Week 12: Clinical procedures in production animals

Question 1

In terms of production animals, what is considered an emergency? Name five different cases?

Answer 1

1. Toxic Mastitis
2. Downer cow
3. Reproductive cases - uterine prolapse & dystocia
4. Laceration to udder or milk vein
5. Airway obstruction

Question 2

What is the admission process of a production animal

Answer 2

1. Consent forms must be signed by the owner and filled out at the consultation
2. Hospital charts must be filled out - daily
3. Patients must be weighed daily
4. Cages and pens must be cleaned daily
5. fed daily
6. medications must be given as per the chart

Question 3

Your patient is about to undergo a surgery, how do you prepare for this type of surgery

Answer 3

Majority of surgery is done standing under local anaesthesia and sedation - the animal is restrained in a crush facility

Administer chemical restraint if required
clip the area

wash down with plain water and then prep with chlorhexidine wash

2nd prep with alcohol
3rd prep chlorhexidine concentrate and methylated spirits

local anaesthetic can now be administered

Question 4

What procedures are required to optimise biosecurity

Answer 4

1. wash boots of gross contaminants
2. disinfect equipment and boots with F10 or virkon
3. Change overalls between farms and patients
4. remove overlls before getting into the car if heavily soiled
5. wear examination gloves
6. place in biosecurity bags and dispose of
7. take care of personal hygiene

Question 5

What is disbudding and what it the procedure

Answer 5

Disbudding is the removal of an animal horn.

important to weight the animal 
sedate and provide analgesia
give a local block
clip the area 
Use a hot iron
antibiotic and fly spray 
reversal agent
send patient home