Principles of Diagnostics Flashcards
What are the components of a diagnostic plan?
History, signalment, physical exam, rule out list, treatment plan and follow up
What are some things that should be investigated druing a herd level diagnostic plan?
History of past problems on farm, signalment of owners, management, facilities, physical exam of affected (how many, time line, severity), rule out list, treatment plan and follow up
What is a critical question for examination of a sick dairy cow?
How many days in milk? Feed intake? Milk production? Previous issues? Treatments?
What is the acronym to remember what to examine in a sick dairy cow?
L- Lungs
U - Uterus
M - Metabolic
M - Mammary
A - Abomasum
R - Rumen
Most of the cow is built like a tank…except what organ?
Lungs
Where in the cows production cycle is the uterus the biggest worry for pathology?
First 2 weeks postpartum (Day 3-17)
What is the most common disease of the mammary gland? Is it normally local or systemic?
Mastitis, normally local but really bad if systemic
What is the most common metabolic disease of dairy cattle and when does it most commonly occur?
Hypocalcemia, first 24 hours after birth
What is another common metabolic disease but it causes disease at peak lactation? (Nervous signs)
Ketosis (Usually secondary to another issue)
What is another metabolic disease that’s signs include cows being off feed, down in milk, diarrhea and decreased rumen motility? Relates to diet.
Acidosis
What can happen to the abomasum? (Hint: directions it goes)
RDA, LDA, RTA
What does mastitis look like when it is:
Subclinical
Local
Systemically Ill
Subclinical: Normal cow with increased SCC
Local: Abnormal milk, normal cow
Systemically Ill: Abnormal cow and milk (Fever, dehydration, depression)
What bacteria typically causes toxic mastitis?
Coliforms: E. Coli and Klebsiella (Rod shaped gram negative bacteria) or environmental pathogens
What does a clinical mastitis present like?
Depressed, >50% reduction in milk, 8-10% dehydrated, hard swollen quarter, watery milk
Why may you have a lack of treatment success when treating an animal?
Super bug, slow detection of disease or bad treatment protocol
How do you know if you have a “super bug”?
Diagnosis of exclusion
Culture and Sensitivity/Susceptibility (poor correlation to super bug cause just tell you what not to use and not specific to site
What do you do if you have a super bug?
Culture and sensitivity to try to find something to treat it with
How do you determine if disease isnt being caught fast enough?
Look at the data - ex. milk weights by day for mastitis (hard cause blame people)
How do you treat coliform mastitis?
Fluids:
Hypertonic saline IV 2-3ml/lb
Oral fluids 10 Gallon
Antibiotics: 3 days
Oxytertacyclien 10mg/lb IV, Sulfadiamethoxine (Albon), Ceftiofur
NSAID:
Flunixing 2ml/100lbs IV
What is the treatment plan for a down ewe with hypocalcemia 7 days after birth?
120cc CalDex#2 IV - hypocalcemia
2cc vit B complex IV
4mg Dexamethasone IV - ketosis
2oz Propylene Glycol PO - Ketosis
60cc Ca gluconate SQ
When you are observing an animal from afar, what are you watching for?
Cud chewing, eating, respiratory rate, general attitude
What percent of cows with peritonitis dont have a fever?
50%
What can cause a temp to be lower than normal?
Hypocalcemia or coliform mastitis
What is an empty paralumbar fossa an indication of?
Being off feed
