Digestive Diseases in Animals

Digestive Diseases Digestive Diseases in Animalsin Animals

Digestive Diseases Digestive Diseases in Animalsin Animals

Dr.Kedar Karki.Dr.Kedar Karki.Central Veterinary Laboratory KathmanduCentral Veterinary Laboratory Kathmandu

Digestive Diseases in Animals

• Objectives:– Discuss the various digestive

diseases associated with animals– Comprehension of and awareness of

causes, symptoms, and treatments of these diseases

– Awareness of preventative measures


• Foot & Mouth Disease– Highly contagious, febrile– Affects:

• Cattle, swine, sheep, goats• Horses are resistant

– 9 outbreaks in U.S. history• Last one in 1929

– Quarantines are established for control– Continues to be a threat to the industry


– Cause• Viral infection• 7 strains w/ additional subtypes• Infection may be caused by one or more• Infected animals my suffer repeated

attacks due to short lifespan of immunity– Immunity from one type doesn’t provide

immunity against another type


– Transmission• During febrile stage:

– Virus found in: saliva, blood, urine, milk, muscle

• Virus remains alive in carcasses, animal by-products, contaminated feeds, bedding, equipment, utensils

• Contact w/ infected animals or contaminated materials


– Clinical Signs• Fluid-filled blisters form on mucous

membranes of tongue, lips, cheeks, palate– Toes and hoof area, and udder

• Vesicles rupture w/in 24 hrs– Tremendous pain– Profuse salivation – What other symptoms might you see?

• Body temperature rises rapidly in first 48 hrs, but will fall back close to normal


• Infection may localize in a major organ resulting in abortions, mastitis, death

– Prevention• No vaccination available• Basis for prevention:

– Federal restrictions on the importation of susceptible livestock & contaminated by-products

– Immediate quarantine for an outbreak– Eradication of infected & exposed animals– Thorough cleaning & disinfection– Restock w/ a few susceptible animals to test site


– Treatment• No treatment available.• Must report suspicious cases to government

• Bloat– Non-contagious disorder or ruminants– Excessive accumulation of gas in the first

two compartments of the stomach• Inability to expel the gas, not too much gas

production


– Animals can become chronic or acute– Cause

• No specific known causes– Or, little disagreement or causes

• Associated factors– Animal susceptibility– Type of feed– Environment in which animal is fed

• Causative theories (none proven)– Lack of coarse roughage


– Density of feeds– Saponins

» Formation of soaps & glycerols– Excess gas production

» Unlikely since healthy animals often eat the same diet

– Formation of toxic substances– Saliva production and/or composition

» Important for bloat prevention more than a causative agent

– Animal differences» Is somewhat genetic


– Clinical signs• Distention of left side

– May enlarge up and over back

• More difficult to detect in overweight animals, or sheep w/ full fleece

• Off-feed, uneasy movement, stand w/ head extended

• May slobber, grunt, labor breathing• May have difficulty standing as condition

worsens


– Prevention• Reduce and eliminate possible causative

agents• Strategies

– Avoid straight legume pasture & immature legumes– Feed coarse grass hay prior to lush pasture– Feed dry forage along w/ pasture– Avoid rapid eating from empty start– Keep animals on pasture continuously once turned

out


– Keep water & salt available at all times– Avoid frosted pasture– Use preventative treatments if necessary

– Treatment• Prompt treatment is essential• Producer should know how to handle minor

instances• Walk animal, tie w/ front end elevated• Acute cases

– Pass hose into stomach to let off gas» Must move constantly to catch gas pockets


– Trocar & cannula» Insert in side between hip, last rib, and

loin edge» Let gas leak out of side» Place on penicillin to minimize infection of

puncture site

• Traumatic Reticulitis (Hardware)– Acute or chronic mechanical injury to

reticulum


– Cause• Ingestion of sharp metal that punctures

the reticular wall– Nails, wire, screws, etc.

» Wire accounts for 75% of the cases» Nails 20%» Pieces 2-4” are most troublesome

• Mixed and coarse feeds are good at hiding sharp foreign materials


– Clinical Symptoms• Anorexia, reduce milk production, slow

movement, arched back• Stand w/ feet wide apart, toes pointed in• Difficulty w/ defecation & urination• Moderately febrile, elevated resp. rate

– Prevention• Administer bar magnet• Permanent in reticulum, only recovered upon

slaughter of animal


– Treatment• May treat w/ antibiotics to control infection,

if case is mild• Severe cases require surgical repair to

remove object

– Hardware often leads to peritonitis or pericarditis, if not caught early

• Impaction– Ingestion of large amounts of high

carbohydrate feeds due to excess production of lactic acid

Cont:– Causes severe toxemia, dehydration,

blindness, recumbency, cessation of rumen motility, high mortality

– Cause• Accidental access to large quantities of

whole or ground grain• Feeder cattle and lambs brought into

feedlot situations most susceptible, or an animal restricted from feed


• Rapid fermentation of feed increases concentration of lactic acid in rumen

– Decreases rumen motility, and eventually stops it

– Clinical signs• Onset is faster with ground feeds• Severity increases w/ the amount of feed eaten• Severe cases identified w/in 12 hrs• Abdominal pain, depression, grunting, teeth

grinding, foul-smelling diarrhea• Increased pulse, suppressed temperature


• Staggery, drunken gait, may appear blind• Rapid development of severe symptoms often

leads to death

– Prevention• Feed additives (sodium bicarb) help to decrease

susceptibility

– Treatment• Remove grain, feed hay• Treat w/ penicillin• May mix baking soda w/ sterile water IV for cattle


