Contents
Peritonitis in cattle is characterized by bile stasis due to blockage or compression of the bile duct. The disease often develops in cows after suffering pathologies of other organs, as well as some infectious diseases. Peritonitis has clear clinical signs, various forms and stages of manifestation. Diagnosis is based on symptoms and laboratory tests.
What is peritonitis
Peritonitis is a diffuse or limited inflammation of the parenteral and visceral layers of the peritoneum, which may be accompanied by active exudation. It occurs in many representatives of the animal world, but more often birds, horses and cattle suffer from it. According to the etiology, the disease can be infectious and non-infectious, that is, aseptic, as well as invasive. According to localization, it can be spilled, limited, and along the course – acute or flowing in a chronic form. Distinguish peritonitis and the nature of the allocated exudate. It can be serous, hemorrhagic and purulent. Sometimes the disease has mixed forms.
The peritoneum is a serous covering of the walls and organs of the abdominal cavity. Passing from the walls to the internal organs, it forms folds and ligaments that limit the space. As a result, pockets and sinuses are obtained. In fact, the peritoneum is a kind of membrane that performs a number of functions, mainly a barrier. The abdominal cavity is bounded at the top by the diaphragm, from below by the pelvic diaphragm and pelvic bones, at the back by the spine, lumbar muscles, and from the sides by the oblique and transverse muscles.
Causes of peritonitis in cattle
The acute course of the disease in cattle develops after trauma to the gastrointestinal tract (perforation by foreign objects, rupture, perforated ulcer), uterus, urinary and gallbladder. Chronic peritonitis, as a rule, persists after an acute process or occurs immediately with tuberculosis or streptotrichosis. Sometimes it occurs in a limited area, for example, as a result of an adhesive process.
Peritonitis of an infectious-inflammatory nature occurs after appendicitis, cholecystitis, intestinal obstruction, vascular thromboembolism, and various tumors. Traumatic peritonitis occurs with open and closed wounds of the abdominal organs, with or without damage to the internal organs. Bacterial (microbial) peritonitis can be non-specific, caused by the intestinal microflora, or specific, which is caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms from the outside. Aseptic peritonitis occurs after exposure to the peritoneum of non-infectious toxic substances (blood, urine, gastric juice).
In addition, the disease can be caused by:
- perforation;
- surgical intervention on the organs of the peritoneum with an infectious complication;
- the use of certain medications;
- penetrating wound of the abdomen;
- biopsy.
Thus, the disease occurs as a result of the entry of pathogenic microorganisms into the peritoneal region.
Symptoms of peritonitis in cattle
For cattle with peritonitis, the following manifestations of the disease are characteristic:
- increased body temperature;
- lack or decrease in appetite;
- increased heart rate, respiration;
- on palpation, pain in the abdominal wall;
- gases in the intestines, constipation;
- dark stool;
- vomiting;
- sagging abdomen due to fluid accumulation;
- slowdown or cessation of the scar;
- yellowness of the mucous membranes;
- preventricular hypotension;
- agalaxia in dairy cows;
- depressed state.
With putrefactive peritonitis in cattle, the symptoms are more pronounced and develop faster.
Laboratory blood tests show leukocytosis, neutrophilia. Urine is dense, high in protein. During rectal examination, the veterinarian detects focal pain. In addition, gases in the intestines are noted in the upper part of the abdominal cavity, and exudate is noted in its lower part.
Chronic diffuse peritonitis occurs with less pronounced symptoms. The cow loses weight, sometimes she has a fever, there are bouts of colic. Exudate accumulates in the peritoneal cavity.
With a limited chronic disease in cattle, the function of nearby organs is impaired. Gradually cows lose fatness.
Peritonitis in cattle is characterized by a protracted course. Acute and diffuse forms of the disease sometimes end in death a few hours after the onset of symptoms. The chronic form can last for years. The prognosis is unfavorable in most cases.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of peritonitis in cattle is made on the basis of the clinical manifestations of the disease, laboratory blood tests, and rectal examination. In doubtful cases, fluoroscopy, laparotomy are performed, a puncture is taken from the peritoneal cavity. A veterinarian should exclude fascilosis, ascites, obstruction, hernia of the diaphragm in cattle.
A puncture in cattle is taken on the right side near the ninth rib, a few centimeters above or below the mammary vein. To do this, use a ten centimeter needle with a diameter of 1,5 mm.
X-ray can detect the presence of exudate in the abdominal cavity and air.
With the help of laparoscopy, the presence of adhesions, neoplasms, metastases is determined.
An autopsy of an animal that has fallen from peritonitis reveals a hyperemic peritoneum with petechial hemorrhages. If the disease began not so long ago, then there is a serous exudate, with the further development of peritonitis, fibrin will be detected in the effusion. The internal organs in the abdominal cavity are glued together by a protein-fibrous mass. Hemorrhagic peritonitis is found in some infections and in mixed forms of the disease. Purulent-putrefactive, purulent exudate is formed by ruptures of the intestines and pancreas. With bovine peritonitis, which occurs in a chronic form, after injury, connective tissue adhesions of the sheets of the peritoneum with the membranes of the internal organs are formed.
Treatment of peritonitis in cattle
First of all, the animal is prescribed a starvation diet, cold wraps of the abdomen are performed, and complete rest is provided.
From drug therapy, antibiotics, sulfonamides will be required. To reduce vascular permeability, reduce fluid secretion, and relieve symptoms of intoxication, calcium chloride solution, glucose, and ascorbic acid are administered intravenously. To relieve pain, a blockade is carried out according to the Mosin method. For constipation, you can give an enema.
The second stage of therapy is aimed at accelerating the resorption of exudate. To do this, prescribe physiotherapy, diuretic drugs. In severe cases, puncture suction is performed.
If a wound surface, a scar served as a gateway for infection to enter the abdominal cavity of cattle, then it is cut, cleaned, tamponed with sterile gauze and disinfected.
Preventive measures
Prevention is aimed at preventing diseases of the abdominal organs, which can contribute to the development of secondary peritonitis in cattle. It is recommended to comply with the basic standards of care and maintenance of the livestock, to exclude the ingress of foreign bodies into the feed. For this you need to use:
- magnetic separator for cleaning feed;
- a veterinary indicator that determines the position of an object in the body of a cow;
- magnetic probe, with which you can remove foreign bodies;
- cobalt ring to prevent injury to the stomach of cattle.
Conclusion
Peritonitis in cattle is a severe disease of the peritoneum that occurs as a complication after suffering pathologies of nearby organs. The causes of peritonitis are varied. The clinical picture of the disease manifests itself depending on the course and form of the disease. A conservative treatment method can help if the diagnosis is correct and therapy is started on time. Otherwise, most often peritonitis in cattle ends in death.