Systemic Diseases of Veterinary Medicine

Diseases of the Digestive System

Index

  • Diseases of Digestive System: 2-43

  • Diseases of Peritoneum: 43-55

  • Diseases of Liver and Pancreas: 55-63

  • Diseases of Respiratory System: 63-106

  • Diseases of Cardiovascular System: 106-127

  • Diseases of Nervous System: 128-142

  • Diseases of Skin: 143-170

  • Diseases of Urinary System: 171-195

  • Diseases of Musculoskeletal System: 196-225

Learning Objectives for Module 6: Diseases of Digestive System-I

  • Discuss vomiting, regurgitation, simple indigestion, and ruminal parakeratosis.

Vomiting

  • Defined as the forceful ejection of stomach and proximal small intestine contents through the mouth.

  • True vomiting: Occurs in monogastric animals; NOT typical in horses due to a strong cardiac sphincter.

  • Symptoms of nausea include depression, shivering, hiding, yawning, and lip licking.

  • Retching: Second phase of vomiting involving contraction of abdominal muscles.

Pathways of Vomiting

  • The vomitus passes through the pharyngeal cavity, with the nasopharynx closing to prevent aspiration.

  • Emetic center in the medulla oblongata responds to receptor stimulation.

  • Various receptors throughout the abdominal viscera and other organs contribute to the vomiting reflex.

Clinical Approach to Vomiting

  • History Assessment: Includes gagging, coughing, regurgitation, dysphagia.

  • Assess infectious diseases in young unvaccinated animals.

  • Biological factors: Age, breed, ingestion of toxins, systemic diseases.

Clinical Signs

  • Vomitus characteristics: bile presence indicates no pyloric obstruction, while blood appearance suggests erosion/ulceration.

  • Hematology: Neutrophilia indicates possible infection/inflammation.

Treatment and Management

  1. Remove Primary Cause: Identify and eliminate the underlying issue.

  2. Control vomiting by correcting fluid/electrolyte imbalances.

  3. Dietary Management: Begin NPO (nothing per os), then reintroduce bland carbohydrate diets.

  4. Fluid Therapy: Monitor hydration status, treat metabolic conditions.

Regurgitation

  • Defined as the expulsion of undigested feed and saliva through the mouth or nasal cavities.

  • Causes include abnormal cardia tone or inflammatory conditions of the esophagus or stomach.

Simple Indigestion

  • Results from dietary factors like low-quality roughage, excess grain, malfunction in rumen function.

  • Clinical findings: Reduced appetite, abdominal pain, altered feces.

  • Treatment involves dietary improvements and possibly specific interventions such as rumenatorics.

Ruminal Parakeratosis

  • Definition: Thickening of the rumen epithelium due to pH changes and increased volatile fatty acids.

  • Symptoms: Enlarged papillae, changes in grazing habits, and potential nutritional deficiencies.

Indigestion in Calves Fed Milk Replacers

  • Condition: Characterized by poorly functioning reticular groove causing milk to enter the rumen.

  • Symptoms: Abdominal distension, abnormal feces, and generalized unthriftiness.

Summary of Key Terms

  • Vomiting: Forceful ejection of stomach contents.

  • Retching: Precedes vomiting; involves abdominal muscle contractions.

  • Regurgitation: Non-forceful expulsion of feed.

  • Simple Indigestion: Results from dietary imbalances.

  • Ruminal Parakeratosis: Thickening of rumen lining due to excessive acidity.

Okay! Imagine your tummy is like a big balloon. Sometimes, when you eat too fast or eat things that don’t sit well, that balloon can feel funny and might want to let some air out. If it lets too much out, you might throw up, which is like the balloon bursting and all the food comes out. Other times, the food can just come back up without bursting like when you just burp! But sometimes, if what you eat is not good for your tummy, it might just make your tummy hurt a little and that’s called indigestion. We have to be careful about what we eat to keep our tummy happy!