Ruminant GI Disease Flashcards
(24 cards)
what is the cause of simple indigestion
abrupt changes in feed
increased amount of feed
too much grain
describe the clinical signs and treatment for simple indigestion
mild and self-limiting clinical signs
anorexia for 1-2 days
decreased rumen motility
gassy pings
decreased milk production
treatment: oral fluids and transfaunation
describe the clinical signs and treatment for hardware disease
acute drop in milk production
fever, anorexia, decreased rumen motility
pain (grunting, back arching)
stiff gait + abducted elbows
regurgitation
surgery OR magnet + penicillin + fluids + transfaunation
what is the cause of frothy bloat?
rumen full of froth due to diet of legumes or alfalfa hay, or high concentration of grain
what is/are the cause(s) of free-gas bloat?
cardia not clear –
excessive gas and low pH (decreases rumen motility)
obstruction
what are the clinical signs and treatment for bloat?
distended LEFT paralumbar fossa
ping, decreased rumen motility
neck stretched out, open mouth breathing, collapse, death
place in sternal recumbency, place gag, place hose, drench with soap solution, trocarize rumen
treat rumen acidosis if pH below 5.5
how do you prevent bloat?
introduce them to lush pasture slowly
feed them hay before turning them out
feed ionophores
what is the cause of rumen acidosis?
excessive consumption of readily fermentable CHOs (grain)
strep bovis proliferate and produce lactate. rumen pH decreases. bacteria and protozoa die. lactobacilli take over and rumen osmolality increases because lactate pulls water into rumen. rumen becomes distended with fluid, but animal becomes dehydrated
what are clinical signs of rumen acidosis?
depression
coma
death
dehydration
fluid-filled rumen
increased HR and RR
staggering gait or down
diarrhea
how can you dg and tx rumen acidosis?
dg: clinical signs, hx, tap rumen fluid to look for pH <5. look for live protozoa.
tx: alkanalizing fluids, emtpy rumen, systemic and oral pencillin, MgOH, mineral oil, NSAIDs, transfaunate
what is the cause of vagal indigestion
progression of rumen distention due to outflow problems
1. under/over-stimulation of vagus nerve
2. failure of rumen to empty
3. abomasum fails to empty
what are the clinical signs of vagal indigestion?
papple shape
decreased fecal output
dehydration
anorexia
+/- bradycardia
how do you treat vagal indigestion?
IV fluids
antibiotics
NSAIDs
surgery
limit feed intake
increase digestible fiber
transfaunation
what is the cause of displaced abomasum?
high grain diet
deep chested cow
ketosis
hypocalcemia
post-partum
atony of abomasum –> gas accumulates –> abomasum floats and gets trapped
what are the clinical signs of a cow with an LDA?
anorexia
not chewing cud
ketonuria
decreased rumen motility
gurgling and tinkling, tiny pings
scant feces or diarrhea
How do you diagnose a DA?
Liptak test – test the pH of the abomasal fluid. if its 2-4, the fluid came from the abomasum. if its 5.5-8, its rumen fluid.
Test urine – ketonuria and acidic (paradoxic aciduria)
how do you treat a cow with DA?
Roll them
roll + tack
fluids, NSAIDs, Ca therapy, glucose
what are additional clinical signs in a cow with RDA + torsion?
signs of shock –
decreased refill, cool temp, HR 100+, dehydrated, abdominal distention on R side, painful
very poor prognosis
what is unique about a floating DA?
there is no ping and it can fix itself on a trailer ride, however it will develop into a real DA, so it needs to be treated.
what is the cause of abomasal impaction?
cattle fed poor quality feed
can result from vagal indigestion, hardware dz, and pyloric obstructions
what are the clinical signs of abomasal impaction?
normal TPR
anorexia
depressed
distention of lower Right abdomen
decreased fecal output
increased rumen Cl (hypochloremia)
what is the cause of abomasal ulcers?
high producing dairy cow early in lactation
stress (calving, lactation)
high grain diet
lymphosarcoma in abomasum
NSAID use
calves eating solid feed or having Copper deficiency
what are clinical signs of abomasal ulcers?
ADR
off feed
decreased milk production
decreased rumen motility
colic
melena in feces
anemia
acute death
how do you diagnose and treat abomasal ulcers?
Dg: grunt test will be positive; blood in feces
Tx: more forage, less grain, gastroprotectants and antacids?, transfusion, +/- treat for peritonitis
