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Large Animal Health Topics
Animals included: Horses, Cows, Goats and other small ruminants
Local names:
Luo: ich-kuot / Embu: nunvita / Gabbra: furfur / Gikuyu: huhita / Kamba: kwimbanywa / Kipsigis: kowiren / Maasai: Embo'ngit, Ediis, empomgit / Maragoli: kuhaata, myika munda/ Meru: mpwna / Samburu: mberini / Somali: bakhakh, dunbudhyo, balao, baalallo, dhibir, dibiyio / Turkana...
Introduction
Rumen acidosis is a fast killing disease in ruminants that is caused by overeating with grains or ground feed.
In English, acidosis of the rumen is also called lactic acidosis, carbohydrate engorgement or rumen impaction.
Cause
When cattle, goats or sheep accidentally gain access...
Introduction
Ketosis is a metabolic disease that can affect dairy cows most commonly during the first six weeks of lactation.
Ketosis has no local names in East Africa; in English it is also called Acetonemia or Ketonemia.
Cause
The underlying cause is a combination of high energy requirement...
Local names:
Embu: nthambara / Gikuyu: thambara cia mani / Kamba: ntambaa / Kipsigis: sungurutek / Luo: ochwe / Maragoli: ovoveyi / Meru: nthanthara / Samburu: ikurui, lemonyua / Somali Ethiopia: faraqle / Somali Kenya: sogul / Masai: Osinkirri
Family: Trematoda
Description: Parasite...
The pregnant animal is supposed to deliver its calf on its own when it has completed its full term of pregnancy. But sometimes the animal may not be able to deliver the calf without assistance. If such animals are taken to quacks for any reason, they may mishandle the case and it may lead to...
Overview:
Colic in adult cattle can result due to derangements with any of the organ systems within the abdomen. Often colic is due to a problem within the gastrointestinal tract, however the peritoneum (tissue lining the abdomen), reproductive tract, and/or urinary tract can also be involved...
Overview:
A cesarean section (“C-section”) is an incision through the abdominal wall into the abdomen which is used to isolate the uterus. An incision is made through the uterus in order to deliver the calf. C-sections are necessary in cattle when vaginal delivery is too difficult and is not...
The claws of both forelegs of this Holstein bull calf are fused. This congenital defect is due to homozygosity of a simple autosomal recessive gene with incomplete penetrance. It is the most common inherited skeletal defect of US Holstein cattle, but also occurs in several other breeds. One or...
In this rare, male, congenital developmental anomaly, the urethra opens onto the perineum below the anus. The rudimentary penis is seen as a pink groove. There is urine staining of the inguinal region below.
Definition: defect of the two halves of the vertebral arch, through which the spinal cord and meninges may or may not protrude.
Clinical features: severe posterior paresis is seen in this Friesian neonate. The red, raised, and circumscribed protuberance in the sacral region involves a...
Congenital absence of the anus is manifested clinically by an absence of feces, and the gradual development of abdominal distension. A small dimple may indicate the position of the anal sphincter. If the rectum is present, some calves may have a soft bulge from the pressure of accumulating feces...
Considered as the most prevalent musculoskeletal abnormality of neonatal calves, congenital contraction of the flexor tendons in this neonatal Hereford crossbred calf (below) has caused excessive flexion of the carpal and fetlock joints in the forelimbs. The hind legs are placed under the body...
The cranium is enlarged due to pressure from an excessive volume of cerebrospinal fluid within the ventricular system. Though usually congenital in calves, it also can occur as a rare acquired condition in adult cattle, through infection or trauma. In one form of bovine hydrocephalus there is...
The cerebral hemispheres are absent and their site is occupied by cerebrospinal fluid. The fluid has been drained from this specimen after removal of the meninges. Hydranencephaly and arthrogryposis occur as a combined defect in epidemic form following certain intrauterine viral infections...
The hindquarters are twisted towards the head, the ventral abdominal wall is open, and the viscera are exposed. This anomaly usually causes dystocia, often requiring correction by cesarian section.
The large, red, fluid-filled sac is the meninges protruding through a midline cleft in the frontal bones. The sac contains cerebrospinal fluid. The calf, a 4-day old Hereford crossbred bull, was otherwise healthy. An inherited defect was unlikely in this case.
Definition: extravasation of saliva into subcutaneous tissues.
Clinical features: this Limousin x Friesian heifer had shown this soft, painless, fluctuating swelling since birth. In other cases it develops in the first few weeks of life.
Differential diagnosis: calf diphtheria, submandibular...
Definition: A failure of midline fusion during fetal development can lead to defects that affect different parts of the skeleton.
Clinical features: Two obvious cranial abnormalities are illustrated here. A cleft lip in a young Shorthorn calf is shown in 1.1, in which a deep groove extends...
Overview:
Cows have a specialized digestive system that helps them process their high fiber diet. They have four distinct compartments to their stomach—the rumen, reticulum, omasum & abomasum. The rumen, reticulum & abomasum are the forestomach compartments. The abomasum is the “true” stomach...