Unit 2: Digestive Diseases
in Animals
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Unit 2 Objectives:
Discuss the various digestive diseases
associated with animals
 Comprehension of and awareness of
causes, symptoms, and treatments of these
diseases
 Awareness of preventative measures
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Foot & Mouth Disease
Highly contagious, febrile
 Affects:
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Cattle, swine, sheep, goats
 Horses are resistant
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9 outbreaks in U.S. history

Last one in 1929
Quarantines are established for control
 Continues to be a threat to the industry
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Cause
Viral infection
 7 strains w/ additional subtypes
 Infection may be caused by one or more
 Infected animals my suffer repeated attacks due
to short lifespan of immunity
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Immunity from one type doesn’t provide immunity
against another type
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Transmission

During febrile stage:

Virus found in: saliva, blood, urine, milk, muscle
Virus remains alive in carcasses, animal byproducts, contaminated feeds, bedding,
equipment, utensils
 Contact w/ infected animals or contaminated
materials
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Clinical Signs
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Fluid-filled blisters form on mucous membranes
of tongue, lips, cheeks, palate
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Vesicles rupture w/in 24 hrs
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Toes and hoof area, and udder
Tremendous pain
Profuse salivation
What other symptoms might you see?
Body temperature rises rapidly in first 48 hrs, but
will fall back close to normal
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Infection may localize in a major organ resulting
in abortions, mastitis, death
Prevention
No vaccination available
 Basis for prevention:
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Federal restrictions on the importation of susceptible
livestock & contaminated by-products
Immediate quarantine for an outbreak
Eradication of infected & exposed animals
Thorough cleaning & disinfection
Restock w/ a few susceptible animals to test site
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Treatment
No treatment available in U.S.
 Must report suspicious cases to government
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Bloat
Non-contagious disorder or ruminants
 Excessive accumulation of gas in the first
two compartments of the stomach
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Inability to expel the gas, not too much gas
production
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
Animals can become chronic or acute
 Cause
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No specific known causes
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Associated factors
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Or, little disagreement or causes
Animal susceptibility
Type of feed
Environment in which animal is fed
Causative theories (none proven)
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Lack of coarse roughage
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Density of feeds
Saponins
 Formation of soaps & glycerols
Excess gas production
 Unlikely since healthy animals often eat the same
diet
Formation of toxic substances
Saliva production and/or composition
 Important for bloat prevention more than a
causative agent
Animal differences
 Is somewhat genetic
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Clinical signs
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Distention of left side

May enlarge up and over back
More difficult to detect in overweight animals, or
sheep w/ full fleece
 Off-feed, uneasy movement, stand w/ head
extended
 May slobber, grunt, labor breathing
 May have difficulty standing as condition
worsens
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Prevention
Reduce and eliminate possible causative agents
 Strategies
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Avoid straight legume pasture & immature legumes
Feed coarse grass hay prior to lush pasture
Feed dry forage along w/ pasture
Avoid rapid eating from empty start
Keep animals on pasture continuously once turned out
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Keep water & salt available at all times
Avoid frosted pasture
Use preventative treatments if necessary
Treatment
Prompt treatment is essential
 Producer should know how to handle minor
instances
 Walk animal, tie w/ front end elevated
 Acute cases
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Pass hose into stomach to let off gas
 Must move constantly to catch gas pockets
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Trocar & cannula
 Insert in side between hip, last rib, and loin edge
 Let gas leak out of side
 Place on penicillin to minimize infection of
puncture site
Traumatic Reticulitis (Hardware)

Acute or chronic mechanical injury to
reticulum
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Cause

Ingestion of sharp metal that punctures the
reticular wall
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Nails, wire, screws, etc.
 Wire accounts for 75% of the cases
 Nails 20%
 Pieces 2-4” are most troublesome
Mixed and coarse feeds are good at hiding
sharp foreign materials
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Clinical Symptoms
Anorexia, reduce milk production, slow
movement, arched back
 Stand w/ feet wide apart, toes pointed in
 Difficulty w/ defecation & urination
 Moderately febrile, elevated resp. rate

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Prevention
Administer bar magnet
 Permanent in reticulum, only recovered upon
slaughter of animal
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Treatment
May treat w/ antibiotics to control infection, if
case is mild
 Severe cases require surgical repair to remove
object
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Hardware often leads to peritonitis or
pericarditis, if not caught early
Impaction

Ingestion of large amounts of high
carbohydrate feeds due to excess
production of lactic acid
Causes severe toxemia, dehydration,
blindness, recumbency, cessation of rumen
motility, high mortality
 Cause

