Other Neonatal Calf disease

Question 1

Umbilical Infection is also known as

Answer 1

Navel ill

Question 2

Is Navel ill a serious condition?

Answer 2

Serious in its own right
Leads to more disseminated infection
Rapidly life threatening
Permanent debilitating damage

Question 3

Suggest causes for navel ill

Answer 3

Poor management of umbilicus
Dirty environment
Failure of passive transfer
Mixed bacterial flora
Infection gains access while stump is still wet
Open access to bloodstream

Question 4

Umbilical infection- Clinical signs

Answer 4

Hot/swollen/painful umbilicus (US)
+/- pus
+/- lameness
+/- intermittent purulent discharge
+/- systemic signs –dull, illthrifty, inappetent
+/- urinary signs, persistent urachus, (urinalysis)

Question 5

Umbilical infection- Treatment

Answer 5

Systemic antibiotics – 2-3 weeks duration; Broad spectrum e.g. ampicillin, TMPS, amoxyclav
May be septicaemia so need fluids/NSAID

Question 6

Umbilical infection- Consequences

Answer 6

Abscessation
Septicaemia
Joint ill, polyarthritis
Liver abscess or cystitis
Hypopyon anterior chamber of eye

Question 7

Umbilical infection- Prevention

Answer 7

Strong iodine (+/- surgical spirit)
Colostrum
Environment

Question 8

What is the most common congenital dz of cattle

Answer 8

Umbilical Hernia

Question 9

Complications of Umbilical hernia

Answer 9

Adhesions
Bowel strangulation

Question 10

Umbilical hernia- Treatment

Answer 10

Leave alone
Surgical repair open or closed
DO NOT BREED FROM THEM

Question 11

Differences between Abscess and Hernia

Answer 11

Abscess: Soon after birth, Non reducible, No hernial ring palpable, No pain, Can aspirate purulent material
Hernia: Noticed at 2-3 weeks, Reducible, Hernial ring, No pain, No purulent material

Question 12

Septic arthiritis is also known as

Answer 12

Joint ill

Question 13

Joint ill is a consequence of

Answer 13

Umbilical infection or other infections

Question 14

Joint ill- Clinical signs

Answer 14

One/multiple joint swellings (carpus/stifle)
Lameness, pyrexia
+/- swollen navel
Down
Loss of joint movement
Joint capsule inflamed
Contraction of flexor tendons

Question 15

Joint ill- Diagnosis

Answer 15

CS
arthrocentesis, fluid aspiration, C+S, radiography (when more chronic), ultrasound)

Question 16

Joint ill- Treatment

Answer 16

3 weeks broad spectrum abs (including Mycoplasma). IV if poss initially
NSAID
Vet often too late = Poor response to Tx and chronic lameness, Hence prevention is key

Question 17

Septic arthritis is the iirreversible destruction of what cartilage

Answer 17

Articular

Question 18

Septicaemia

Answer 18

Systemic disease associated with the presence of pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins in the blood

Question 19

Main common infectious agents and sources of septicaemia

Answer 19

Cause
E. coli, Endotoxin (50%)
Salmonella

Source
Environment
Colostrum/milk
Uterus

Question 20

Septicaemia - Clinical signs

Answer 20

Rapid progression; often fatal – found dead
Early signs non-specific – depression, reduced suckling
Fever OR Hypothermia
Sustained tachycardia (+ tachypnoea)
Hyperaemia of mucous membranes & scleral injection
Progressive shock
Localized infection – arthritis, eye (hypopyon), meningitis, pneumonia

Question 21

Septicaemia - Treatment

Answer 21

Response to treatment often poor
Antimicrobials
Preferably intravenous
Gram neg or broad-spectrum initially (then select on basis of C+S if available)
NSAIDs – to counter pathogenic effects of inflammatory response and endotoxaemia
Supportive treatment – warmth, good bedding, nursing care, intravenous fluids

Question 22

Meningitis

Answer 22

Inflammation of one or more of the three covering layers of the meninges in the CNS
Linked to septicaemia and pneumonia

Question 23

Meningitis- Clinical signs

Answer 23

CS – Depression, reduced suckling, neck pain, star gazing, head pressing, opisthotonous, pyrexia (initially), hypopyon, hyperaesthesia, blindness, ataxia, spasticity, Slow deep respiration

Question 24

Meningitis- Treatment

Answer 24

Abs cross BBB and broad spectrum, 14 days
Poor prognosis

Question 25

Consequence of calf with Selenium/Vit E (Free radicals) deficiency

Answer 25

Decreased immune response and White muscle disease (WMD)

Question 26

Consequence of calf with Iodine (Thyroid hormone) deficiency

Answer 26

Decreased metabolic rate, inability to stand, goitre

Question 27

Consequence of calf with Vitamin A (Retina, bone) deficiency

Answer 27

Blindness, still born/weak calves

Question 28

Outline calf health scoring criteria

Answer 28

Grade 0-3
Measures: Rectal temp, Cough, Nasal discharge, Eye scores (Discharge) , Ear scores(Tilt or droop)

Question 29

Ruminal drinking

Answer 29

When the oesophageal groove reflex fails (the groove either closes incompletely or not at all) so that milk flows directly into the reticulo-rumen instead of the abomasum.

Question 30

Two types of Ruminal drinking

Answer 30

SPORADIC- single milk feed entering rumen
CHRONIC- called a ruminal drinker

Question 31

Ruminal Drinking- Clinical signs

Answer 31

Bloat
Failure to thrive
Poor growth rates
Pot bellied appearance
Reduced appetite
ACIDOSIS signs
Fluid splashing on deep ballotment of lower left abdomen

Question 32

Ruminal Drinking- Treatment

Answer 32

If you can pull off the milk altogether and feed good quality hay and concentrates- recovery in a couple of weeks
If too young to pull off milk try to reinstate oesophageal groove
- Alter feeding (avoid stomach tubing milk)- suckle
- Bicarb/electrolytes

Question 33

Risk factors for Abomasitis and abomasal bloat

Answer 33

Erratic feeding schedules
Contaminated milk or colostrum
High incidence of FPT
Inadequate water
Hyperconcentrated or inadequate milk replacer mixing.

Question 34

Congenital vs Herditary

Answer 34

Congenital
Disease or abnormality present from birth
May or may not be hereditary

Hereditary
May or may not be congenital
Genetic component
May be carrier or case