Unit 2 - Forestomach and Abomasum Part 2 Flashcards
What are the two forms of primary indigestion?
Abnormal reticulorumen contents with dysfunction of microbes and biochemical fermentation
Reticulorumen motor dysfunction (diseases of the rumen wall, neuromuscular function, or impedance of ingesta passage)
What can cause indigestion by causing dysfunction of microbes and biochemical fermentation?
Simple indigestions, rumen impaction, grain overload, and putrefaction of the rumen
What can cause reticulorumen motor dysfunction?
Frothy and other types of bloat
Reticulitis/rumenitis
Traumatic reticuloperitonitis
Vagal indigestions
What causes secondary indigestion?
Systemic illnesses/conditions - endotoxemia, tetanus, and hypocalcemia
Prolonged ruminal stasis (anorexia) is the most common result of what?
Subacute or chronic disorders such as microbial or fermentative indigestions, TRP, and secondary indigestions
What findings are consistent with prolonged ruminal stasis?
Reduced rumen fill, ‘tucked-up’ appearance, and firm, doughy contents ventrally
What is ‘simple’ indigestion?
It is a general term for a poorly defined entity of inappetance, decreased reticulorumen motility, and abnormal feces, with a nonspecific cause that involves intake of abnormal feed
How are simple indigestions treated?
Transfaunation (if available)
Good quality hay
Laxitives - be careful
Gradual reintroduction of concentrates
How long does rumen fluid last at room temperature?
1/2 day
How long does rumen fluid last in the refrigerator?
24 hours
What can be put on top of rumen fluid to keep it anaerobic?
A thin layer of mineral oil
Why do you need to make sure to vent the container that has collected rumen in it?
Because it fill with gas and probably explode - stinky stinky
What will the rumen look like and feel if there is ruminal inactivity with indigestible roughage?
The rumen will be distended with firm, doughy contents that accumulate ventrally; recurrent free gas bloat often present
Hay belly
How do you treat ‘hay belly’?
Improve forage quality
Restrict diet to readily digestible feed in small meals
Traunsfaunate repeatedly
B vitamin supplementation
Laxatives and dissolution of contents
Very impacted rumen (and abomasum) may need to be emptied
What cows typically are rumen drinkers?
They are chronic poor doing calves that have a poor transition during weaning and have a failure of esophageal groove
What does a chronic poor doing calf look like?
It has a long hair coat and poor BCS It has abnormal, pasty feces Mild, chronic bloat Potbellied abdomen, flaccid Tinkling fluid sounds on succussion of rumen, and/or pings of rumen origin
What will the rumen fluid of a rumen drinker be like?
Grey, foul odor, pH of 7.5-8.5, and no protozoa
How are rumen drinkers treated?
Remove abnormal rumen contents Correct dehydration Transfaunation B vitamins Feed management - green grass, calf starter, and wean the calf if appropriate
What is grain overload?
A ruminal microbial fermentative disorder caused by rapid changes in fermentable CHO in the rumen
What can cause rapid changes in fermentable CHO available in the rumen?
Interruptions in feed delivery, too rapid step-up, accidental exposure
Cereal grains
Byproducts, bakery waste, fruits; high-quality vegetative pastures
Grain overload can be just ______ indigestion or it can be life threatening ____ and death.
simple; toxemia
What is the range of clinical signs associated with grain overload?
Anorexia, mildly distended rumen, mild colic, and diarrhea
More severely recumbency, ataxia, blindness, and cardiovascular collapse
How can fermentation of CHO result in acidosis?
- Rapid fermentation of CHO and production of lactic acid decreases rumen pH
- Alteration in microbial populations with overgrowth of S. bovis, death of cellulolytic bacterial spp, and protozoa and eventually lactobacilli dominate
- Abundance of VFA (weak acids) with systemic absorption; increased osmolality of rumen leads to circulatory failure
- D- and L-lactate produced
What causes systemic acidosis?
VFAs, L and D lactate
What does systemic acidosis result in?
shock - reduced GFR, poor perfusion, hypoxic tissue, etc.
Aside from VFAs and lactic acid, what other toxins are liberated from the rumen?
Histamine
LPS from dying gram negative bacteria
How is rumen acidosis diagnosed?
History and risk factors Rumen pH <5 Shift to gram positive flora Blood gas pH <7.2 - severe, poor prognosis Urine pH acidic
How is rumen acidosis treated?
Oral lavage Rumenotomy Rumen buffers - Mg hydroxide IV fluids containing sodium bicarb Transfaunation NSAIDs, parenteral abx B vitamins - especially thiamine
What are potential sequelae of rumen acidosis?
Polioencephalomalacia Liver abscesses Bacteremia elsewhere Laminitis Rumenitis Mycotic rumentitis
What has a high potential for causing frothy bloats?
Alfalfa, sweet clover, red clover, and winter wheat
What has a medium potential for causing frothy bloats?
Oats and perennial rye grass
What are the components to frothy bloats?
Small particles in rumen contents, rapid digestibility, rumen microbes, and foam-promoting compounds
What is the pathogenesis of frothy bloats?
There is a breakdown of chloroplasts, soluble proteins, and very fine particles
There is rapid microbial growth results in the production of mucopolysaccharide (slime)
Gas is continuously released
What other disease process can predispose a cow to bloat?
Acidosis
What clinical signs are associated with frothy bloats?
Stable foam at cardia Asymmetrical abdominal distension (looks like an apple) Signs of colic Respiratory compromise Lack of venous return Death w/in 30 minutes - 4 hours
When you pass a tube in a patient with frothy bloat, what will come out of the tube?
Stable foam and lack of free gas
How is bloat diagnosed?
Marked distension of the rumen Frothy, stable rumen contents Congestion of head and neck Pallor of the abdominal viscera and hind limbs \+/- a bloat line
How is frothy bloat treated?
Attempt to tube
Antifoaming agents
Remove offending diet, NPO
Emergency rumenotomy
What antifoaming agents can be used for frothy bloat?
Poloxalene
Mineral or vegetable oil
Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate
How is frothy bloat prevented?
It is a management issue - properly manage the ration, bunk, and pasture
What is type I vagal indigestion?
Failure of eructation
What is type II vagal indigestion?
Failure of omasal transport
What is type III vagal indigestion?
Failure of pyloric transport/pyloric outflow obstruction
What is type IV vagal indigestion?
Late gestation/partial pyloric obstruction/generalized ileus
How does type I vagal indigestion appear?
Distension on the left flank (not from increased gas production)
Ruminal tympany
What can cause type I vagal indigestion?
Choke, frothy bloats, respiratory disease, damage to rumen wall + sensory innervation at the cardia, and extraluminal masses anywhere along the esophagus
What does type II vagal indigestion look like?
Bilateral abdominal distension (papple) and an L shaped rumen
What is the main cause of type II vagal indigestion?
Hardware disease
Aside from hardware disease, what else can cause type II vagal indigestion?
foreign bodies or masses
What does type III vagal indigestion look like?
Bilateral abdominal distension (papple)
What can cause type III vagal indigestion?
Hardware disease, abomasal damage after abomasal volvulus, lymphoma, abomasal impactions, and iatrogenic causes
What iatrogenic causes can cause type III vagal indigestion?
toggle sutures and inappropriate pyloropexy
What does type IV vagal indigestion look like?
Pear shaped
What can cause type IV vagal indigestion?
Late pregnancy, partial pyloric outflow obstruction, proximal intestinal obstruction, and ileus