Accidental access to large quantities of whole or
ground grain
 Feeder cattle and lambs brought into feedlot
situations most susceptible, or an animal
restricted from feed
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Rapid fermentation of feed increases
concentration of lactic acid in rumen
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Decreases rumen motility, and eventually stops it
Clinical signs
Onset is faster with ground feeds
 Severity increases w/ the amount of feed eaten
 Severe cases identified w/in 12 hrs
 Abdominal pain, depression, grunting, teeth
grinding, foul-smelling diarrhea
 Increased pulse, suppressed temperature
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
Staggery, drunken gait, may appear blind
 Rapid development of severe symptoms often
leads to death
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Prevention
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Feed additives (sodium bicarb) help to decrease
susceptibility
Treatment
Remove grain, feed hay
 Treat w/ penicillin
 May mix baking soda w/ sterile water IV for
cattle
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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1g of mineral oil orally
Can have impaction of omasum,
abomasum, large intestine
Acidosis in Horses
Occurs after hard working periods
 Also can happen after diarrhea
 Cause
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Heat exhaustion & severe diarrhea
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Drastic loss of bicarbonate
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Clinical Signs
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Heavily exercised horses can lose 10-12L of
sweat/hr
Rapid, shallow breathing, poor appetite,
weakness, lastitude, coma
Treatment
Oral & IV sodium bicarbonate
 Addition of salt to the diet
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2 Tablespoons/d
Stimulate the horse to drink water
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Acidosis in Cattle
Can occur in feedlot or dairy cattle
 Cattle deprived of feed
 Cause
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Changes in feed
 Alteration in feeding schedule
 Stress
 Pushing too hard w/ grain (too high energy level)
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Drastic changes in rumen pH
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Protozoa & gram + bacteria cannot survive
 Low pH organisms take over & produce more
lactic acid
Clinical Signs
Abdominal pain
 Depression
 Loss of appetite
 Teeth grinding
 Diarrhea (bubbly & smelly)
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Prevention
Gradual changes in feed
 Reduce stress
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Deworm
Vaccinations
Keep feed available
 Feed sodium bicarb
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Treatment
Remove grain
 Feed hay
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
Penicillin & sodium bicarb
 Severe cases
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IV sodium bicarb w/ sterile water
Mineral oil
Effects
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Acidosis will tend to have associated problems
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Founder
Anorexia
Liver abscesses
Bloat
Anaphylaxsis
Death
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Peritonitis
Inflammation of peritoneum
 Tenderness, pain, constipation
 Cause
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Penetration of peritoneal wall
 Perforation of digestive or genital tracts
 Can be due to external injury, or internal problem
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Internal causes are more often fatal
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Clinical Signs
Elevated temperature & depression
 Rigid stance, don’t lie down
 Dehydration
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Although may still drink lots of water
Constipation early, then profuse diarrhea
 Rapid pulse
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Treatment
Surgery to correct perforations, if appropriate
 Broad spectrum antibiotics
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Displaced Abomasum
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Abomasum is displaced either to the left or
right side
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Locations of displacement
Often occurs in dairy
Early in lactation
 Associated with other metabolic/health problems
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Can also include torsion
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Cause
Low-fiber, high soluble carbohydrate diets
 Low rumen pH
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Decreased rumen motility increases gas in abomasum
Mixing errors
 Ketosis, milk fever, RP, mastitis, lameness
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Clinical signs
Abnormal appetite
 Rapid weight loss
 Normal temp, resp., pulse
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Gaunt appearance
Detection
Stethoscope
 Thump/flick left and/or right side
 Will hear distinct “ping”
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Treatment
Requires surgery for either left or right DA
 Can roll & toggle
 RDA’s are more difficult to recover
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Bovine Viral Diarrhea
Acute, contagious disease of cattle
 Present across the U.S.
 Cause
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Spreads readily by contact
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Also vectors, traffic (footwear & vehicle)
Clinical Signs
Can have severe fever (103-108)
 Cough, mouth & nasal discharge
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
Mouth lesions
 Possible lameness
 Diarrhea
 Rapid wt. loss
 May cause abortions from d58 of gestation to 7th
month
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First trimester – likely to abort (may or may not
observe)
Second trimester – may survive but w/ incomplete
development of major organs
Third trimester – may show mild infection, but have
high level of antibodies, tend to recover
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Calves can also become PI’s
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Recognize the disease as “normal”
Will shed the virus constantly
Can infect many others, extremely quickly
Chronic BVD
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Occurs in herds w/ persistent, subclinical symptoms
 Poor nutrition & mgmt contribute
Constant emaciation, poor appetite, slow growth
Periods of diarrhea
2-6 mo. Cycles
10% death rate
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Prevention
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Vaccination (MLV or Killed)
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MLV – don’t vaccinate pregnant cows
Vaccine may be ineffective in calves <6 mos.
Treatment
Antibiotics are somewhat effective
 Keep hydrated
 Avoid rebreeding infected animals, or cull form
herd
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Colic in Horses
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Acute indigestion
Severe abdominal pain
Cause
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Windsucking
Eating spoiled grain
Impaction of stomach or intestine
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Too much grain
Coarse hay
Sudden change
Lack of water or exercise
parasites
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Cramping
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Twisted intestine
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Large amount of very cold water
Very cold water after exercise
Horse rolls in pain
Pulse rate will be >100
Surgery is recommended
Intussusception
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Intestine telescopes inside itself
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Clinical Signs
Pain may come & go
 Groaning, pawing, looking at sides, lying down,
sweating, rolling
 Pulse & respiration rates increase
 No appetite
 No bowel movements
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Prevention
No sudden feed changes
 Regular exercise
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
Plenty of clean water
 Clean, dry hay, not too coarse
 Free choice salt
 Don’t feed on the ground
 Deworm
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Treatment
Walk the horse
 Call vet
 Keep from lying down or rolling
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Never let roll
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
May require surgery
 Vet may pass tube to alleviate gas, or use
laxatives
 Often use pain-relievers
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Swine Edema Disease
Usually occurs from 4-14 wks of age
 Can easily be confused w/ other diseases
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Cause
Colonization of E. coli in the intestine that
produce a toxin
 Often associated w/ stress
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Clinical signs
Sudden death of apparently healthy pigs
 Typically occurs after: weaning, vaccination,
castration, feed change
 Mild listlessness, wobbly gait, poor appetite
 May be febrile
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Short time period
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Dramatic symptoms
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Mild problem – recover in 36-48 hrs
Severe – die w/in 6-24 hrs
Lack of coordination
Wandering, or circular walking pattern
Apparent blindness
Muscle tremors, convulsions
Edema of eyelids, ears, face, jowl
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Post-mortem exam will show edema of stomach
Edema of brain causes the wandering, blindness
Edema can also be in respiratory tract
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Hemorrhagic lesions on belly and/or legs
Prevention
No recommended vaccine
 Reduce stress
 Use antibiotics
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Treatment
Not very successful
 Feed antibiotic if anticipating a sudden change
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Scours
Can affect foals, pigs, and calves
 Foals
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Usually not too problematic
 Cause
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Mare’s first heat after foaling
Diet changes
Parasites
Infections
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Clinical signs
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Usually mild
Watery, smelling diarrhea
Poor appetite for 24-36 hrs
Can be profuse diarrhea
 Causes extreme dehydration
Prevention
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Sanitation
Adequate colostrum
No vaccination
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Treatment
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If severe:
 Electrolytes & fluids
 Call vet
If mild
 Monitor closely for other symptoms
Pigs
Can be highly fatal
 Occurs in first few days
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Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Cause
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E. coli
Usually aided by chilled body temps following
farrowing
Poor farrowing conditions & improperly fed sows
Infection through naval cord
Ingestion of infected feces
Clinical signs
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Watery – yellow diarrhea
Wt. loss, listlessness
Secondary infections – blood poisoning, pneumonia,
infection of abdominal lining
Mortality can be 100%
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Prevention
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Sanitation & disinfection
Broad spectrum antibiotics and/or sulfa drugs
 Can be administered through the water
Vaccinate sows
 Make endogenous vaccine specific for the farm
Calves

