Fresh Cow DiseasesAVS 2030

October 2, 2013

The Fresh Period Cows are considered “fresh” for the first

21 days post-calving This is the period of most stress

o Starting a new/first lactationo Transitioning from dry cow to lactating

rationo Milk production increasingo New/different housing & penmateso She just had a baby with no maternal

leave!

The Fresh Cow High stress level can lead to

immunosuppression Should be monitored closely for the

first 3 weeks Prevention is key! Early treatment is essential A bad start can lead to a bad

lactation

Factors that Increase Stress

Overcrowding Inadequate/infrequent feeding Poor quality feed Poor quality water Heat/cold stress Competition Dystocia Fat or Thin Cows

4 Common Fresh Cow Disease

Milk Fever Displaced Abomasum

Ketosis Metritis

Milk Fever Milk fever = low blood Calcium

(hypocalcemia) Role of Calcium

o Production of milko Structure of bones and teetho Cardiac and skeletal muscle function• Movement and heart function

o Smooth muscle function• Gastrointestinal tract• Uterus

Milk Fever Clinical Milk Fever

o Cow is weak or recumbent (down)o Extremities and ears are cold o Muscle twitching

Subclinical Milk Fevero Cow does not appear sick or weako Manifests as other diseases• Displaced abomasum• Retained placenta

Milk Fever If left untreated, these cows can die Treatment depends on the status of the

animalo Clinical Milk Fever

• IV 23% Calcium Gluconate• GO SLOW!!!!

o Subclinical or Mild Milk Fever• Oral Calcium supplements

• Drenches, boluses, gels, etc.

Displaced Abomasum

4 compartments of the cow stomach:o Rumeno Reticulumo Omasum o Abomasum

Displaced Abomasum

Rumen

Displaced Abomasum

Usually something else going on Cow off feed

o Rumen Empty• Too much free space in abdomen

Subclinical hypocalcemiao Decreased gastrointestinal motility

Abomasum fills with air and flips

Displaced Abomasum

Left Sided DAo LDAs are more commono Require treatment but can be managed

medically until veterinarian can perform surgery

o Medical therapy alone may be used • more likely to recur

o Cows generally eating the next day and back to normal in a few days

Displaced Abomasum

Right Sided DAo RDAs are less commono VETERINARY EMERGENCYo Much poorer results after surgeryo Often becomes a torsion • cuts off blood supply to abomasum

o Greater electrolyte imbalanceso These cows are very sick

Displaced Abomasum

Diagnosiso Characteristic high pitched ping• Penny in a well• Overinflated basketball• Usually between elbow and hip bone

o Other structures can ping too• Rumen• Gas-filled intestines• Cecum

Displaced Abomasum

Treatmento Medical management• Roll the cow to replace the abomasum• Fluids and drenches

o Surgical management• Left, right, or ventral approach• Suture the abomasum or surrounding tissue

back into “normal” anatomical position• Roll and toggle

Ketosis Cow is in Negative Energy Balance

o Energy requirement > Energy Intakeo Cannot keep up with demands of production

Fat is mobilized from body storeso Travels to the livero Metabolized into ketones

Excess ketones in circulation make the cow sick – worsening cycle

Extreme cases can affect CNS function o Nervous ketosis

Ketosis

Diagnosiso Fresh cow off feedo Characteristic acetone smell on breatho Blood, Milk, and Urine Ketone Tests• Blood most accurate• Milk least accurate• Urine dipstick very convenient

Ketosis Treatment

o First line of treatment is oral propylene glycol• Precursor of glucose

o IV 50% Dextrose solution• Must go IV or can cause severe swelling/necrosis

o Corticosteroid injection• Helps with glucose metabolism in liver• Slows down milk production to allow cow to catch up

o Commercially available gels and drenches

o May require treatment for multiple days

Metritis Metritis = inflammation of the uterus Bacteria contaminate the uterus

during or just after calving Warm, moist environment for

bacteria to multiply Predisposed by dystocia, dirty calving

environment, dirty calving equipment, and retained placenta

Metritis Diagnosis

o Putrid, foul smelling vaginal discharge

o Discharge red to brown in color

o Cow may appear normal to systemically ill

o +/- fever

Metritis Treatment

o Supportive Care• NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory)

• Banamine (flunixin meglumine)• Aspirin

• Antibiotics if systemically ill• Not always necessary

• Intrauterine lavage or treatment• May or may not be beneficial• May cause more harm than good

Miscellaneous Mastitis Pneumonia Indigestion Cecal Torsion Bloat Hoof Abscesses Laminitis Etc.

PREVENTION IS KEY!!!

If cows transition well and eat as much as possible we can avoid all of these issues

It is our job to make the transition as easy as possible.