Abomasal Displacement & Volvulus Sx Flashcards
(36 cards)
what is the most common abomasal displacement?
LDA
“LDA is a management disease” what does this mean?
that well managed cows should not be getting this
when do cows tend to get LDAs?
after calving: due to the incidence of many other diseases during this time, some cows are vaccinated at this time, hows come back into estrus and dont eat, etc. many contributing factors
there are like a million risk factors for LDAs. Queen all you have to do is name a few. it’s okay.
being a holstein cow with a large abdominal cavity, being older (multiparous), change in diet, decreased exercise, high concentrate feeds, hypocalcemia, ketosis, retained placenta, metritis, mastitis, endotoxemia
4 steps of general pathogenesis for displaced abomasum
small rumen (not eating), abomasal atony, gas production, displaced abomasum
what metabolic derangement does an LDA/RDA cause?
metabolic alkalosis (all acid sequestered in abomasum)
with an RTA, describe how the abomasum turns out of place
twists counter clockwise when viewed from behind and an additional counter clockwise twist when viewed from above
why is an RTA so much worse than a LDA/RDA?
RTAs result in a complete pyloric outflow obstruction and vascular compromise, potential tissue devitalization (weaken or debilitate)
true or false: a cow with signs of colic is okay to wait until morning, and usually recovers on their own with medical management
FALSE!!!!! cows with signs of colic can NOT wait until morning and usually require surgical intervention!!!
when you are doing a distant exam on a cow you suspect has an LDA or RDA/RTA, what sorts of things are you looking for (esp in differentiating between a displacement and a torsion). There are a lot of these queen so it’s okay if you dont list them all
- are they dull/depressed/shocky–>torsions will be more shocky
- how dehydrated are they? more severe with a torsion
- are they eating? more likely to not eat with a torsion
- is the cow chewing cud? less likely to with a torsion
- are there signs of colic?
- what is the abdominal contour? L or R side look enlarged?
- resp rate–>would be higher with a torsion
- check the records like if they have a rumen activity sensor or check milk production
after your distant exam on the cow, you want to do your actual PE. If you suspect an LDA/RDA/RTA, what sorts of things are you looking for?
- a high HR, the higher it is the more likely it is a torsion
- rumenation/rumen rate: probably still present with just a displacement, but may be harder to hear with an LDA since rumen is behind the gas distended abomasum. with RTAs there will be no rumination
- CBC/chem would see met alk hypochloremia and hypokalemia
C/S of an LDA
decreased appetite, decreased rumen motility, decreased milk production, ketosis, rumen contractions hard to hear
a boring person named Boring Person brings you his cow named Boring Cow. Boring Cow is eating less feed, not producing as much milk, and when you try to listen to rumen contractions they are very hard to hear. Top differential?
LDA
Boring Person has another cow named Sleepy Cow, who is not eating, is not producing feces, has sunken eyes, has a HR of 100, has weak pulses, has no signs of any ruminal contractions, and has bilateral abdominal distention. When you listen you can hear a ping on the R side. Top differential?
RTA (or RDA)
general bloodwork findings you’ll see with an LDA
met alk: high pH, high bicarb, low Cl and K, hypoglycemia, ketonemia, +/- stress leukogram
general bloodwork findings you’ll see with RDA/RTA
hypovolemia, dehydration, hemoconcentration, hyperglycemia, met alk, hypocalcemia, hypochloremia, hypokalemia, hyponatremia, paradoxic aciduria
what abnormalities will you find on your PE with an LDA/RDA/RTA?
the PING on percussion
in the case of a torsion, might have a positive succusion
can you feel a DA on rectal palpation?
only if its really big but usually not
how do you differentiate between an RDA and a RTA?
signs of shock=more likely to be a torsion
why do we do a rectal exam last?
dont want to introduce a pneumorectum–>can result in a false PING
what else besides pneumorectum can cause a false ping?
a gas filled rumen–>can feel this on rectal palpation
what are some differentials for an LDA/RDA/RTA?
ruminal tympany/bloat, pneumoperitoneum, cecal distention, gas in spiral colon, pneumoperitoneum, metritis where there’s gas in the uterus from gas proeucing bacteria
in addition to PE findings, what are some diagnostics you can do to confirm an LDA/RDA/RTA?
- BHBA test–>we know that any paripartueitn disease can be associated with DAs so if the cow has high ketones, more likely to also have a DA
- stall side calcium tests (iSTAT, Horbia)
- blood lactate: good prognosticator for acute abdomen in any animal
when making your incision for the right sided approach surgery, where are your landmarks?
one hand down from transverse processes and a few inches caudal to 13th rib