Farm Flashcards
(267 cards)
predisposition of simple indigestion
most common in cattle, rare In sheep and goats
cause of simple indigestipn
sudden changes in food or “mistakes” of nutrition
aetiology of simple indigestion
- any dietary factor that can alter the intraruminal environment (spoiled or frozen feed too)
- introducing urea to a ration
- accumulation of excessive quantities of relatively indigestible feed that can impair function
- turning cattle onto a lush cereal grain pasture… etc
signs of simple indigestion
anorexia and moderate drop in milk production, rumen is fully, firm and dough, faeces are normal to firm but reduce and can be soft-watery and foul smelling
diagnosis of simple indigestion
history, often multiple animals affect, hypocalcaemia present, rule out ketosis, rumen fluid analysis: reduced activity and concentration of large and small protozoa
treatment of simple indigestipn
- re-establish normal GI motility, pH and flora: by ruminal transfaunation
- feeding long-stem fibre
- parenteral calcium solution
- evacuate the GI tract
- correct suspected dietary factors
prognosis of simple indigestion
good
acute ruminal lactic acidosis aetiology
most severe form of indigestion, cattle can accidentally gain access to large quantities of grain, improper mixing of TMR (total mixed ration)
cause of grain overload
: sudden change to a diet containing higher levels of finely ground, rapidly fermentable feeds
pathogenesis of grain overload
- within 6 hours of ingestion, easily fermentable and high – sugar + starch concentrate is broken down to VFA, D and L lactic acid
- number of gram-positive bacteria increased amount of lactate rumen falls to <5 destroying protozoa, cellulolytic organisms impairs rumen motility osmotic pressure rise substantially results in movements of excessive quantities of fluid into the rumen causing rise of fluid ruminal contents and dehydration
consequence of acidosis and dehydration
haemoconcentration, cardiovascular collapse, renal failure, muscular weakness, shock, death
pH < 5.5
- low ruminal pH causes chemical rumenitis
- endotoxin and bacteria escape into the portal circulation
- septic emboli, dissemination in the liver, lungs, joints and kidney and laminitis3
signs of grain overload
anorexia, drastically decreased milk production, dehydration, subnormal temperature, elevated heart, elevated respiratory rates, totally static and enlarged rumen, cool skin surface, diarrhoea, or loose manure, weakness, ataxia, recumbency, abdominal pain, laminitis, coma and death
diagnosis of grain overload
history, confirmed by CE, assessment of rumen pH,
- CBC: neutropenia with left shift
- biochemistry: marked azotaemia
- metabolic acidosis
- rumen fluid analysis: sedimentation rate is fast, with a delayed or absent secondary flotation, decreased number of protozoa
treatment with grain overload
slaughter for salvage should be considered, restoration of rumen microenvironment
Mild cases
- rumen lavage with large tubes, application of large volume of warm water (15-20x), emptying the rumen via gravity flow, magnesium hydroxide diluted with water PO, laxative and charcoal IR
Serious cases
- rumenotomy and washed rumen, with water and emptied several times to remove as much lactate as possible
- fresh hay
- ruminal transfaunation, parenteral calcium, flunixin meglumine, procaine penicillin G at least 5 days
- thiamine
prognosis of grain overload
- good – quality hay and no grain should be given during the convalescent period, then introduced gradually, if good appetite returns within 3 days, prognosis = good
- some bacterial endotoxins can escape into circulation causing embolic infection of liver, lungs and other organs, resulting in fever and in some cases, death
cause of SARA
feeding of excessive quantities of concentrate with low level of well-structured fibrous roughage
pathogenesis of SARA
results from continued indigestion of these feeds over a prolonged period rather than sudden exposure without adequate adaption
signs of sARA
reduced or cyclic feed intake, decreased milk production, reduced milk fat, poor BCS, loose faeces
diagnosis of SARA
assessing rumen fluid samples or from telemetric rumen pH boluses sensors
treatment of SARA
no specific treatment, rather secondary conditions may need to be treated and the focus should be on prevention
cause of ruminal alkalosis
prolonged anorexia, poorly digestible roughage, simple indigestion, moudly food, spooield silage- coliform + proteins, high protein diets
pathogenesis of ruminal alkalosis
excessive ammonia, high protein diet ammonia concentration rises decomposition of proteins releases large amounts of ammonia that is absorbed into the blood liver detoxifies it by converting it to urea when the amount of absorbed ammonia is high intoxication occurs
- alkaline ruminal fluid pH occurs most commonly when microbial fermentation is reduced while the animal continues to ingest saliva
signs of ruminal alkalosis
inappetence, anorexia, ruminal hypomotility, recurrent tympany, occasional diarrhoea with odour, weakness, salivation, tachypnoea, polyuria, CNS excitation, muscle tremors, incoordination, abortions