Calf bloat Dr.Amandeep L2013V40M Department Of Veterinary Medicine GADVASU
Jul 17, 2015
Calf bloat
Dr.Amandeep L2013V40M
Department Of Veterinary MedicineGADVASU
Abomasal Tympany
• RISK FACTORS
NO offering of water to calves
Poor milk hygiene/ intermittent feeding of
large volumes of milk/cool milk temperature
Dietary changes
Abomasal bezoar
Risk Factors
Organisms like C.perfringens , Campylobacter,
Sarcinia
Compromised immunity from inadequate colostrum
Ingestion of foreign bodies
Vitamin / mineral deficiency
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Large
quantity of
milk replacer
at infrequent
intervals
Proliferation
of
lactobacilli ,
E.coli,
C.perfringen
s
Fermentatio
n of sugars
produces
CO2
Clinical Signs• Colic
• Refusal to drink milk
• Restlessness & Depression
• Succusion of distended abdomen produces
splashing & metallic sounds
• Passage of stomach tube fails to relieve
distension
• Reduced fecal output & occasionally melena
• Metabolic alkalosis followed by metabolic acidosis
Treatment
• Prevent further suckling
• Don’t tube the calf
• Paracentesis- through right flank
• Right flank lapratomy
Treatment
• I/V fluids- correct dehydration electrolyte &
metabolic derangement
• Earlier antibiotic Rx sometimes effective
• Addition of 0.1% formalin(37%
formaldehyde) to milk replacer reduces
incidence
Recent Developments
• Length of tube to reach the stomach is typically
length from mouth to last rib on calf’s side
• After insertion, lift front end of calf up so that
calf is sitting/standing in near vertical plane
• Procaine penicillin (10 cc of 10,000 IU/ml
solution) mixed in 2 cups of mineral oil should
be administered into the tube,
Recent Developments
• With a cup or two of warm water as a “chaser” to
push the medication out of the tube and into the
stomach
• Subcutaneous administration of procaine
penicillin (4 cc of 10,000 IU/ml solution per 100
lbs of bodyweight, 1-2 times per day)
• Injection of 50-100 mg of intravenous or
subcutaneous flunixin meglumine
Continue....
• ScourGuard from Pfizer
• Scour Bos 9 from Novartis
• These products contain toxoid against C.
perfringens & are designed to be given to
pregnant cow prior to calving
Management
• Monitor protein, energy, vitamin, and trace mineral
• Adequate colostral intake by newborn calves is must
• Monitor changes in the volume of milk ingested by a
hungry calf
Management
• Prolonged interruption of suckling must be made
time-efficient in order to limit engorgement of the
udder and subsequent ingestion by the neonate of
a larger than normal milk meal
• Sudden and severe changes in weather may cause
dams and their offspring to seek shelter or remain
recumbent for prolonged periods of time
Ruminal bloat
Risk factors
• Rumen putrefaction
• Obstruction of cardia or
esophagus
• Vagal indigestion
Pathophysiology
Large quantities of milk
by escaping
esophageal groove
Putrefactive
decomposition by
proteolytic bacteria
Aerobic population
converts into anaerobic
Clinical signs
• Diarrhoea
• Poor development
• Rough hair coat
• Recurrent bloat
• Complication of severe bronchopneumonia
Management
• Reduction in the volume of milk fed per feeding
• Feeding from nipple rather than bucket
• Introduce calf starter to promote rumen
development
• Course of oral antibiotics(500 mg oxytetracycline)
o.d help in killing of putrefactive gut flora
• Placemant of fistula( buff’s screw trocar)
Thanks