Ruminant Abomasal Displacement

What is an LDA?

Abomasum fills with gases and moves to the left side of the abdomen

What causes an LDA?

Decreased motility (hypocalc, increased VFAs) -> gas accumulation

Reduced rumen fill (peri partum intake shifts or diseases) -> shift to left

When should we be suspicious of an LDA?

- dairy cow

- recently calved (10-14d)

- sudden decrease in milk production

- sudden decrease in appetite/gut fill

- concurrent periparturient diseases (milk fever, retained placenta, ketosis)

PE in cows with an LDA

- TPR normal

- manure of variable consistency, reduced volume

- ketotic on urine dipstick

- ping on L ribs 13-8

What else can cause a ping?

A void rumen

Treatment of LDA

- surgery or toggle

- treat concurrent disease

- transfaunation if available

- post op abx (ceftiofur for no withholding)

- post op NSAIDs? (milk withholding)

Differential diagnosis for RDA - how can we differentiate?

Cecal dilatation

RDA will only ping over the ribs - cecum can ping back to tuber coxae

Pathogenesis of RDA with volvulus

Dilation -> caudal and dorsal displacement -> counterclockwise rotation

Can involve omasum

Causes complete obstruction -> accumulation of fluid

Gastric artery occlusion -> necrosis

When should we be suspicious of an RDA?

- dairy cow

- early lactation

- acutely off feed

- dramatic decrease in milk production

PE of RDA-V cow

- depressed

- dehydrated

- ping on right side

- tachycardia > 100 (IMMEDIATE SX NEEDED)

What chloride level indicates a poor prognosis for an RDA?

< 80

Serum chemistry in DAs

Hypokalemia

Hypochloridemia

Metabolic alkalosis

RDA-V treatment

R flank laparotomy

Fluids - hypertonic saline IV and oral fluids

Flunixin

Abx

Poor prognostic indicators for RDA-V

- large volume of fluid in the abomasum

- Cl < 80

- discolored serosa from vascular compromise

Complications of RDA-V

- loss of abomasal motility

- ulcers causing necrosis of mucosa

- peritonitis causing ischemic necrosis of abomasal wall

Risk factors for DAs

- peri parturient diseases (milk fever, ketosis, retained placenta, metritis)

- low DMI post partum (over feeding in dry period/high BCS)

- low fiber, high starch diet

- 2nd+ lactation cows

- lactating dairy cattle

Is high milk production a risk factor for DAs?

NO