Search

A total of 81 female dairy cows were treated with corticosteroids for presumed hemorrhagic idiopathic pericardial effusion over a 34-month period on a 2,200 cow dairy in southern Wisconsin. Individual cattle were treated with either dexamethasone or isofluprednone acetate based upon pregnancy status. The median age and days-in-milk at the time of diagnosis was 49 months and 181 days for those receiving dexamethasone (n=51), and 47 months and 316 days for those receiving isofluprednone acetate (n=30), respectively. Mean survival time from time of diagnosis for the non-pregnant group was 131 days +/- 101 days, which did not differ significantly from the slightly shorter mean survival time of 114 days +/- 111 days in the pregnant cow group. Mean mature equivalent milk production for the lactation at the time of diagnosis also did not differ between groups (27,792ñ6,096 lb (12,633ñ2,771 kg) in the group receiving dexamethasone, compared to 30,970ñ4,325 lb (14,077ñ1,966 kg) in the group receiving isofluprednone). Previous accounts of this condition have documented extended survival times following hospital-based treatment that has typically included pericardial drainage. However, our findings underscore the possibility that commercial cattle can be treated on-farm with corticosteroids without the need for drainage, and that extended survival times, reproductive, and lactational performance can still be achieved., The Bovine Practitioner, Vol. 48, No. 2 (2014 Summer)

A mass in the pelvic canal of a 4-year-old pregnant alpaca hembra diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma of the urogenital tract was confirmed by biopsy. Following a tube cystotomy, the alpaca was presented 33 d later, 2 d after the tube cystotomy had been dislodged. A dead cria was delivered by caesarean section.

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT), as the largest immunological organ of the body, plays a pivotal role in calf health, growth, and long-term productivity. Important contributors to optimal gastrointestinal function of calves include colostrum status, a balanced intestinal flora, nutrition, intestinal immune factors, motility, and transport of nutrients. The promotion of GIT health of young calves through dietary manipulations, nutritional supplements, addition of immune components, oral antibiotics, and vaccinations are discussed. Antibiotic alternatives to improve growth and reduce enteric disease are plasma proteins, immunoglobulins, probiotic bacteria, yeast cultures, and oligosaccharides. To ascertain health, growth, and profitability from measures taken to improve intestinal immune function, outcome measurements, intestinal health parameters, and dietary composition should be monitored closely., American Association of Bovine Practitioners Proceedings of the Annual Conference, 2010

Most newborn calf deaths occur prior to weaning, and perinatal mortality that occurs within 48 hours of birth is an increasingly important problem. High-risk calves are delayed in head righting, sitting, and standing attempts. They may be meconium stained, have had an assisted delivery, or been born with a short or prolonged gestation. Without critical care, many of these calves adapt poorly and are at risk for poor colostrum absorption, hypoglycemia, hypothermia, respiratory acidosis, disease, and death. Neonatal resuscitation, oxygen delivery, and fluid administration improves survival rate. Colostrum delivery, clinical monitoring, intravenous catheter placement and maintenance, supportive care, and the implementation of effective treatment protocols performed by trained veterinary technicians provide added value to the large animal veterinarian by enhancing the survival and health of calves., American Association of Bovine Practitioners Proceedings of the Annual Conference, 2009

The loss of dairy calves from stillbirths and disease-related deaths places a significant challenge on the producer who wants farm-specific replacement heifers to maintain or expand herd size. Stillbirths are often overlooked as an important cause of calf mortality, as they are on some dairies. With improved record keeping, data analysis, diagnostic testing and herd monitoring, the appropriate risk factors for stillbirth can be broken down and targeted for improvement. The classification of stillbirths will need to be broadened, however, and the role of maternal stress, metabolic disorders, fetal growth factors and environmental exposure may need attention to solve this growing cause of calf mortality. Solving disease related death problems in dairy calves requires a broad approach that looks not only for the disease agents but for the sources of infection, opportunities to improve immunity and changes that can reduce the susceptibility of calves. Once affected, the difference between disease morbidity and calf mortality is early detection and appropriate intervention with effective treatment protocols. Colostrum management, health screening, diagnostic testing, overview of bedding management, feeding consistency, simplicity, as well as the implementation of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies bring the veterinarian to the forefront of reducing calf morbidity and mortality., American Association of Bovine Practitioners Proceedings of the Annual Conference, 2007

The objective of this study was to determine the ultrasonographic distribution and duration of edema in the mammary gland of dairy cattle due to recent parturition or prolonged duration of not milking ("over-bagging"). Mammary glands of 74 post-partum cows were imaged ultrasonographically within 24 hours of parturition and every 48 hours until ultrasonographically negative for mammary gland edema for 96 hours. All post-partum cows were imaged 10-11 hours after last milking. Distribution of edema on ultrasonographic examination of the mammary gland was also mapped on 26 over-bagged cows at exhibitions. Sixty-eight of 74 (91.8%) post-partum dairy cattle had ultrasonographically detectable udder edema. Post-partum edema was centered at the ventral midline region at the junction of the udder and body wall between the subcutaneous abdominal veins. Edema persisted for an average of 14.7 days in the fore and 14.8 days in the rear quarters. No edema was detected after 22 days post-partum in any cow. In the fore udder of over-bagged cows, edema was centered on the peripheral vein mid-height on the lateral surface of the fore quarters. In the rear quarter, edema was centered in the mid to ventral aspect of the median crease. Average time since last milking in the "over-bagged group" was 19 hours, and average days-in-milk was 104 days. These two patterns of distributions are important for differentiation from injection-induced edema in show cows, and ultrasonographic differences between physiological and artificially induced edema are discussed., The Bovine Practitioner, Vol. 41, No. 2 (2007 Summer)

