Clinical exam of farm animals

What history should you find out

• Age

• Production stage

• Clinical signs

• Herd history

What examinations should happen on the farm

• Full clinical examn

• Sampling for lab exam

• Environment

• Housing / nutrition

What order should you exam a cow due to them being head shy

1. Tail end

2. Udder

3. L side

4. R side

5. Head

6. Vaginal or rectal exam

What should a cows temperature be

38.5^oC

WHat should a calves temperature be

39^oC

What at the tail end should be examined

• Vaginal discharge

• MM colour

• Metritisk endometritis, bulling

• Faecal staining

• BCS

• Coat condition

Where should you listen to the heart

Under the elbow at rib spaces 3-5

What should the HR of a cow be

60-80 bpm

What should the HR of a calf be

80-120 bpm

What do you not want to hear when listening to the heart

• Murmurs

• Quiet

• Splashing

What should adults BR be

25 BRPM

What should calves BR be

30 BRPM

How is the rumen on the left abdomen examined

• How full is it from 1-5

• Is there gas

• What is the consistency of contents

How do you assess movement in left abdomen

Bent fingers in L sub-lumbar fossa - should feel 3 movements every 2 minutes

What is heard and felt in the Eric Williams test

• Primary cycle - no sound, feel rumen contract

• Secondary cycle - feel rumen contract, hear eructation

What sounds are heard spontaneously with a displaced abdomen

Tinkling and gurgling

How do you test for a ping in a displaced abomasum

Tap the rib hard

What does a resonant ping indicate

A gas fluid interface

How is the eye and nose examined

• Conjunctiva colour

• Dishcarges

• Kerato-conjunctivitis or iritis

How is the head examined

• Palpate lymph nodes

• Facial symmetry

• CRT

• Skin tent

How is the mouth examined

• Pull tongue out to side

• Drink water gag

• Lesions

• Ulcers and vesicles

What could ulcers and vesicles in the mouth indicate

• Foot and mouth disease

• Bluetongue

• Bovine viral diarrhoea

• Malignant catarrhal fever

• Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis

How is milk examined

• Clots

• Colour

• California milk test

What are the steps of the california milk test

1. Foremilk each quarter

2. Draw 2-3 squirts of milk from each quarter into the respective ring of the paddle

3. Add an equal amount of CMT mixture to each ring and mix using swirling action

What is examined in rectal exam

• Faeces consistency

• Presence of blood

• Rectal tone

• Rumen

• Uterus and ovaries

• Distended abomasum

What is examined in vaginal exam

• Discharge

• Vaginal wall

• Cervix

• Uterus and contents

Which neonate specific things do you need to check for in an exam

• Joint ill

• Navel ill

• Congenital abnormalities

• Colostrum intake

What is the disadvantages of blunderbuss approach

• Expensive

• Unimaginative

• Lots of tests

What is the basis of the hypothetico-deductive model

Generate a hypothesis and test it