The down cow

Question 1

Define down cow

Answer 1

cow has inability to rise and stand for a period of 12-24 hours for undetermined reason

Question 2

List the 4 broad causes of a down cow

Answer 2

Metabolic
Traumatic
Neurological
Toxic

Question 3

List 6 metabolic causes of down cow syndrome

Answer 3

unresolved hypocalcaemia
hypomagnesaemia
ketosis
hypokalaemia
fatty liver disease
fog fever

Question 4

Descrobe how to treat fog fever

Answer 4

steroids and diuretics

Question 5

when is hypomagnasaemia likely to happen

Answer 5

spring with a new flush of grass
autumn with stale grass

Question 6

Do you think Staggers is a true emergency?-

Answer 6

Yes

Question 7

DEscribe how to treat staggers

Answer 7

Magnesium given sub cut

Question 8

Decsribe how to treat underlying conditions of a down cow

Answer 8

Oral fluids +/- additives
IV treatments- Ca, P, K, Mg?
NSAIDs
Injectable vitamin supplements- B12
Antibiotics

Question 9

If animal has S-shaped neck what is most likely diagnosis

Answer 9

Hypocalcalcaemia

Question 10

If cow is dog sitting- what is the most likely cause

Answer 10

likely damaged sciatic nerve

Question 11

what are uterine prolapses often associated with

Answer 11

hypocalcaemia

Question 12

List 7 salavage procedures for cows

Answer 12

Clay removal
Perimortem caesarean
Tibial Neurectomy
Teat removal
Emergency slaughter
Ovary removal
Semen harvesting

Question 13

what is spastic paresis

Answer 13

Progressive hindlimb contraction of the gastrocnemius muscle and associated tendons.

It will be possible to manually flex the hock without pain.

Question 14

How can spastic paresis be treated

Answer 14

tenotomy
Or
tibial neurectomy - this is preferred

Question 15

Define downer cow syndrome

Answer 15

a cow that can’t get up for a period of at least 24 hours and now has secondary complications

Question 16

what are creeper cows generally due to

Answer 16

hypophosphataemia
these cows can often not quite stand up and therefore shuffle on their legs

Question 17

Desribe compartment syndrome

Answer 17

reduced blood flow to tissues under pressure leads to damaged muscles and nerves - eventually ischaemic necrosis occurs

Question 18

if we have a downer cow what do we need to do

Answer 18

identify primary complications that caused her to be down + secondary complications that have arisen due to her being down

Question 19

what are abducted legs often associated with

Answer 19

obturator paralysis