1  Introduction to Rumen and Omasal Impaction and Dysfunction in Cattle

Transcript

Dear vets,

Greetings to all!

In this module, I am going to discuss Rumen and omasal impaction and dysfunction in cattle. As we know, the Rumen reticulum Abomasum comes under the category of four stomachs. Any four stomach dysfunction is directly affecting the production, so in this module, we are going to learn about; Etiopathogenesis, Clinical findings, Diagnosis, and Treatment of the four stomach disorders. So that will help us to treat the cases effectively in the field condition and by the way, it is improving the economic status of the farmers.

In this module I am going to discuss five lessons;

• Lesson one will cover the Introduction and a list of Rumen omasal Impaction and disorder dysfunctions in cattle and Simple indigestion in ruminal impaction,
• Lesson two covers Ruminal lactic acidosis,
• Lesson three; is going to cover three diseases subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), Ruminal drinkers, Ruminal alkalosis,
• Lesson four is going to cover Ruminal tympany, and
• Lesson five includes Vagal indigestion and omasal Impaction.

Let us enter into Lesson one:

The Introduction

You know that Rumen is a hollow organ, which is responsible for the microbial digestion and production of volatile fatty acids (VFA) like acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid so these volatile fatty acids are mainly responsible for milk production. So, any dysfunction of the rumen reticulum omasum will directly affect the production of the volatile fatty acids, in turn, it affects the reflection on the production.

In this module I am going to cover the following diseases:

• Simple indigestion
• Rumen impaction
• Acute carbohydrate engorgement
• Subacute ruminal acidosis
• Ruminal drinkers
• Ruminal alkalosis
• Ruminal tympany
• Vagus indigestion
• Omasum Impaction

Simple indigestion:

What do you mean by Simple indigestion; any change in the feeding regimen automatically affects the digestibility of the ruminants, so ruminants are very keenly responsible for the change in the feed, so whenever you are changing automatically it will affect the digestibility of the animal.

Let us see Etiopathogenesis: so, any derangement in the feeding in the ruminants automatically will affect the rumen function, so the main outcome is Ruminal atony, what are the reasons for which it is going to occur: one is excessive carbohydrate engorgement, Putrefaction of protein, moldy feeds of protein sources if it is not good quality and it is due to limited water access and it is due to sometimes Anaphylactic or allergic reactions because of high Histamine production will affect rumen and motility. So ultimately the animal will have Rumen atony, so Rumen atony will reflect on the digestibility of the animal, so automatically it will reflect on the production.

What are the Clinical signs: it is associated with simple indigestion,

• sudden change in the feed
• there is a dull and depressed animal
• suspended rumination
• The rumen will be a little bit distended and
• palpation will be a doughy rumen and
• there will be reduced rumen motility
• the temperature, pulse rate, heart rate, will be normal and
• milk production will be reduced

So, in simple indigestion, if you are seeing the dung initially will be (in the picture you have seen) that dry pellet dung, drier than the normal level, and in case of 24 to 48 hours after simple indigestion, there may be profuse diarrhea, maybe a voluminous and malodorous, it is called as Dietary diarrhea. How to confirm the disease, you need to take Rumen liquor, you have to collect the Rumen liquor bypassing the stomach tube and with the help of the suction apparatus, we have to collect the Rumen liquor, immediately you have to transform into the closed containers, that should be subjected to detailed investigation like protozoa motility and pH and MBRT Cellulitic Cellulose digestion test, etc.

In the picture, we are seeing that Altered Rumen pH, normal Rumen pH is 6.2 to 7.2, if it is below that it is called Acidosis, and if it is above that it is called Alkalosis. You need to go for an assessment of the Rumen liquor in another way, by assessing the protozoal count and protozoan motility.

In this video, we are able to see some small protozoa moving in the low-power microscope. so that indicates that if the Rumen microflora is altered now only the regeneration is going to start. In the next slide, next video, we could able to see the medium size, small size, large size protozoans, they are humpy numbers, more than 30 plus the per low power microscopic slide, it is indicating that three-plus. so that could be a good protozoan that is the normal protozoa.

Mainly a Diagnosis of simple indigestion is done by:

• History of any change of feeding, sudden change of feeding, or giving any new feed
• Clinical signs of doughy Rumen suspended rumination and decreased Rumen motility and
• Based on the Laboratory tests like Rumen fluid examination, we are able to diagnose the cause as simple indigestion. The simple indigestion is going to occur because of a reduction in the feed intake, that’s an ultimate clinical sign we are going to observe.

So, this is going to happen in all other diseases also, that should be differentially diagnosed. In this context one is Acetonemia- that is the ketosis and acute carbohydrate engorgement, Ruminal alkalosis, left displacement Abomasum, right displacement Abomasum, Traumatic reticuloperitonitis, and other conditions like deficiencies say hypocalcemia all are included in this differential diagnosis.

