Simple indigestion- Ruminal Atony

• The simple accumulation of excessive quantities

of relatively indigestible feed may physically
impair rumen function for 24-48 hr.
• The disease is common in hand-fed dairy and
beef cattle and rarely seen in sheep
Causes
1. It may be predisposed by late pregnancy, old age,
traumatic reticuloperitonitis, exhaustion, lack of
water.
2. Sudden ingestion of excessive quantities of
highly palatable feeds such as corn or grass
silage; or excessive quantities of relatively
indigestible, poor-quality roughage during winter.
3. During drought, cattle and sheep may be forced
to eat large quantities of poor-quality straw,
bedding, or scrub.
Simple indigestion- Ruminal Atony
4. Sudden change in feed:
- Using spoiled or frozen feeds,
- Introducing urea to a ration, oral antibiotics
and sulpha
- Turning cattle onto a lush cereal grain
pasture,
- Introducing feedlot cattle to a high-level grain
ration.
5. Ingestion of placentas by postparturient cows.
6. Ingestion of plastic bags, skin, clothes, dust,
sand, licking of hair and wool (phytobezoars)
7. It may follow ruminal acidosis caused by
excessive fermentation or putrefaction of
ingested feed.
Phytobezoars
 Pathogenesis
• Any change in diet may result in
change in ruminal pH (Acid or
Alkali) that result in ruminal
activity and change normal flora
• Protein putrefaction in the rumen
led to excess histamine release
that agravate ruminal atony
 Clinical Findings:
It depend on the type of animal affected and
cause of the disorder.
• Silage overfeeding cause:
Anorexia and a moderate drop in production
in dairy cattle.
The rumen is usually full, firm, and doughy;
primary contractions are absent, but
secondary contractions may be present.
The feces are normal to firm in consistency
but reduced in amount.
Temperature, pulse, and respiration are
normal.
 Clinical Findings:
• Excessive feeding of grain results in:
Anorexia and ruminal stasis.
The rumen is not necessarily full and
may contain excessive fluid.
The feces are usually soft and foul
smelling.
Animal is bright and alert and usually
begins to eat within 24 hr.
Recovery usually is spontaneous
within 24-48 hr.
 Diagnosis and DD.
• History of a change in the nature or amount of the diet.
• Signs of rumen atony.
• Diseases of similar signs should be ruled out a:
1. Traumatic reticuloperitonitis :The systemic reaction and
painful responses to deep palpation of the xiphoid
2. ketosis :The history and the ketonuria
3. Displaced abomasum: Tinkling sound and steel band
effect on auscultation- percussion technique.
4. Vagal indigestion and abomasal torsions become more
readily detectable as they progress because they have a
longer course,
5. Grain overload is distinguishable by its greater severity
and the pronounced fall in the pH of the rumen contents.
6. Phytobezoars cause partial or complete anorexia and
scant feces; on rectal examination, distended loops of
intestine and the firm phytobezoar masses are palpable .
 Treatment
I- Correcting the suspected dietary factors.
II- Restoring Ruminal contraction:
 Adminst. of Ruminotoric drugs e.g. Neostgmin
 Administration of 20-40 L of warm water or saline
followed by vigorous kneading of the rumen, may help
restore rumen function
 If the activity of the ruminal microbes is reduced,
administration of 4-8 L of ruminal fluid from a healthy
cow will help.
III- Correct ruminal pH:
 Magnesium hydroxide PO seems to be useful when
excessive amounts of high-energy feeds have been
ingested.
 If too much urea or protein has been ingested, acetic acid
or vinegar may be administered PO.
• Spontaneous recovery is usual
 Ruminotorics
Agents and mixtures that promote forestomach
function (fermentation and motility).
Formulations that contain glucogenic substrates,
minerals, cofactors, and bitters (e.g, nux vomica).
The mild laxative and antacid effects of MgOH may
be beneficial in acid indigestion.
Mineral oil (1-2 L) or dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate
(DSS, 90-120 mL in 1-2 L of water) administered PO
or via nasogastric tube followed by gentle ruminal
massage can be helpful in promoting the dissolution
and passage of impacted fibrous ruminal contents.
DSS can markedly depress rumen protozoa; thus,
ruminal transfaunation should follow the use of this
agent in ruminal hypomotility
 Ruminal drinkers
• Chronic indigestion developed in calves
because milk is deposited into the rumen as a
result of failure of the reticular groove reflex
during drinking.
• The disease is most common in bucket-fed
calves,
• The milk retained in the rumen ferments and
produces acetic acid, butyric acid, and lactate;
the pH in the rumen falls; and dyskeratosis of
the ruminal mucosa develops.
• Affected calves show inappetence, ventral
abdominal distention, and poor growth.
• They pass sticky, clay-like feces that may
adhere to the tail, perineum, and hindlegs.
 Ruminal drinkers
• Fluid-splashing sounds, audible on auscultation
over the left flank while the calf is drinking, are
diagnostic.
• Rancid-smelling fermented material can be obtained
by stomach tube from the rumen.
• A ruminal pH of <6 leads to systemic acid-base
disturbance.
• Treatment consists of removing the fermented
material and flushing the rumen with saline.
• inducing vigorous sucking activity with the fingers
before feeding milk.
• Calves that relapse should be fed by nipple-bottle or
weaned.