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Interesting bovine medicine cases (Proceedings)
Case 1: 5-year old Angus cow, calved 3 weeks ago
Case 1
• 5-year old Angus cow
• Calved 3 weeks ago
o History
• Stumbling/knuckling in both rear limbs
• Mild ataxia that had worsened
• Weight loss
• Calved unassisted
• Treated with Banamine, calcium, Nuflor
• Was febrile at referring veterinarian
• Received results of 2 CBC's and a serum chemistry also
o Physical exam
•103.5 F
• 110 bpm, 45 breaths per minute
• Mucous membranes, hydration status WNL
• Rumen contractions 3/2 minutes
• Enlarged pre-scapular, pre-femoral, submandibular lymph nodes
o Neurologic exam
• No cranial nerve deficits
• Bright, alert, responsive (visual)
• Knuckling, stumbling in both rear limbs
• Ataxic (lower motor neuron)
• Loss of conscious proprioception
• Diagnostics
• Condition deteriorated over a 48 hour period
• Became recumbent
• Tachycardia and tachypnea became worse
• Results
Case 2
o 15 month-old Angus bull presented for lethargy, anorexia and distended abdomen
o Lethargy started about 1 month, anorexia about 2 weeks and abdominal distension about 10 days prior to presentation
o Bull out on pasture with cows
o No prior history of illness
o Failed a fertility test about 2 weeks prior to presentation
o Urination and defecation not noted by owner
o Physical exam
• T = 100.5 F, P = 90, R = 40
• Mucous membranes possibly pale
• Heart is rapid, but normal in sound
• Lung sounds are increased
• Abdomen is markedly distended bilaterally and ventrally
• Negative on grunt test but does not go down with withers pinch
• Lymph nodes normal
• No sand-like crystals on prepuce
• Rectal – urinary bladder not palpable, lot's of empty "space", rumen small and collapsed, can only palpate caudal pole of kidney – beyond reach
• No stool
o Problems
• Anorexia
• Lethargy
• Abdominal distension
• Tachycardia, tachypnea, increased lung sounds
• Possible abdominal pain
• Abnormal rectal exam – no stool
o Diagnostics?
o Results
o Interpretation
• Severe azotemia
• Electrolyte imbalance
•Consistent with GI obstruction?
o Further diagnostics?
• Abdominocentesis
• Results
• Creatinine
o Exploratory
o Necropsy
Case 3
o 3 year-old bull presented for bloody, severe diarrhea
o 7 days duration. Out on pasture with cows, maintained a good appetite
o Supplemented with 40% range cubes. Current on vaccinations/deworming
o No other animals affected. Raised from calf on farm
o Physical examination found bull was afebrile, actually had bloody, watery diarrhea with small black flecks of a hard material
o Oral and preputial erosions.
o Rectal examination – very roughened, inflamed mucosa
o Differentials
o Diagnostics
o Treatment
o Outcome
Case 4
o 3 year old Angus cow presented in lateral recumbency – found down in morning after seemingly being normal the day before = pregnant to calve in spring
o Owner doesn't actually see the cattle very often
o Found 2 others down earlier in morning, disposed of them (shot them)
o Had one unexplained death about 1 week prior to finding these in recumbency
o About 70 others in group
o Group of cows affected were purchased in summer
o Owner describes this group as slightly thin (when owner admits it, they are probably VERY thin)
o Put out during the summer to graze and calve this spring
o Presented cow is about a 3.5/9 BCS
o Bottom line = hungry cattle grazing less than ideal pasture this fall
o Owner puts out about 2 pounds of 40% cubes per head 2 to 3 times per week. No hay supplementation.
o Physical exam
• Temp. = 100.5, Respiration = 35, Pulse = 70
• Bright and aware of surroundings
• Tries to get up, but winds up lateral
• Normal stool out behind cow in trailer
• No urine passed and none in trailer
• No neurologic deficits detected
• No evidence of trauma
• Can sit sternal
• Generalized paresis
• Mucous membranes, lymph nodes, eyes, muzzle, all normal
o Causes of generalized weakness
o Diagnostics
•Radiographs?
• CSF tap
• Blood film
• Serum Chemistry
• CBC with Fibrinogen
• Urinalysis
• gp51 BLV
o Results
• Blood film
• Total protein/PCV
• CBC/fibrinogen
• Serum chemistry
• Could not get urine!
o Euthanized
• Results
Case 5
o 3-week old calf presented for lethargy of about 1 weeks' duration
o With dam in pasture, no other calves affected
o Normal, unassisted birth
o Physical examination: pale mucous membranes, dark, runny stool, weak suckle reflex, no evidence of dehydration or sepsis
o Diagnostics: PCV: 10!, total protein = albumin =
• Hematology: non-regenerative anemia
• Chemistry: unremarkable
o Differentials
• Blood loss anemia
• Where?
o Bone marrow aspirate
• Iron deficiency
o Abomasal ulcer —>chronic blood loss —> iron deficiency —> anemia
o Treatment
Case 6
o 6 month-old crossbred steer
o 3 day history of "bloody stool"
o Had reportedly been treated with amprolium earlier (1week prior) when steer had "loose" stool
o On full feed, but owner took away grain when they noted these signs
o History of "dropped" ear (treated and improved)
o Bright, alert, still eating hay
o Physical exam
• Mucous membranes
• normal
• Temperature
• 1030F
• Heart rate
• 80 bpm
• Respiratory rate
• 30 bpm
• Increased bronchovesicular sounds
• Rumen motility
• 2/2 minutes
• Abdominal contour
• Maybe slight distension on left
• Bruxism
• Feces
o Diagnostics
o Further diagnostics
• ELISA BVD
• Plasma gastrin?
• Ultrasound
o Treatment
o Response
Case 7
o 3-year old Crossbred cow presented for gradually increasing "swelling" of about 10 days duration. The cow calved 3 weeks ago, and has been out on pasture
o Anorexic when offered supplements
o Physical examination found low-grade fever, tachycardia, tachypnea and muffled heart sounds in addition to the ventral edema present in throat-latch and brisket.
o Diagnostics
o Results
o Outcome
Case 8
o 5-year old, Holstein cow
o Presented for acute anorexia, drop in milk production
o Freshened 8 weeks ago
o On TMR
o No periparturient problems noted
o Physical exam
• T=103.0, P=110, R=50
• Dry, crusty nose, no rumen contractions
• Mild abdominal distension, mucous membranes – tacky, CRT > 3 seconds
• "Treading some with hind limbs"
• Normal udder, milk, normal uterus on rectal, however, some distended bowel loops detected, stool, not much, but has some mucous
• No pings/splashes
o Diagnostics
• Abdominal ultrasound
• Abdominocentesis
• Fecal occult blood
• Urinalysis
• Echocardiography
o Results
o Exploratory
