Content
Peritonitis in cattle is characterized by stagnation of bile when the bile duct is blocked or compressed. 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 localized inflammation of the parienteral and visceral sheets of the peritoneum, which may be accompanied by active exudation. It is found in many representatives of the animal world, but more often birds, horses and cattle suffer from it. By 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 exudate. It can be serous, hemorrhagic, and purulent. Sometimes the disease has mixed forms.
The peritoneum is the serous cover of the walls and organs of the abdominal cavity. Moving from the walls to the internal organs, it forms folds and ligaments that limit the space. As a result, pockets and bosoms 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, below by the pelvic diaphragm and pelvic bones, at the back by the spine, the muscles of the lower back, 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 with foreign objects, rupture, perforated ulcer), uterus, bladder and gall bladder. 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 and 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 internal organs. Bacterial (microbial) peritonitis can be nonspecific, caused by its own 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 toxic substances of a non-infectious nature (blood, urine, gastric juice).
In addition, the disease can be caused by:
- perforation;
- surgical intervention on the peritoneal organs with an infectious complication;
- the use of certain medications;
- penetrating wound of the abdomen;
- biopsy.
Thus, the disease occurs as a result of the ingress 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, breathing;
- tenderness of the abdominal wall on palpation;
- gas in the intestines, constipation;
- dark-colored feces;
- vomiting;
- sagging abdomen due to fluid accumulation;
- slowing down or termination of the scar;
- yellowness of the mucous membranes;
- hypotension of the proventricles;
- 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. The urine is dense, high in protein. With a rectal examination, the veterinarian detects focal tenderness. In addition, in the upper part of the abdominal cavity, gases in the intestine are noted, in its lower part - exudate.
Chronic peritonitis of a diffuse form proceeds with less severe symptoms. The cow is losing weight, sometimes it has a fever, and colic attacks occur. Exudate accumulates in the peritoneal cavity.
With limited chronic disease in cattle, the function of nearby organs is impaired. Gradually cows lose their fatness.
Peritonitis in cattle is characterized by a protracted course. Acute and diffuse forms of the disease are sometimes fatal several hours after the onset of symptoms. The chronic form can last for years. The prognosis in most cases is unfavorable.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of peritonitis in cattle is based on the clinical manifestations of the disease, laboratory blood tests, and rectal examination. In doubtful cases, fluoroscopy, laparotomy are performed, and a puncture is taken from the peritoneal cavity. The veterinary specialist should exclude fascilosis, ascites, obstruction, hernia of the diaphragm in cattle.
Puncture in cattle is taken from the right side near the ninth rib, a few centimeters above or below the milk vein. To do this, use a ten centimeter needle with a diameter of 1.5 mm.
Fluoroscopy can detect the presence of exudate in the abdominal cavity and air.
With the help of laparoscopy, the presence of adhesions, neoplasms, and metastases is determined.
At autopsy, an animal that has died from peritonitis reveals a hypermedicated peritoneum with punctate hemorrhages. If the disease began not so long ago, then there is a serous exudate, with the further development of peritonitis, fibrin will be found in the effusion. The internal organs in the abdominal cavity are glued together with a protein-fibrous mass. Hemorrhagic peritonitis is found in some infections and in mixed forms of the disease. Purulent putrefactive, purulent exudate is formed with ruptures of the intestines and proventriculus. When cattle peritonitis occurs in a chronic form, after injury, connective tissue adhesions of the sheets of the peritoneum with the membranes of internal organs are formed.
Treatment of peritonitis in cattle
First of all, the animal is prescribed a starvation diet, cold wrapping of the abdomen is performed, and complete rest is provided.
From drug therapy, antibiotic drugs, sulfonamides will be required. To reduce vascular permeability, reduce fluid release, relieve symptoms of intoxication, a solution of calcium chloride, glucose, ascorbic acid is administered intravenously. To relieve pain, a blockade is performed 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. For this, physiotherapy, diuretics are prescribed. In severe cases, puncture suction is performed.
If the wound surface or scar serves as the gateway for infection to enter the abdominal cavity of the cattle, then it is cut, cleaned, tamponed with sterile gauze and disinfected.
Preventive actions
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 observe the basic standards of care and maintenance of livestock, to exclude the ingress of foreign bodies into the feed.To do this, you must use:
- magnetic separator for cleaning feed;
- a veterinary indicator that determines the position of an object in the body of a cow;
- a magnetic probe with which you can remove foreign bodies;
- cobalt ring that prevents cattle stomach injuries.
Conclusion
Cattle peritonitis is a serious disease of the peritoneum that arises as a complication after the transferred 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. Conservative treatment can help if the diagnosis is correct and therapy is started on time. Otherwise, most often, peritonitis in cattle ends in death.
