Diagnosis and Treatment of Abomasal Impaction in Dairy Cows
Clinical Report on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Abomasal Impaction in Dairy Cows
(Agricultural Wealth Network) Abomasal impaction in dairy cows is a disease caused by disturbances in the regulatory function of the vagus nerve, which leads to abomasal atony, retention of contents, and distension of the stomach wall. With the development of the local dairy farming industry, the incidence of abomasal impaction in dairy cows has increased, and it is often seen during the periparturient period (around calving). If treatment is delayed or incorrect, it often results in the death of both the cow and the calf, causing considerable economic losses for dairy farmers. Early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment can improve the therapeutic effect; if the timing is missed and abomasitis is triggered, the condition becomes quite difficult to manage. Over the past two years, the author has diagnosed and treated 11 cows with this disease, with 9 cured (2 died due to secondary abomasitis and peritonitis complicated by pericarditis), giving a cure rate of 81.7%.
1 Causes
1.1 Due to poor feeding management, large amounts of coarse, hard, fiber-rich wheat straw, corn stalks, peanut vines, rice straw, etc. are fed, along with ground corn meal, soybean meal, peanut cake, cottonseed cake and other concentrates, combined with insufficient drinking water, or unclean feed contaminated with mud, sand, cement fragments, wood shavings, chemical fibers, plastic film, etc. Accidental ingestion can cause obstruction of the forestomach to varying degrees, leading to digestive dysfunction of the abomasum and metabolic disturbances that result in abomasal impaction.
1.2 In the late stage of pregnancy in dairy cows, the rapid development of the fetus presses on the gastrointestinal tract, directly affecting vagus nerve function, thereby inhibiting gastrointestinal digestive function. Alternatively, just after calving, when the abdomen is empty, the uterus begins to contract and labor pains occur repeatedly; at this time the functional activity of the digestive system has not yet recovered, and keepers eager to provide nourishment increase concentrates too much, resulting in abomasal impaction.
1.3 Abomasal impaction can also be secondary to other diseases such as forestomach atony, rumen impaction, traumatic reticuloperitonitis, peritonitis, small intestinal impaction, and hepatic or splenic abscesses. Secondary cases are complex and have a high mortality rate.
2 Clinical Symptoms
Affected cows are depressed, with rough hair coat, dry muzzle, and essentially normal body temperature. Appetite is completely lost, rumination stops, the abdomen enlarges, and the rumen is full of contents with fluid accumulation. Affected cows often assume a defecation posture, pass dry and scanty feces, and sometimes pass brownish pasty feces. Urine is scanty, yellow, and foul-smelling. The oral color is yellow-white, the base of the tongue is dark red, the oral fluids are sticky and greasy with a sour, foul odor, and the pulse is deep and full.
3 Key Points for Diagnosis
In the early stage of the disease, affected cows show reduced appetite, reduced or absent rumination, and increased thirst. On auscultation, rumen motility sounds are weakened; feces are dry and urine is yellow, consistent with the clinical signs of forestomach atony. As the disease progresses, a large amount of fluid accumulates in the rumen, the abdominal circumference increases, and ballottement palpation reveals a splashing sound. On auscultation at the left flank, while tapping with the hand at the left 1st to 5th last ribs, or at the right 1st to 2nd last ribs, a clear ping sound can be heard. In severe cases, the cow often lies in sternal recumbency, drools sticky foam, looks back at the abdomen, kicks at the abdomen with the hind limbs, and shows distension of the lower right abdomen; the lower part of the caudal border of the costal arch is firm on pressure. The pH of abomasal puncture contents is 1-4. Rectal examination: a small amount of brownish pasty material is present in the rectum.
4 Treatment Methods
4.1 Traditional Chinese medicine follows the therapeutic principles of removing stagnation, guiding out accumulation, moistening dryness, and unblocking the bowels.
The prescription used is a modified Danggui Congrong Tang: fried angelica 200 g, sesame oil 250 ml, cistanche 100 g, senna leaf 60 g, costus root 45 g, magnolia bark 60 g, fried bitter orange 60 g, cyperus rhizome 60 g, akebia stem 45 g, charred hawthorn 120 g, medicated leaven 120 g (added later), hemp seed 150 g, bush cherry seed 100 g, sparganium 60 g, zedoary 60 g, fried radish seed 150 g, with fresh ginger 120 g as the guiding herb; decoct in water and administer by drenching.
4.2 Western medicine focuses mainly on cardiac support, fluid replacement, detoxification, and anti-inflammatory treatment.
Compound sodium chloride injection 2 000 ml, 5% glucose saline 2 000 ml, 10% nikethamide 30 ml, gentamicin 800,000-1,000,000 u, administered by intravenous injection once; vitamin C 30 ml, administered by intramuscular injection.