• 1g of mineral oil orally

– Can have impaction of omasum, abomasum, large intestine

• Acidosis in Horses– Occurs after hard working periods– Also can happen after diarrhea– Cause

• Heat exhaustion & severe diarrhea– Drastic loss of bicarbonate


• Heavily exercised horses can lose 10-12L of sweat/hr

– Clinical Signs• Rapid, shallow breathing, poor appetite,

weakness, lastitude, coma

– Treatment• Oral & IV sodium bicarbonate• Addition of salt to the diet

– 2 Tablespoons/d– Stimulate the horse to drink water


• Acidosis in Cattle– Can occur in feedlot or dairy cattle– Cattle deprived of feed– Cause

• Changes in feed• Alteration in feeding schedule• Stress• Pushing too hard w/ grain (too high energy

level)


• Drastic changes in rumen pH– Protozoa & gram + bacteria cannot survive

» Low pH organisms take over & produce more lactic acid

– Clinical Signs• Abdominal pain• Depression• Loss of appetite• Teeth grinding• Diarrhea (bubbly & smelly)


– Prevention• Gradual changes in feed• Reduce stress

– Deworm– Vaccinations

• Keep feed available• Feed sodium bicarb

– Treatment• Remove grain• Feed hay


• Penicillin & sodium bicarb• Severe cases

– IV sodium bicarb w/ sterile water– Mineral oil

– Effects• Acidosis will tend to have associated problems

– Founder– Anorexia– Liver abscesses– Bloat– Anaphylaxsis– Death


• Peritonitis– Inflammation of peritoneum– Tenderness, pain, constipation– Cause

• Penetration of peritoneal wall• Perforation of digestive or genital tracts• Can be due to external injury, or internal

problem– Internal causes are more often fatal


– Clinical Signs• Elevated temperature & depression• Rigid stance, don’t lie down• Dehydration

– Although may still drink lots of water

• Constipation early, then profuse diarrhea• Rapid pulse

– Treatment• Surgery to correct perforations, if appropriate• Broad spectrum antibiotics


• Displaced Abomasum– Abomasum is displaced either to the left

or right side• Locations of displacement

– Often occurs in dairy• Early in lactation• Associated with other metabolic/health

problems

– Can also include torsion


– Cause• Low-fiber, high soluble carbohydrate diets• Low rumen pH

– Decreased rumen motility increases gas in abomasum

• Mixing errors• Ketosis, milk fever, RP, mastitis, lameness

– Clinical signs• Abnormal appetite• Rapid weight loss• Normal temp, resp., pulse


• Gaunt appearance

– Detection• Stethoscope• Thump/flick left and/or right side• Will hear distinct “ping”

– Treatment• Requires surgery for either left or right DA• Can roll & toggle• RDA’s are more difficult to recover


• Bovine Viral Diarrhea– Acute, contagious disease of cattle– Present across the U.S.– Cause

• Spreads readily by contact– Also vectors, traffic (footwear & vehicle)

– Clinical Signs• Can have severe fever (103-108)• Cough, mouth & nasal discharge


• Mouth lesions• Possible lameness• Diarrhea• Rapid wt. loss• May cause abortions from d58 of gestation to

7th month– First trimester – likely to abort (may or may not

observe)– Second trimester – may survive but w/ incomplete

development of major organs– Third trimester – may show mild infection, but have

high level of antibodies, tend to recover


• Calves can also become PI’s– Recognize the disease as “normal”– Will shed the virus constantly– Can infect many others, extremely quickly

• Chronic BVD– Occurs in herds w/ persistent, subclinical symptoms

» Poor nutrition & mgmt contribute– Constant emaciation, poor appetite, slow growth– Periods of diarrhea– 2-6 mo. Cycles– 10% death rate


– Prevention• Vaccination (MLV or Killed)

– MLV – don’t vaccinate pregnant cows– Vaccine may be ineffective in calves <6 mos.

