Diseases of Digestive System

By
Dr. Ali H. Sadiek
Prof. of Internal Veterinary Medicine and Clinical
Laboratory Diagnosis

Dept. of Animal Medicine

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Assiut University- Assiut, EGYPT

E-mail: Sadiek59@yahoo.com
Diseases of the Ruminant stomach
It composed of:
1-Forestomach: Reticulo-rumen & Omasum
2- True stomach: “Abomasum”

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 Reticulorumen
• Occupies entire left half of abdominal
cavity
• 90 kg capacity
• Nerve supply is Vagus nerve =
parasympathetic
• Four specialized contraction patterns
– Primary or mixing cycle
– Eructation (secondary) cycle
– Rumination/cud chewing
– Esophageal groove closure

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 numerous papilae

polygo
nal
cells

numerous papillae

broad longitudinal fold

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Microorga
nism, full of •Digest
catches folded roughages to
hardware tissue VFA,
water
absorpti •make protein,
on make Vit. K
and B CPX
pepsin
HCl

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 Reticulo-Rumen
• Motility controlled by gastric center in
Med. oblongata
• Frequency of 1ry contractions = rough
indication of overall health of the
ruminant
– Primary cycle contractions = 60/hour
– ▼ to 50/hour during rumination
– ▲105/hour during feeding

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 Diseases of the Rumen
1. Ruminal Acidosis
2. Simple indigestion
3. Tympany/ Bloat
4. Traumatic reticuloperitonitis TRP
5. Vagus Indigestion.

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 1-Ruminal acidosis
Synonym
1. Ruminal impaction
2. Ruminant Carbohydrate
Engorgement
3. Grain overload /Grain engorgement
4. Lactic acidosis
5. Carbohydrate intoxication
6. Founder

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 Ruminal acidosis
• Access to highly fermentable
feedstuffs
– by unaccustomed animals, or
– in larger than normal amounts
• Rapid clinical course of acute
ruminal acidosis because of
excessive prod. Of lactic acid in the
rumen.
• It is ch. By: Toxemia, Dehydration,
Ruminal atony, Recumbency and Deaths
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Daily diet for High producing cows

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 What feeds can cause carbohydrate
engorgement?
• Cereal grains
• Indust. byproduct (brewers grains, sugars)
• Fruits, Tubers (potatoes, sugar beets)
• Finely ground feeds with large surface area
promote rapid fermentation

• Hay and grass are not highly fermentable

due to cellulose and large particle size
• Corn silage usually not a problem because
much of CHO already reduced to VFAs in
ensiling process and also due to large
particle size

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Pathogenesis

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 Pathogenesis
• Histamine levels increase
• Ethanol, methanol, tyramine,
tryptamine production contribute to
CNS depression
• Thiaminase production may result in
development of polioencephalomalecia
• Death of Gram – bacteria can cause
endotoxin release

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 Clinical signs
1. Abdominal pain
2. Dehydration (6-12 %)
3. Diarrhea – fluid, fetid
4. Splashy rumen, bloat
5. Depression
6. Lameness
7. Scleral injection

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 Clinical signs
8. TemperatureL: Elevated initially, may
be subnormal when presented
9. HR = 80-140 bpm
10. RR elevated (blow off CO2)
11. Rumen fluid analysis
– pH < 5
– sour odor
– protozoa dead, predominance of gram +

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 P.M: Consequences of Ruminitis
1- Ruminal ulcer and perforation
2- Mycotic infection
3- Hepatic abscess.
4- Laminitis

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 Consequence of Ruminitis

Rumen ulcers & perforation Mycotic infection

damages mucosal surfaces

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Dry impacted R. content
Normal R. mucosa

Mycotic ruminitis Ruminitis

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 Laboratory findings
I-Blood: Metabolic acidosis
Increased PCV, Glucose, Phosphate, BUN,
creatinine , anion gap
Decreased pH <7.0 and calcium
II-Ruminal fluid:
Decreased pH< 5.0
Decreased activity
of microflra & fauna.
III-Urine:
Decreased pH
proteinuria
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 Diagnosis
Case history: Sudden access to excess CHO
Clinical signs: Impaction, depression, toxemia.
Laboratory findings:
•Blood: CBC, BUN, blood gas.
•Rumen fluid analysis.
•Urine pH and sp. Gr.
Differental Diagnosis:
•Milk fever (incidence, decreased ca)
•Liver disease (jaundice & liver function).
•Lead and arsenic toxicity (Acuteness & nervous
signs)

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 Therapy
I- Evacuation of
rumen
• Kingman tube
–Rumenotomy
–Ice water
administration

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 Therapy
II- Medicinal therapy:
1-Anti-inflammatory agents –flunixin
meglumine (Banamine)
2-Antibiotics:Procaine pen G (10 million IU,
P.O.)
3-Antimycotic therapy (Fungicid)
III- Supportive therapy
1-Fluid and electrolyte replacement IV
2-Rumen transfaunation
3-Thiamine and B-complex vitamins

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 Control
• Make dietary changes very gradually
– Addition of antibiotics
– ionophore antibiotics e.g Monensin (Na+)
and Ionomycin (Ca++) ) to the feed have
been beneficial but do not replace
– HCO3- (Antacid)
– Good management.
• Rumen adaptation may take 6 weeks

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