3 contributing factors
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Faulty nutrition
Stress
Infectious organisms
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
One of most serious health risks in calves
 Disrupts growth, weakens immune system
 Cause
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E. coli
 Causes scours from 1-3d old
Rota and/or corona virus
 Causes scours from 5-15d old
Clinical signs
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Cold nose & extremities
White, watery scours (first 48-72 hrs of life)
What else will you see?
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Prevention
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Febrile
 103-106 temp
Calf becomes anorexic, unthrifty looking, pot bellied
Reduce exposure to newborn calves
Optimal amounts of colostrum w/in specified time
Vaccinate dam 2-6 wks before parturition
Treatment
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Discontinue milk feeding for 2-3d
Administer fluids (oral & injection)
Antibiotics
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals

Coccidiosis
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Parasitic disease of cattle, sheep, swine
Usually occurs in situations where cattle are
confined to smaller areas
Mature animals carry coccidia & shed in the fecal
matter
Many young have a low-grade coccidia infection
throughout life

Become resistant to coccidiosis, unless their resistance is
lowered significantly by another factor
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Cause
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Protozoan parasite Coccidia
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No cross infection between species
Influences on a coccidiosis outbreak
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Sanitation
Stress (weaning)
Shipping
Overcrowding
Feed changes
Other diseases
Weather
Birds (carriers of coccidia)
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Clinical signs
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Commonly in young animals
2-3 wks after birth, or shipping
Diarrhea (blood-stained, except swine)
Loss of appetite (slight)
Pneumonia
Severe infection – death 4-6d
Most will survive
Prevention

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Avoid feed & water contamination
Quarantine affected animals
Expose infected area to sun
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Treatment
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Feed an ionophore
Amprolium, Lasalocid, or Deccoquinate
Salmonellosis

Two forms
Infection of genital tract (abortions in mares,
ewes)
 Paratyphoid dysentery of farm animals


Young or old
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
Can infect the meat of the animal and pass
to humans, or back to animals in feeds
 Cause

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>1000 Salmonella species

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Most can cause problems
Clinical Signs
Depression
 Loss of appetite
 High fever
 Water, odorous diarrhea (blood-streaked)

Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Pregnant females may abort
Prevention

Must control more than prevent

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Restrict entrance of new animals into herd
Contaminated feed
Birds
Quarantine infected animals
Treatment

Antibiotics
Unit 2: Digestive Diseases in
Animals
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Be ready for a quiz next time!