4.3 Electroacupuncture therapy
One electroacupuncture machine (or acupuncture electroanesthesia apparatus), and 2 veterinary round sharp needles (12 cm) are inserted respectively into the Jianwei point and Weishu point, connected with conducting wires, and the electroacupuncture machine switch is turned on. Using low-frequency microwaves (60-80 times per minute, with gentle stimulation that does not produce a needling sensation), each electrotherapy session lasts 25-30 min, with 3-5 days as one course of treatment. Strengthen nursing care; after medication, withhold food for 3 days, providing only clean warm water for free drinking, especially prohibiting concentrate feed, and allow appropriate exercise. After 3 days, if a large amount of retained feces has been passed and rumination has resumed, a small amount of green hay, millet porridge, etc. may be fed.
5 Typical Cases
Case 1 A 6-year-old Holstein dairy cow raised by Ni Wanquan of Jingang Village, Jingang Township, Wolong District, Nanyang City, became ill and a visit was requested. Chief complaint: after calving, due to postpartum weakness, the concentrate feed amount was increased (corn meal, soybean meal, peanut cake, cottonseed cake), fed at about 4 kg per day. After feeding, the cow began to bloat and stopped eating and ruminating; treatment by the local veterinarian was ineffective. Clinical examination: the affected cow was depressed, with slight abdominal distension, presenting an upper deficiency and lower excess pattern, increased respiratory rate, and accelerated heartbeat at 86 beats/min. On auscultation of the rumen, omasum, and abomasum, motility sounds were weak; on percussion at the last rib, a clear ping sound could be heard; the pH of abomasal puncture contents was 4; feces were dry and scanty and black in color; urine was yellow and scanty; oral fluids were sticky and greasy; and the pulse was deep and full. Therefore, the Chinese herbal medicine Danggui Congrong Tang (as above) was given, 1 dose/day, for 2 consecutive doses. Combined with intravenous fluids using the same western medicine prescription as above. Electroacupuncture at Jianwei point and Weishu point for 30 min, once/day. On the 3rd day, dark brown feces were passed with a foul odor, followed by drinking a large amount of warm water. Rumination began on the night of the 3rd day, a small amount of green hay was fed starting on the 4th day, and the cow was basically recovered by the 7th day.
6 Summary
6.1 Danggui Congrong Tang originates from "Diagnostic and Treatment Experience in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Volume 2," and is the prescription of Mr. Pei Yaoqing. This prescription was appropriately modified from the original by removing Quamoclit and Tongcao, and adding Akebia stem, hawthorn, tangerine peel, hemp seed, bush cherry seed, sparganium, zedoary, radish seed, and fresh ginger. Actions: moisten dryness and unblock the bowels, remove stagnation and guide out accumulation. Indications: constipation in old, weak, pregnant, postpartum, and debilitated animals. In the prescription, fried angelica moistens dryness and lubricates the intestines; cistanche warms the kidney and strengthens yang, moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels, and serves as the chief herb; senna leaf clears heat, drains fire, and unblocks the bowels, and serves as the deputy herb; costus root, cyperus rhizome, magnolia bark, tangerine peel, and bitter orange regulate qi and soothe the middle, and relieve distension; hawthorn, medicated leaven, radish seed, sparganium, and zedoary promote digestion and break up accumulation, and serve as assistant herbs to help the chief herbs remove stagnation and guide out accumulation; akebia stem regulates the water pathways, clears heat, and promotes urination, and serves as the messenger herb; fresh ginger serves as the guide. When all the herbs are combined, they moisten and soften dry bindings, expel the old and bring in the new, balance hardness and softness, and coordinate tonification and purgation, with profound subtlety.
6.2 In order to improve the regulatory effect of the central nervous system, enhance cardiac functional activity, improve gastrointestinal function, and prevent systemic dehydration and autointoxication, compound sodium chloride injection, glucose saline, nikethamide injection, antibiotics, vitamin C, etc. are injected intravenously to enhance the recovery of the body's own functions and prevent secondary infection.
6.3 In electroacupuncture therapy, low-frequency microwaves are used (gentle stimulation that does not produce a needling sensation), with each electrotherapy session lasting 20-30 min. This appropriate electrical stimulation can excite the vagus nerve trunk. The dorsal branch of the vagus nerve mainly governs the functional activity of the forestomach, while the ventral branch of the vagus nerve governs the forestomach and abomasum. Therefore, it can reflexively regulate the functional activity of the abomasum and the relaxation of the pyloric sphincter, enhance gastrointestinal peristalsis, push the impacted food backward, and promote the discharge of feces.
1 Causes
1.1 Due to poor feeding management, large amounts of coarse, hard, fiber-rich wheat straw, corn stalks, peanut vines, rice straw, etc. are fed, along with ground corn meal, soybean meal, peanut cake, cottonseed cake and other concentrates, combined with insufficient drinking water, or unclean feed contaminated with mud, sand, cement fragments, wood shavings, chemical fibers, plastic film, etc. Accidental ingestion can cause obstruction of the forestomach to varying degrees, leading to digestive dysfunction of the abomasum and metabolic disturbances that result in abomasal impaction.