Investigation of calf morbidity or mortality problems usually requires an accurate assessment of the colostrum-feeding program as well as documentation of the potential enteric and respiratory pathogens to which the pre-weaned calves have been exposed. The approach to herd-based problem solving and assessment is quite different than testing individual calves. Conclusions and recommendations are based, not just on recent history, impressions, written protocols, examination of affected animals and post-mortem results, but on farm data collection. Accurate conclusions require appropriate sample sizes, discriminating tests and an appropriate population of calves to test. The purpose of this paper is to describe the farm data collection and analysis that determines whether there is a herd problem of failure of passive transfer of immunity (FPT), the level of calf exposure to potential fecal and respiratory pathogens and the determination of antimicrobial susceptibility of potential respiratory pathogens., American Association of Bovine Practitioners Proceedings of the Annual Conference, 2005

Fluid therapy can be a pivotal component of the treatment plan for calves with diarrhea, respiratory disease or any other health problem that results in reduced fluid intake or accelerated loss from the body. Daily fluid requirements in health and disease are described. Routes of fluid administration, components of fluid loss and the types of fluid available to resuscitate and rehydrate calves are discussed and applied., American Association of Bovine Practitioners Proceedings of the Annual Conference, 2003

Cow health is a priority for dairy producers who look to their veterinarian to design and implement protocols, train employees to be responsive to cow health and welfare issues, and to monitor the impact of preventative and treatment interventions on productivity of the herd. Using typical dairy herd health problems as case examples, a detailed approach that incorporates individual animal evaluation and scoring, appropriate herd-based testing, observation and analysis is a described. The art of observation, examination and analysis of the animals is an essential element that the veterinarian brings to innovative, creative, technologically and scientifically sophisticated approaches to improved dairy cattle health and productivity., American Association of Bovine Practitioners Proceedings of the Annual Conference, 2003

In a variety of clinical disorders of cows and calves, dehydration develops because of fluid losses from the body. Normally, the volume and composition of body fluids are maintained in an extremely narrow range as excretion is matched to intake. Water intake from ingested water and feeds as well as endogenous water production balances water loss through the urine, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and skin. The amount of a substance added by intake and endogenous production is equal to the amount eliminated by excretion or endogenous utilization. The urinary and gastrointestinal tracts are the major means by which cattle maintain water and electrolyte balance. Excesses can be managed by increased excretion but deficits must be corrected by increased intake. The purpose of this paper is to identify the clinical conditions that are associated with dehydration in cattle, and to provide the assessment parameters that guide trained farm personnel to chose the best route of administration for an appropriate volume and concentration of rehydration fluids. The fluid protocols discussed in this paper will be based on body weight assumptions for a calf and cow of 100 and 1200 lb ( 45 and 550 kg), respectively., American Association of Bovine Practitioners Proceedings of the Annual Conference, 2001

An investigation of a calf disease problem on a dairy should follow certain consistent, repeatable steps. Whether you are the attending or consulting veterinarian, it behooves you to compile baseline information so you know the purpose of the calf raising operation (replacement heifers, veal, dairy beef). Baseline information can be obtained by interview but it should be corroborated by a review of the calf records, billing slips, or laboratory data. This information becomes your initial database which is used to accurately state the problem. It is imperative that there is agreement between veterinarian and owner about what the problem is. Subsequently, the investigation of a calf disease outbreak will be problem-oriented, thus avoiding the natural tendency to target everything in an operation which is problematic or could be improved., The Bovine Practitioner, No. 31.1 (1997 January)

Oral electrolyte administration remains the mainstay of therapy of calf diarrhea. Solutions can effectively combat dehydration if they are administered in sufficient volume (6.5 to 8.5 L daily) alone or in combination with milk. Hypertonic oral electrolyte solutions are the most calorie dense of the oral electrolyte solutions and are superior to most isosmolar solutions in their ability to resolve metabolic acidosis and electrolyte derangements of the scouring calf. Continued milk feeding combined with administration of oral electrolyte solution for treatment of diarrhea can satisfactorily meet the calf's caloric requirements for maintenance and growth, increase weight gain, improve glucose homeostasis, and shorten the course of diarrhea. Provision of fiber and beneficial intestinal microflora in oral electrolyte solutions have potentially beneficial outcomes but remain to be tested in field studies., American Association of Bovine Practitioners Proceedings of the Annual Conference, 1992: Volume 2

Despite increasing awareness of the importance of passive immunity in calves to reduce disease prevalence, morbidity from calfhood diseases, days to first illness, sick days, days of viral shedding, viremia, growth and productivity(l-6), 20 to 30% of neonates will be hypo- or agammaglobulinemic. Failure of passive transfer of maternal immunoglobulins (FPT) occurs when there is a problem with 1 or more of the 3 phases of passive transfer: formation of colostrum with a high concentration of immunoglobulin, ingestion of an adequate volume of colostrum by the calf in a timely fashion, or efficient absorption of colostral immunoglobulin. Some calves with FPT are healthy and productive neonates, which is a reflection of the importance of other factors including environmental conditions, management practices, pathogen load, pathogen virulence, and nutrition of the calf in addition to acquisition of passive immunity. There is general acceptance that failure of passive transfer exists when calves between 36 and 48 hours of age have serum immunoglobulin concentrations less than 1000 mg/di. Individual calf problems can occur when its serum immunoglobulin concentration is below 1000 mg/di; herd problems occur with increased prevalence of scours and respiratory disease occur when large numbers of calves have FPT., American Association of Bovine Practitioners Proceedings of the Annual Conference, 1992: Volume 2