Sudden Death

Question 1

What are four cardiovascular reasons for sudden death in cattle?

Answer 1

(Selenium deficiency (usually associated with young animals and exertion followed by sudden death), ruptured great vessel (aorta, cranial mesenteric, or uterine), cardiac tamponade (hardware, heart tumor), or arrythmias)

Question 2

What are two respiratory reasons for sudden death in cattle?

Answer 2

(Pneumonia (lack of observation) and bloat (diet, position, or choke))

Question 3

(T/F) In cattle that you necropsy, finding a bloat line indicates they died from bloat.

Answer 3

(F, could just be a post-mortem artifact because most dead ruminants will eventually bloat, takes hours in the summer and days in the winter)

Question 4

What is a gastrointestinal reason for sudden death in cattle?

Answer 4

(Ruptured abomasal or cecal ulcer, usually due to copper deficiency or Clostridium perfringens infection)

Question 5

Mastitis involving gram negative bacteria, Salmonella infections, and grain overload result in what pathology that causes sudden death in cattle?

Answer 5

(Endotoxemia)

Question 6

(T/F) Clostridium perfringens infections are associated with endotoxemia.

Answer 6

(F, enterotoxemia)

Question 7

What are three metabolic reasons for sudden death in cattle?

Answer 7

(Hypocalcemia → can either bloat or have heart failure; hypomagnesemia → will usually note a hx of new pasture and no mg supplementation, and there will be disturbed ground around the head and feet of dead cows; salt intoxication)