tract is impaired
Severe dehydration (over 10% fluid deficit)

30
Q

Which vein do you use for intravenous fluid therapy in cattle?

A

Jugular vein

31
Q

Describe how to set up for intravenous fluid therapy in cattle

A
  1. Warm the fluids
  2. Restrain the cow in a crush and use a halter to tie their head to the side
  3. Identify the jugular vein
  4. About a 1/3 of the way down the jugular vein and clip and surgically prep the site
  5. Administer local anaesthetic site and perform a venous cutdown procedure to expose the vein
  6. Place the catheter in the jugular vein and suture it in place (to the skin)
  7. Attach the giving set and place a suture to secure the giving set to the patient’s ear
  8. Fashion a drip stand with whatever you can find (i.e. a pitchfork)
32
Q

What size catheter do you use for intravenous fluid therapy in cattle?

A

10 gauge, 3 inch catheter

33
Q

What rate should you use for intravenous fluid therapy in cattle?

A

The recommended shock dose is 40-80ml/kg/hr, however realistically you will not be able to open the giving set enough and the catheter will be too small to deliver this rate in adult cows (might manage in calves) so just fully open the giving set to administer as much fluid as you can

34
Q

(T/F) Disease processes in adult cows are more likely to cause metabolic acidosis than metabolic alkalosis

A

FALSE. Disease processeses in adult cows are more likely to cause metabolic alkalosis

35
Q

What are the three main causes of metabolic acidosis in cows?

A

Grain overload
Hyposalivation
Diarrhoea in calves

36
Q

What can be used to treat metabolic alkalosis in cattle?

A

Chloride containing fluids as the chloride is negatively charged and will draw out H+ ions from the intracellular space into the intravascular space

37
Q

What can be used to treat metabolic acidosis in cattle?

A

Lactate containing fluids as the lactate will be converted to bicarbonate ions by the liver

38
Q

How do most diseases in cattle affect their electrolyte balance?

A

Most diseases in cattle will cause hyponatraemia, hypokalaemia and hypocalcaemia

39
Q

Why should you generally avoid Hartmann’s solution in adult cows?

A

Hartmann’s contains lactate which can worsen a metabolic alkalosis which is quite common in cows. However, hartmann’s can be useful for treating metabolic acidosis

40
Q

Why is 0.9% NaCl solution not the best for fluid therapy in cattle?

A

0.9% NaCl solution does not contain potassium or calcium

41
Q

What is the best fluid to use in cows and why?

A

Ringers solution as it does not contain lactate but it does contain sodium, potassium and calcium

42
Q

What are the indicators for using hypertonic saline for fluid therapy in cattle?

A

To rapidly increase intravascular volume and stabilise blood pressure

43
Q

How should you administer hypertonic saline in cattle?

A

Intravenously

44
Q

How many litres of isotonic fluid is equivalent to one bag of hypertonic saline?

A

1 litre of hypertonic saline is equivalent to 5 litres of isotonic fluid

45
Q

What rate of hypertonic saline should you administer IV?

A

4ml/kg over 10 minutes

46
Q

(T/F) You should alway follow up IV administration of hypertonic saline with oral adminstration of isotonic fluid

A

TRUE.

47
Q

How do you calculate the volume of hypertonic saline you require as well as the volume of isotonic fluid you should administer afterwards?

A
  1. First calculate the total fluid requirement for one day
  2. Secondly, calculate the volume of hypertonic fluid required by multiplying the body weight (kg) by 4ml/kg
  3. Multiply your answer by 5 to determine how many litres of isotonic fluid would equate to the litres of hypertonic saline
  4. Take this value away from the total fluid requirement to find out the litres of isotonic fluid you should administer following IV hypertonic saline administration
48
Q

Which seven questions should you ask when taking a history for a downer cow?

A

Has she calved recently?
Were there any complications during calving?
Has she stood since she calved?
Is she able to move at all?
How long has she been down?
What is her demeanour/appetite?
Has she received any treatment?

49
Q

Which diagnostic test can you do to investigate a downer cow?

A

You can take bloods however you cannot run the bloods at the farm so it is important to treat the cow and then you can store the bloods back at the practice. If the cow is not recovering it can be useful to run the bloods for further investigation

50
Q

What are the farmer’s nursing responsibilities regarding the downer cow when you leave the farm?

A

Provide food and water
Turning and lifting the cow
Provide a clean, dry and comfy environment
Provide a non/slip surfave
Help the cow to stand
Administer any ongoing meds
Milking the downer cow

51
Q

What can happen if a cow is down for over six hours?

A

If a cow is down for over six hours they can develop downer cow syndrome where there is damage to the nerves and muscles due to compression

52
Q

When should you consider euthanising a downer cow?

A

If their welfare is compromised
If the farmer is unable or unwilling to care for the cow
If the cow is making no attempt to rise
If they have been down (but moving) for over three weeks