Clinical exam of the dairy cow

Question 1

Signalment considerations -6

Answer 1

ID, breed, sex, age, use, husbandry

Question 2

Factors to be observed - 6

Answer 2

general demeanour and health, posture, gait, behaviour, faeces, body shape

Question 3

Normal rectal temperature? critical point? persistant fever indicates? subnormal temperatures indicate?

Answer 3

normal = 38.5D or 101.5F
critical point >39.2
perisistant fever 39.5D/103F - chronic inflammation
Subnormal is <38.2D/101F associated with metabolic disease

Question 4

What are low temps associated with? 3

Answer 4

shock, circ collapse, approaching death

Question 5

pulse in coccygeal artery - location, normal?

Answer 5

6-12 inches from base of tail,

normal 60-80bpm

Question 6

Normal resp. rate

Answer 6

15-35/min. abnormal >40

Question 7

What should you look at on LHS? 7

Answer 7

• palpate/ausculate flank
• contour of abdomen
• rumen (3 primary contractions per minute)
• percuss/auscultate for gas-fluid interfaces
• pain tests
• HR (adult 60-80, young calves 70-100)
• auscultate lung fields (3 phases - inspiration, expiration, pause)

Question 8

Things to look for on RHS? 5

Answer 8

• Palpate and auscultate flank
• examine xontour
• percuss and auscultate right wall
• ballot lower right flank
• right chest

Question 9

What should be examined in head region?

Answer 9

Jugular filling
prescapular LNs
Head symmetry, facial paralysis, larynx, trachea
EYES 
Muzzle and nostrils
Teeh 0 age
Mouth
Ears
Submandibular LNs

Question 10

Define IBR

Answer 10

Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis

Question 11

Define MCF

Answer 11

Malignant Catarrhal Fever

Question 12

Sign of IBR and MCF in the eyes

Answer 12

Red eyes

Question 13

What might cause eyes to be yellow - 2

Answer 13

jaundice or channel island breed

Question 14

How does bracken poisoning affect eyes?

Answer 14

petechiation

Question 15

Ages of tooth eruption

Answer 15

1st permanent incisor = 22mo
2nd = 27 months,
3rd = 37 months
canine = 47 months

Question 16

What do black tarry faeces indicate in adult cattle?

Answer 16

Abomasal ulcer

Question 17

What should be examined in the environment? 4

Answer 17

housing, nutrition, climate and poisons

Question 18

Describe selective inappetence of ketotic cows

Answer 18

eat forage but not concentrate

Question 19

What does rumen fluid show? 4

Answer 19

pH, odour, protoxoa, chloride content

Question 20

Tests for reticular pain = 4

Answer 20

withers grip, pole test, pain ballotment and eric williams test

Question 21

How do you test for intestinal pain?

Answer 21

flank ripple test

Question 22

How to test for pain in abomasum?

Answer 22

deep palpation/ballotment

Question 23

Name superficial LNs in cattle - 5

Answer 23

submandibular, retropharyngeal, prescapular, prefemoral, supramammary