We have to go with the differential diagnosis and treatment for simple indigestion.

The Treatment of simple indigestion is very simple, you have to go with the normal Stomachic, stomachic means- it is having bitters, it will increase the salivation by the way it improves the appetite.

Next is Probiotics; if there is any protozoan motility is low and protozoa are very less in number, so we need to go for probiotics to improve the microbial status of the Rumen liquor, but that will increase the digestibility.

Then another one more thing is if the Rumen atony is there we need to go for Ruminatorics; that is tartar emetic, ginger-sometimes ginger is also another Ruminatorics, and you can also go for some preparation available in the market like Rumentas it is having an Antimony Potassium Tartrate, Cobalt Chloride, and a Ferrous Sulfate, so the Antimony Potassium Tartrate-it is irritating the rumen by the way it is improving the motility of the rumen. okay

Parasympathomimetics– you can also give Carbamylcholine, Physostigmine, Neostigmine, this will increase the motility of the rumen and you can also give some Metoclopramide at the dose rate of 0.3 milligrams per kg body weight if you are giving that will be acting as a progenetic, it increases the rumen motility, it will be useful for in case of vagal nerve damage also.

Laxatives– you have to give adequate Laxatives to improve the rumen output, then lavish fluid therapy- you have to give a fluid therapy. Then if this is Acidosis you have to go for alkalizing agents and if it is Alkalosis you have to go for acidifying agents. another more important thing is in case of simple indigestion, the flora and fauna are affected, we need to go for Cud Transfaunation- cud Transfaunation we can have it from healthy animal/healthy cattle, we can collect it and you can drench, 2-3 liters per day for consecutive three days, if it is not available you can go for slaughterhouse collection of the cud Transfaunation, you can collect from the sheep or goat or cattle, you can take the ruminal content, only the watery portions to be drenched without aspiration ammonia for 3 days 2 liters per day. The other management aspects regarding simple indigestion are:

• provision of the palatable hay, it will improve the resistibility by the way of increasing the saliva and
• if there is atony of the rumen you have to go for Calcium borogluconate, In the ruminants always whenever you are going for managemental advice, we have to tell the owner that gradual inclusion of a new feeding diet 7 to 14 days interval you have to take to introduce a new feeding.

Let us discuss Ruminal Impaction:

Etiopathogenesis: It is almost like simple indigestion, it is due to indigestible feed material or any foreign bodies. The metallic foreign bodies are directly causing some damage to the wall and leading to Traumatic reticuloperitonitis and non-metallic foreign bodies like plastic bags wire, rope, cloths, leather, will be stay in the reticulum omasal orifice and it will be having a significant alteration in the rumen dysfunction.

The Clinical signs are:

• the distended left side paralumbar fossa,
• when you are palpating the rumen it will be doughy or sometimes it may be harder in nature, firm in nature
• the animal is going to lose its weight, over a while it is going to lose weight,
• lack of feces in the rectum, reduced quantity of feces dung will be there in the rectum, ● abdomen distension and lack of symmetry
• abdominal will be dispensed on the left side
• Foamy salivations
• Recumbency and then the advanced stage of any Traumatic reticuloperitonitis is going to recumbent.

Diagnosis:

• based on the indigestible feed material or metallic foreign body injection
• another thing is based on the clinical findings like emaciation, rumen distension, reduced or dung voiding, and
• You can also do the ultrasound examination on the left side of the abdomen at the level of the 11th or 12th intercostal space using the 3.5-megahertz ultrasound probe. You have to infuse 1.5 to 2 liters of water before going for an ultrasound examination, then only you will be able to properly visualize any foreign bodies which are present or any alteration in the rumen wall also you can assess.
• The next thing is Oesophageal and ruminal endoscopy- you can also use endoscopy to identify the foreign body lodging in the choke in the Oesophagus or any foreign bird which is there in the reticulum or rumen.

Treatment of the rumen impaction;

• If it is due to the indigestible feed material, we need to go for oral infusion therapy along with the laxatives.
• Laxatives you can use magsulf and
• along with the water you have to trench into the rumen by using a rumen infusion pump, so that will increases the consistency of the rumen content is to be dissolved and it will be moving towards the hindgut
• if it is due to any metallic or non-metallic foreign bodies, it will be lodged in the rumen, so the only treatment is you have to go for Rumenotomy. so, with that, we can save the animal.

Dear vets in this first lesson, we have discussed the

• Introduction ● list of rumen omasal impaction and dysfunction in cattle
• Simple indigestion
• Ruminal impaction
• Etiopathogenesis
• Clinical signs diagnosis and
• Treatment

In the second lesson, we are going to discuss Ruminal Lactic Acidosis which is otherwise called Carbohydrate engorgement.

Thank you!