Traumatic duodenitis in a dairy cow

Aetiology, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of traumatic reticuloperitonitis in cattle

Traumatic reticuloperitonitis (TRP) in cattle is caused by ingested nails, pieces of wire, and other nonmetallic materials that injure the reticular wall. Clinical signs of acute TRP may include anorexia, fever, drop in milk production, rumen atony and tympany, abdominal pain, an arched back, a tucked up and "guarded" abdomen and spontaneous grunting, but may be obscure or absent in chronic cases. Haematological findings alone are not diagnostic, but total and differential white blood cell counts, the concentration of fibrinogen and total protein and the glutaraldehyde coagulation time may indicate inflammation associated with TRP. The clinical examination is aimed at eliciting a grunt in response to foreign body tests such as back grip, pole test or pain percussion. Inflammatory changes of the reticulum and adjacent organs and impairment of reticular motility are characteristic features of TRP and can be detected via ultrasonography. Radiography is the technique of choice for the visualisation of metallic foreign bodies and for monitoring the efficacy of a magnet. Treatment may be conservative or surgical, but in most cases initial treatment is conservative with administration of a magnet and antibiotics. If the cow fails to respond to medical treatment, surgical treatment is the next option other than euthanasia and ideally is carried out after imaging of the reticulum. If this is not feasible, a second magnet and continuation of antibiotic treatment is recommended.

Herniation of the gravid uterus through a mesoduodenal defect and concurrent omental hernia in a cow

OBJECTIVES

To describe surgical treatment of herniation of the gravid uterus through the mesoduodenum, displacement of the descending duodenum around the gravid uterus, and concurrent herniation of the small and large intestines into the omental bursa in a cow.

STUDY DESIGN

Clinical report.

ANIMAL

Three-year-old, five-month-pregnant Swiss Braunvieh cow.

METHODS

Repositioning of the displaced uterus and descending duodenum without transection and anastomosis of the duodenum was performed through a right flank laparotomy. Concurrent displacement of a large portion of the small and large intestines into the omental bursa was not associated with intestinal strangulation and was corrected manually. The defects in the omentum and mesoduodenum were sutured.

RESULTS

There were no postoperative complications, and the cow was healthy at discharge from the clinic 1 week after surgery. Telephone follow-up revealed that the cow had delivered a live calf and was producing a normal amount of milk. The cow was slaughtered 14 months after the surgery because of an udder problem.

CONCLUSIONS

Herniation of the gravid uterus through a tear in the mesoduodenum with subsequent displacement of the descending duodenum around the uterus combined with internal omental herniation caused nonspecific clinical signs and no ileus. Exploratory laparotomy in an early stage of pregnancy facilitated reduction of the displaced uterus without transection of the descending duodenum.

Comparison of naturally occurring proximal duodenal obstruction and abomasal volvulus in dairy cattle

Physical and clinicopathologic findings from six cows with proximal duodenal obstruction (PDO) and 58 cows with abomasal volvulus (AV) were compared retrospectively. Many of the physical signs were similar in cows with PDO and cows with AV, but the two conditions differed in the type of abdominal distention, and in the findings from rectal examination and abdominal auscultation. Cows with PDO had significantly lower mean values for serum sodium (Na+) and chloride ion (Cl-), and higher mean values for plasma bicarbonate [HCO3-], base excess, carbon dioxide pressure (pCO2), serum phosphate, urea nitrogen, and total protein than AV affected cattle. Cows with PDO showed hyperglycemia (range, 263-990 mg/dl; mean, 618 mg/dl) of unexplained etiology that was significantly higher than blood-glucose concentrations in AV cows (mean, 178 mg/dl). Although all AV cows with anion gap values greater than 32 mEq/l died;PDO cows with equally elevated anion gap survived. The anion gap elevations in PDO and AV cows resulted from accumulation of different anions. Although the site of obstruction of aborad flow of ingesta is similar in both disease conditions, the differences in physical and clinicopathologic findings appear to reflect differences in the degree of reticulo-omasal orifice obstruction and the degree of abomasal vascular compromise.