Exam 1: Food Animal Neonatology

neonatal adaptation

• umbilicus breaks or kinks

• asphyxia

• gasping, increased vascular resistance

• ventilation decreases pulmonary arterial pressure and alveoli are perfused

• increased O2 causes DA to close in 4-5 minutes

• increased pulmonary venous return increases left atrial pressure and closes FO in 5-20 minutes

  • anaerobic glycolysis corrected in 1-4 hours

normal postpartum events

• righting head immediately, sternal in 2-3 minutes

• suckle reflex 2-20 minutes 

• standing attempts at 15 minutes, successful at 30 

• nursing within an hour, dairy may be slower 

immediate post natal resuscitation and care

• place in sternal

• airway finger sweep and suction

• breathing within 30 seconds

• doxapram

• HR should be >100, epinephrine if not

• WARM!! FED!! DRY!!

mechanical methods for respiration and airway patency

• rubbing calves with bedding or towels to stimulate phrenic nerve (do not remove all blood and guts)

• placing a finger, piece of straw, ect in the nose initiates the gasping reflex nd helps aerates the lungs

• use of acupuncture on the muzzle

drugs for post natal resuscitation

• doxapram

• ephinephrine

• prednisoone sodium succinate

• dexmethasone

• bicarbonate

• fluids

• dextrose

• mannitol

• furosemide

• aminophylline

umbilical care 

• no consensus on dipping 

• 2-3% iodine or 7% incture 

• 0.5% chlorhexidine 

what should NEVER be used for resuscitation

• NEVER suspend by the rear legs for a extended period of time or swing around by back egs

definitions of high risk calves

• large singles, small multiples

• meconium passage

• placental abnormalities

• dysmaturity/prematurity

• trauma

• posterior presentation

• cannot stay sternal after 15 minutes

• prenatal NSAIDS causing premature closure of fetal ductus venosis

post natal trauma 

• fractures caused by excessive obstetrical force may occur and require attention 

• limbs 

• ribs 

• vertebral fractures 

manage swelling of the tongue or head

• calves wedged in pelvic canal for prolonged periods may suffer from poor venous return, subsequent regional swelliing

• delivery helps re-establish venous return, swelling resolves within a few days

• massage may help decrease the fluid retention

• furosemide or mannitol

• if calf is unable to nurse, nutritional support required

physiology of colostrum

• importance well documented

• depends on nonselective macromolecule absorption

• colostrum goes to lymphatics first when it is absorbed then to systemic circulation

• bloody colostrum may make scours worse

timing and volume of colostrum 

• clock starts at birth, 6hr = 50% 

• 10% BW in 12-24hrs 

• 3-4L for most 

• minimum of 150-200g IgG 

method and quality of colostrum

• no difference between tubing and suckling, simply access

• colostrometer >1.050

• weight = high volume low quality

• use colostrum from cows >3rd lactation

• collect immediately at calving

abomasum in calves

• for first two weeks of a calfs life it is a monogastric using only the abomasum to digest the milk or milk replacer

• abomasum releases digestive enzymes to break down fats, carbs, proteins, ect

what structure allows a calf to pass over the rumen to the abomasum until it is a ruminant 

esophageal groove

rumen in calves

• epithelial and muscular layer

• muscular layer is responsible for rumen contractions and gives support to the eipithelial layer which provides absorption

• end products of rumen fermentation, particularly propionate and butyrate acid, provide the stimulus needed for development of the epithelial layer

  • prior to weaning the rumen must be able to absorb and metabolize VFA

describe the esophageal groove

• muscular folds from the reticulorumen that comes together to bypass the rumen, reticulum and omasum through the abomasum when the calf drinks milk

• suckling reflex and milk protein stimulates the groove to open

milk digestion in calves 

• milk forms a clot in the abomasum from the coagulation of milk protein or casein, the enzymes rennin and pepsin and the hydrochloric acid in the abomasum 

• other milk components, primarily whey proteins, lactose and most minerals separate from the curd and rapidly pass in the small intestines 

• lactose is digested quickly 

• clot is slowly absorbed by blood stream over 12-18hrs 

dairy calf processing

• ID and navel

• bulls may be sold immediately

• 1st week = dehorn, castrate

• 2-4m = clostridial, respiratory vaccines

• 4-6m = clostridial, brucellosis, resp vaccines

beef calf processing

• ID and navel

• 1st week may castrate and dehorn

• 2-4m = brand, castrate, dehorn, clostridial, resp vac. Still on cow = use killed or new MLVs

• 5-9m = weaning time= ensure castrated and dehorned, brucellosis, clostridial, resp vac, deworm, external parasites

calf TPR 

• 100-102

• 90-110bpm 

• 30-40bpm 

ddx for lack of suckle reflex

• acidosis

• hypoglucemia

• septicemia

• hypothermia

• hyponatremia

• hypokalemia

• dehydration

• toxins, hypothyroidism are rare

neurologic calves

• mental status

• menace is developed 8-14 days, will not have at birth

• congenital

• acquired= metabolic, hypoxic

cardiovascular exam newborn 

• rate, rhythm, character 

• murmurs- difficult to interpret 

• VSD, PDS

• peripheral perfusion 

respiratory exam calf

• rate character effort

• palpate ribs

• difficult to evaluate lungs sounds in neonates

• changes in breathing are often metabolic

• pneuminia (aspiration, infection)

• congenital upper airway disease

urogenital exam newborn

• umbilicus patency, size, drainage, pain, deep palpation, US

• freemartim- long vulvar hair, large clitoris, test tube test

diseases 0-3 days 

• prematurity 

• decreased fetal viability due to abortive agents or congenital abnormalities 

• starvation due to teat issues, temperment, C section, protein energy malnutrition, weakness or floring 

• hypothermia due to nutritional myodegeneration, demyelination, CAE/OPP, scours, border disease