5. Diagnostics, therapy, and prevention of forestomach and abomasum diseases

RUMINANTS STATE 2024

What is simple indigestion in ruminants?

A minor disturbance in ruminant GI function.

What are common causes of simple indigestion?

Abrupt change in diet quality/quantity, excessive grain/silage, stress, antibiotics.

What happens to rumen pH during simple indigestion?

pH decreases due to rapid carbohydrate fermentation or increases due to forestomach hypomobility and feed putrefaction.

What are the clinical signs of simple indigestion?

Anorexia, drop in milk production, decreased or watery foul-smelling feces.

How is simple indigestion diagnosed?

Based on history and rumen fluid examination (pH, decreased protozoa, methylene blue reduction time).

How is simple indigestion treated?

Correct the diet, saline, MgOH to restore optimal rumen pH.

What is the cause of acute ruminal acidosis?

Excessive intake of highly fermentable carbohydrates (grains).

What is the main pathological change in acute ruminal acidosis?

pH decreases, causing a shift in bacterial population, more lactic acid production, ruminal stasis, and water drawn into the rumen.

What are the clinical signs of acute ruminal acidosis?

Seen 12-36 hours after feeding, includes dehydration, diarrhea, recumbency, abdominal distension, tachycardia, hypothermia.

How is acute ruminal acidosis diagnosed?

Splashing sound in rumen, ruminal fluid analysis (milky grey, watery, acidic pH

How is acute ruminal acidosis treated?

Ruminal lavage, correct acidosis with 5% sodium bicarbonate, electrolytes, antacids, and correct diet.

What is chronic ruminal acidosis (SARA)?

Periods of low ruminal pH (5.6-5.2) due to excessive carbohydrate intake and inadequate fiber.

What are the clinical signs of SARA?

Reduced rumination, mild diarrhea, foamy feces with gas bubbles, undigested grains in feces, drop in milk yield, low milk-fat.

How is SARA diagnosed?

Herd diagnosis by measuring ruminal pH (2-4 hours after feeding), milk fat, urine pH, blood and urine calcium.

What is the treatment for SARA?

No specific treatment, but prevention through proper ruminal adaptation to high-grain diets and good diet formulation.

What causes acute ruminal alkalosis?

Ingestion of large quantities of urea.

What happens during acute ruminal alkalosis?

Urea is converted to ammonia in the rumen, causing an increase in pH and rapid absorption of ammonia into the blood, leading to toxicity.

What are the clinical signs of acute ruminal alkalosis?

Decreased rumen motility, severe abdominal pain, incoordination, bloat, paralysis, death.

How is acute ruminal alkalosis diagnosed?

Rumen fluid analysis showing pH >7 and dark, putrid content.

How is acute ruminal alkalosis treated?

Ruminal lavage with water and acetic acid or vinegar, IV saline, PO volatile fatty acids.

What is acute ruminal tympany (bloat)?

Overdistension of the ruminoreticulum with fermentation gases.

What causes primary frothy bloat?

Ingestion of large amounts of lush pastures, legumes, or alfalfa, which increases rumen fluid viscosity and inhibits eructation.

What are the clinical signs of bloat?

Left abdominal distension, eventually both sides, dyspnea, severe distress, tachycardia, no rumen movement, death within 3-4 hours.

How is bloat diagnosed?

High-pitched metallic ping on percussion, rectal exam.

How is bloat treated?

Relief of ruminal pressure with a stomach tube or trocarization, antifoaming agents like vegetable or paraffin oil, supportive care.

What causes chronic ruminal tympany?

Failure of the rumen to remove gas, often due to coarse, indigestible roughage in young animals, or conditions like Hoflund syndrome in adults.

What is Hoflund syndrome (vagus indigestion)?

Gradual asymmetric abdominal distension due to gas and digesta accumulation caused by vagal nerve injury or reticulo-omasal obstruction.

What are the clinical signs of Hoflund syndrome?

Abdominal distension with an L-shaped appearance, bradycardia, anorexia, decreased defecation, dehydration.

How is Hoflund syndrome treated?

Paraffin oil, rumenotomy to remove foreign bodies or abscesses, correction of displacement, supportive care.

What is traumatic reticuloperitonitis (hardware disease)?

Infection of the reticulum and peritoneum caused by a sharp, ingested object perforating the reticulum.

What are the clinical signs of hardware disease?

Arched back, painful abdomen, anorexia, fever, tachypnea, grunting, reluctant to move.

How is hardware disease diagnosed?

Clinical signs, pain on percussion of the reticulum, back grip, pressure tests.

How is hardware disease treated?

Conservative treatment with a magnet and antibiotics, or surgical rumenotomy to remove the object.

What is the cause of left displaced abomasum (LDA)?

Displacement of the abomasum to the left, common in post-partum dairy cows due to high concentrate diets, hypocalcemia, and other factors.

What are the clinical signs of left displaced abomasum?

Decreased feces, arched back, dehydration, metallic ping on auscultation, ketonuria, metabolic alkalosis.

How is LDA treated?

Rolling the cow, or surgical procedures like percutaneous abomasopexy or laparotomic omentopexy.

What is right displaced abomasum (RDA) and volvulus?

Life-threatening condition where the abomasum twists, causing ischemia, necrosis, and metabolic disturbances.

What are the clinical signs of abomasal volvulus?

Rapid clinical deterioration, tachycardia, weak pulse, severe depression, signs of toxemia, recumbency, death.

How is abomasal volvulus treated?

Surgical correction (omentopexy) after stabilizing the cow with IV fluids and electrolytes.//