Clinical examination of the abdomen in adult cattle

Abstract

CLINICAL examination of the abdomen in adult cattle can be daunting due to the fractious nature of infrequently handled animals and the lack of adequate restraint facilities on some farms. For many veterinary surgeons, cattle have become an unfamiliar species which are only examined periodically. The range of abdominal conditions which may occur in cattle is challenging and a careful cost-benefit analysis is required before an investigative or treatment protocol in embarked upon. Nevertheless, much can be achieved by using a methodical approach and many conditions may be successfully (and dramatically) treated if the correct diagnosis is achieved. This article describes how to conduct a systematic clinical examination of the bovine abdomen and outlines the abnormalities which may be found. In particular, it considers the observation and examination of the patient and any further diagnostic investigations which may be useful. Where appropriate, specific conditions are used to illustrate the abnormalities which may be present. The urogenital system is not covered.

Atypical case of parietal fibrinous peritonitis in a Belgian Blue heifer without a history of laparotomy

“…At auscultation and percussion, a high‐pitched metallic sound ‘ping’ was heard on the right flank on a 10 cm² area in the paralumbar fossa. Pain tests performed in order to detect a traumatic reticuloperitonitis, such as xiphoidal pressure, bar test and whither reflexes, were negative 9…”

“…In our diagnostic procedure, we followed the classical steps of clinical examination 9. A general clinical examination was carried out, and the differential diagnosis was narrowed down to PFP by additional diagnostic steps.…”

“…At inspection, the heifer presented bilateral abdominal swelling, an arched back and a low body condition. Clinical examination revealed an elevated respiratory rate, hyperthermia, an increased cardiac frequency and a weak pulse (evaluated in the facial artery, at the mandibular fissure), a decreased rumen contraction rate and decreased bowel sounds (table 1)9 10…”

Avaliação da bioquímica sanguínea de vacas leiteiras acometidas por desordens digestivas de natureza mecânica

“…Nesse estudo a atividade sérica das enzimas GLDH e da GGT revelou a existência de dano hepático em todos os grupos de enfermidades e cuja intensidade persistiu e manteve-se inalterada no decorrer dos momentos analisados. Segundo Cockcroft;Jackson (2004) e Noro et al (2013) essas enzimas (em especial a GLDH) retratam com maior fidedignidade e especificidade as injúrias hepáticas, conforme relatada por Vogel et al (2012) em bovinos acometidos por obstrução duodenal secundária ao vólvulo da flexura sigmóide duodenal, uma vez que nessa condição o ducto biliar é incluído no vólvulo, causando obstrução mecânica da vesícula biliar e consequente colestase ou colangiohepatite (Gomez et al 2017). Outros autores (Garry 2002, Kaneko et al 2008 também relataram aumentos na atividade sérica da GGT e AST associado a dano hepático devido à absorção de toxinas do conteúdo ruminal veiculadas pelo alimento ou do conteúdo em putrefação consequente à estase gastrointestinal.…”

“…Para o diagnóstico dessas enfermidades além do exame clínico, a utilização de ferramentas complementares, como os exames laboratoriais e métodos de diagnósticos por imagem, são de valiosa aplicabilidade junto ao diagnóstico dos transtornos digestivos (COCKCROFT; JACKSON, 2004;FIGUEIREDO et al, 2006;THARWAT, 2011;NORO et al, 2013;KHALPHALLAH et al, 2016). Nesse contexto, a análise de indicadores bioquímicos que reflitam o status das principais vias metabólicas em bovinos acometidos por diferentes desordens digestivas é de grande utilidade, uma vez que permitem informações aplicáveis ao diagnóstico, à terapêutica e à prevenção dessas enfermidades (NAGARAJA;LECHTENBERG, 2007;ENEMARK, 2008;CHAPINAL et al, 2011).…”