– Treatment• Antibiotics are somewhat effective• Keep hydrated• Avoid rebreeding infected animals, or cull

form herd


• Colic in Horses– Acute indigestion– Severe abdominal pain– Cause

• Windsucking• Eating spoiled grain• Impaction of stomach or intestine

– Too much grain– Coarse hay– Sudden change– Lack of water or exercise– parasites


• Cramping– Large amount of very cold water– Very cold water after exercise

• Twisted intestine– Horse rolls in pain– Pulse rate will be >100– Surgery is recommended

• Intussusception – Intestine telescopes inside itself


– Clinical Signs• Pain may come & go• Groaning, pawing, looking at sides, lying

down, sweating, rolling• Pulse & respiration rates increase• No appetite• No bowel movements

– Prevention• No sudden feed changes• Regular exercise


• Plenty of clean water• Clean, dry hay, not too coarse• Free choice salt• Don’t feed on the ground• Deworm

– Treatment• Walk the horse• Call vet• Keep from lying down or rolling

– Never let roll


• May require surgery• Vet may pass tube to alleviate gas, or

use laxatives• Often use pain-relievers

• Swine Edema Disease– Usually occurs from 4-14 wks of age– Can easily be confused w/ other

diseases


– Cause• Colonization of E. coli in the intestine that

produce a toxin• Often associated w/ stress

– Clinical signs• Sudden death of apparently healthy pigs• Typically occurs after: weaning, vaccination,

castration, feed change• Mild listlessness, wobbly gait, poor appetite• May be febrile


• Short time period– Mild problem – recover in 36-48 hrs– Severe – die w/in 6-24 hrs

• Dramatic symptoms– Lack of coordination– Wandering, or circular walking pattern– Apparent blindness– Muscle tremors, convulsions

• Edema of eyelids, ears, face, jowl– Post-mortem exam will show edema of stomach– Edema of brain causes the wandering, blindness– Edema can also be in respiratory tract


• Hemorrhagic lesions on belly and/or legs

– Prevention• No recommended vaccine• Reduce stress• Use antibiotics

– Treatment• Not very successful• Feed antibiotic if anticipating a sudden

change


• Scours– Can affect foals, pigs, and calves– Foals

• Usually not too problematic• Cause

– Mare’s first heat after foaling– Diet changes– Parasites– Infections


• Clinical signs– Usually mild– Watery, smelling diarrhea– Poor appetite for 24-36 hrs– Can be profuse diarrhea

» Causes extreme dehydration

• Prevention– Sanitation– Adequate colostrum– No vaccination


• Treatment– If severe:

» Electrolytes & fluids» Call vet

– If mild» Monitor closely for other symptoms

– Pigs• Can be highly fatal• Occurs in first few days


• Cause– E. coli– Usually aided by chilled body temps following farrowing– Poor farrowing conditions & improperly fed sows– Infection through naval cord– Ingestion of infected feces

• Clinical signs– Watery – yellow diarrhea– Wt. loss, listlessness– Secondary infections – blood poisoning, pneumonia,

infection of abdominal lining– Mortality can be 100%


• Prevention– Sanitation & disinfection– Broad spectrum antibiotics and/or sulfa drugs

» Can be administered through the water– Vaccinate sows

» Make endogenous vaccine specific for the farm

– Calves• 3 contributing factors

– Faulty nutrition– Stress– Infectious organisms


• One of most serious health risks in calves• Disrupts growth, weakens immune system• Cause

– E. coli» Causes scours from 1-3d old

– Rota and/or corona virus» Causes scours from 5-15d old

• Clinical signs– Cold nose & extremities– White, watery scours (first 48-72 hrs of life)– What else will you see?


– Febrile» 103-106 temp

– Calf becomes anorexic, unthrifty looking, pot bellied

• Prevention– Reduce exposure to newborn calves– Optimal amounts of colostrum w/in specified time– Vaccinate dam 2-6 wks before parturition

• Treatment– Discontinue milk feeding for 2-3d– Administer fluids (oral & injection)– Antibiotics


• Coccidiosis– Parasitic disease of cattle, sheep, swine– Usually occurs in situations where cattle are

confined to smaller areas– Mature animals carry coccidia & shed in the

fecal matter– Many young have a low-grade coccidia infection

throughout life• Become resistant to coccidiosis, unless their

resistance is lowered significantly by another factor


– Cause• Protozoan parasite Coccidia

– No cross infection between species

• Influences on a coccidiosis outbreak– Sanitation– Stress (weaning)– Shipping– Overcrowding– Feed changes– Other diseases– Weather– Birds (carriers of coccidia)


– Clinical signs• Commonly in young animals• 2-3 wks after birth, or shipping• Diarrhea (blood-stained, except swine)• Loss of appetite (slight)• Pneumonia• Severe infection – death 4-6d• Most will survive

– Prevention• Avoid feed & water contamination• Quarantine affected animals• Expose infected area to sun


• Feed an ionophore

– Treatment• Amprolium, Lasalocid, or Deccoquinate

• Salmonellosis– Two forms

• Infection of genital tract (abortions in mares, ewes)

• Paratyphoid dysentery of farm animals

– Young or old


– Can infect the meat of the animal and pass to humans, or back to animals in feeds

– Cause• >1000 Salmonella species

– Most can cause problems

– Clinical Signs• Depression• Loss of appetite• High fever• Water, odorous diarrhea (blood-streaked)


• Pregnant females may abort

– Prevention• Must control more than prevent

– Restrict entrance of new animals into herd– Contaminated feed– Birds

• Quarantine infected animals

– Treatment• Antibiotics

Digestive Diseases in Animals

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