Therapeutics interactive cases

Question 1

You are called to see a cow that calved last night. This morning she is dull, unwilling to stand, is off her food.
The cow has a heart rate of 105 beats per minute and no rumen turnover. She is still in the calving pen with her
calf. It is thickly bedded with moist straw.
What are your differential diagnoses?

Answer 1

• Hypocalcaemia
• Hypomagnesaemia
• Hypophosphataemia
• Toxic Mastitis
• Haemorrhage
• Botulism

Question 2

How do gram -ve bacteria release toxins?

Answer 2

Dying gram -ve bacteria release toxins - LPS (dead cell wall)

Question 3

How does milk fever cause no faeces?

Answer 3

• Soft muscles not working lack of calcium

Question 4

When do cows most commonly dislocate hips?

Answer 4

• First oestrus after calving

Question 5

What kills cows with hypocalcaemia?

Answer 5

• Postural bloat = need to prop the animal up, holter + pull up

Question 6

What can hypocalcaemia lead to?

Answer 6

• Postural bloat
• RFM
• Endometritis
• Sub-fertility
• Mastitis
• LDA

Question 7

What is phosphorus needed for in the body?

Answer 7

• ATP = energy
• Cows seen dog sitting = need phosphorus

Question 8

What would you use to treat metritis?

Answer 8

• 1st line = Potentiated sulphonamide - diatrim (doesn’t work in pus)
• 2nd line = Oxytet - terramycin, engermycin
• Plan B = Clavinate potentiated amoxycillin - synulox

Question 9

What should be done with toxic mastitis?

Answer 9

• Oxytocin
• Strip out
• Antibiotic
• NSAIDs
• Hypertonic saline - 7.2% (72mg/ml) (2.5L = x8 conc of isotonic therfore need 20L of water pumped aswell)

Question 10

What is pasteurella + mannheimia resistant to?

Answer 10

• Tetracyclines