Bovine Restraint, Physical Exam, and Sampling Techniques Vocabulary

Flashcards on Bovine Restraint, Physical Exam, and Sampling Techniques

Heifer calf

Female neonate less than 1 year old.

Bull calf

Male neonate less than 1 year old.

Heifer

Female that has not given birth.

Cow

Mature female.

Bull

Mature male.

Steer

Castrated male.

Calving

The act of parturition, also known as freshening.

Dairy vs. Beef

• —Dairy breeds produce milk and are handled daily so most become acclimated to humans

• —Beef breeds produce beef and are only handled a few times per year so most are not acclimated to humans

• —Even if a cow or calf is docile or halter-broken, they are all very strong and can be very difficult to handle

Nose Leads (Snub)

A restraint method involving a clamp-like device around the nasal septum of cattle to control the head.

Tail Jack

A restraint method where the tail is used to help control movement.

A thorough history should not only involve the individual animal, but also the herd history

—Herd size/use

—Vaccination history/deworming history

—Possible exposure to contagious diseases

—Clinical signs-duration, severity, etc.

—Medications given and when

—Feeding regimen-how much, how often

—Animal’s use (breeding stock, feeder calf, herd bull, etc.)

Cattle Physical Examination

Temperature

Pulse

Respiration

Heart/lung auscultation

Abdominal auscultation/palpation

Hydration status

Mucous membrane evaluation

+\- weight measurement (if scale)

Normal temperature for adult cattle

100-102.5^oF

Heart Auscultation

Process of listening to the sounds of the heart.

Normal pulse/Heart rate for adult cattle

40-80 bpm

Pulse

Taken at the facial artery, transverse facial artery, coccygeal artery, or digital artery. Normal: 40-80 bpm

Lung Auscultation

Process of listening to the sounds of the lungs.

Normal Respiratory Rate for cattle

10-30 bpm

Eructation

Normal process where methane gas and CO2 produced by fermentation of food is expelled.

Rumination (chewing their cud)

Regurgitate partially digested food, chewed and swallowed again.

Abdominal Auscultation

Anywhere along the abdominal wall can be ausculted. Normal rumen contractions are 1 or 2 per minute.

The flank is divided into four quadrants:

Upper left (paralumbar fossa)

Lower left

upper right (paralumbar fossa)

Lower right

Dehydration

Indicated by sunken eyes and dry mucous membranes.

Normal MM color is light pink

easiest to assess on inner surface of vagina or conjunctiva

Cattle dental formula

• 2(I 0/3 C 0/1 P 3/3 M 3/3) = 32 {upper/lower}

• Upper Dental Pad

• Replaces incisors

Body condition

Venous blood sampling

Can be done for herd screening or on individual animals for diagnosing metabolic or infectious diseases.

Jugular vein

• Most common site for venipuncture in cattle.

• Use 16-18 g x 1 ½” needle at 45 degree angle to the skin

Coccygeal vein (tail vein)

• Ventral midline, proximal 1/3 of tail.

• 18-20 g x 1-1 1/2:” needle at 45 – 90 degree angle to the skin

hemal processes (arches)-

• bony canals on ventral aspect of vertebrae to protect artery and vein

• must go between arches/vertebrae to find vein

Subcutaneous abdominal vein (milk vein)

• Paired on right and left ventrolateral body wall of thorax and abdomen.

• Only use if necessary-use cranial ½ of vein Avoid if possible!!

FDA

Responsible for drug approval and for establishing withdrawal intervals for food animals.

Extra-label drug use

Some drugs are used off-label in food animals- no withdrawal on label.

Balling gun

• Used to deliver capsules/bolus (large tablets).

• Head restraint is essential

• Nose should not be higher than head height  to decrease risk of tracheal aspiration of medication

Drenching

• Delivery of liquid oral medication into oral cavity of ruminants

• Oral dose syringe or 60 cc catheter tip syringe are commonly used

Frick speculum

• Metal tube- placed like balling gun over base of tongue.

• Can be used to deliver bolus/liquids

• Can be used to assist passage of stomach tube by orogastric intubation

Gastric intubation

• Used to deliver large quantities of fluid and to relieve bloat.

• Used to relieve bloat

• Used to obtain sample of rumen fluid

Nasogastric intubation

possible in cattle but limits size of tube to pass because of small nostrils in cattle

Orogastric intubation

• more frequently used method

• Speculum placed in mouth

• Lubricate the end of tube with water

• Advance tube to pharynx –meet resistance-

• When animal swallows, tube is advanced

• Proper placement in esophagus should be confirmed before fluid is administered

• Observe tube passing through esophagus

• Palpate tube passing through esophagus

• Smell rumen gas or see rumen fluid in tube

Administering injections

• Keep all injections in front of the shoulder (less valuable meat).  Never inject into rump!

• Never inject more than 10 cc in one site

• Injection sites should be at least 4 inches apart

• Read the label

• Follow label recommendations for storage

• Use subcutaneous if possible

• Change needles at least every 10 animals

Intravenous

• jugular vein is best, for small volume of medication, the caudal auricular vein and coccygealvein may be used

• Caution with coccygeal vein!  The coccygeal artery runs close to this vein and if injection is given perivascularly, blood flow to the tail may be compromised-tail necrosis

SQ injections:

• 16-18 g needle, ½-3/4” long

• Skin tented, go into skin at a 45-degree angle

IM injections

• 16-18 g needle, 1-1 ½” long

• Go straight into muscle, perpendicular to side of neck

• Cover area and massage after injection to prevent leakage out of skin

Lateral neck SQ or IM injections for cattle:

• hands width ventral to nuchal ligament

• hands width cranial to cranial border of scapula

• hands width dorsal to cervical vertebrae

Modified Live Vaccines

• Bacteria or viruses are not killed but modified to stimulate an immune response

• Packaged in freeze-dried vial that must be mixed with diluent

• Lose effectiveness approximately 1 hour after mixing

• Must be used immediately and remainder is discarded

• More sensitive to light and temperature changes

• More sensitive to disinfectants and other products that can destroy the vaccine

• Usually given in the muscle so that the virus can reproduce and reach the lymphatic system more easily

Killed vaccines

• Contain a killed virus or bacterin. Generally, less immune response to killed vs. modified live vaccines

• Most can be given SQ or IM (read label directions)

Euthanasia

• IV injection of barbituric acid derivatives

• IV injection of potassium chloride (KCl) in conjunction with general anesthesia

• Penetrating captive bolt

• The following euthanasia methods are considered conditionally acceptable

  • Gunshot

  • Electrocution

  • NOT cervical dislocation