1.2 In the late stage of pregnancy in dairy cows, the rapid development of the fetus presses on the gastrointestinal tract, directly affecting vagus nerve function, thereby inhibiting gastrointestinal digestive function. Alternatively, just after calving, when the abdomen is empty, the uterus begins to contract and labor pains occur repeatedly; at this time the functional activity of the digestive system has not yet recovered, and keepers eager to provide nourishment increase concentrates too much, resulting in abomasal impaction.
1.3 Abomasal impaction can also be secondary to other diseases such as forestomach atony, rumen impaction, traumatic reticuloperitonitis, peritonitis, small intestinal impaction, and hepatic or splenic abscesses. Secondary cases are complex and have a high mortality rate.
2 Clinical Symptoms
Affected cows are depressed, with rough hair coat, dry muzzle, and essentially normal body temperature. Appetite is completely lost, rumination stops, the abdomen enlarges, and the rumen is full of contents with fluid accumulation. Affected cows often assume a defecation posture, pass dry and scanty feces, and sometimes pass brownish pasty feces. Urine is scanty, yellow, and foul-smelling. The oral color is yellow-white, the base of the tongue is dark red, the oral fluids are sticky and greasy with a sour, foul odor, and the pulse is deep and full.
3 Key Points for Diagnosis
In the early stage of the disease, affected cows show reduced appetite, reduced or absent rumination, and increased thirst. On auscultation, rumen motility sounds are weakened; feces are dry and urine is yellow, consistent with the clinical signs of forestomach atony. As the disease progresses, a large amount of fluid accumulates in the rumen, the abdominal circumference increases, and ballottement palpation reveals a splashing sound. On auscultation at the left flank, while tapping with the hand at the left 1st to 5th last ribs, or at the right 1st to 2nd last ribs, a clear ping sound can be heard. In severe cases, the cow often lies in sternal recumbency, drools sticky foam, looks back at the abdomen, kicks at the abdomen with the hind limbs, and shows distension of the lower right abdomen; the lower part of the caudal border of the costal arch is firm on pressure. The pH of abomasal puncture contents is 1-4. Rectal examination: a small amount of brownish pasty material is present in the rectum.
4 Treatment Methods
4.1 Traditional Chinese medicine follows the therapeutic principles of removing stagnation, guiding out accumulation, moistening dryness, and unblocking the bowels.
The prescription used is a modified Danggui Congrong Tang: fried angelica 200 g, sesame oil 250 ml, cistanche 100 g, senna leaf 60 g, costus root 45 g, magnolia bark 60 g, fried bitter orange 60 g, cyperus rhizome 60 g, akebia stem 45 g, charred hawthorn 120 g, medicated leaven 120 g (added later), hemp seed 150 g, bush cherry seed 100 g, sparganium 60 g, zedoary 60 g, fried radish seed 150 g, with fresh ginger 120 g as the guiding herb; decoct in water and administer by drenching.
4.2 Western medicine focuses mainly on cardiac support, fluid replacement, detoxification, and anti-inflammatory treatment.
Compound sodium chloride injection 2 000 ml, 5% glucose saline 2 000 ml, 10% nikethamide 30 ml, gentamicin 800,000-1,000,000 u, administered by intravenous injection once; vitamin C 30 ml, administered by intramuscular injection.
4.3 Electroacupuncture therapy
One electroacupuncture machine (or acupuncture electroanesthesia apparatus), and 2 veterinary round sharp needles (12 cm) are inserted respectively into the Jianwei point and Weishu point, connected with conducting wires, and the electroacupuncture machine switch is turned on. Using low-frequency microwaves (60-80 times per minute, with gentle stimulation that does not produce a needling sensation), each electrotherapy session lasts 25-30 min, with 3-5 days as one course of treatment. Strengthen nursing care; after medication, withhold food for 3 days, providing only clean warm water for free drinking, especially prohibiting concentrate feed, and allow appropriate exercise. After 3 days, if a large amount of retained feces has been passed and rumination has resumed, a small amount of green hay, millet porridge, etc. may be fed.
5 Typical Cases
Case 1 A 6-year-old Holstein dairy cow raised by Ni Wanquan of Jingang Village, Jingang Township, Wolong District, Nanyang City, became ill and a visit was requested. Chief complaint: after calving, due to postpartum weakness, the concentrate feed amount was increased (corn meal, soybean meal, peanut cake, cottonseed cake), fed at about 4 kg per day. After feeding, the cow began to bloat and stopped eating and ruminating; treatment by the local veterinarian was ineffective. Clinical examination: the affected cow was depressed, with slight abdominal distension, presenting an upper deficiency and lower excess pattern, increased respiratory rate, and accelerated heartbeat at 86 beats/min. On auscultation of the rumen, omasum, and abomasum, motility sounds were weak; on percussion at the last rib, a clear ping sound could be heard; the pH of abomasal puncture contents was 4; feces were dry and scanty and black in color; urine was yellow and scanty; oral fluids were sticky and greasy; and the pulse was deep and full. Therefore, the Chinese herbal medicine Danggui Congrong Tang (as above) was given, 1 dose/day, for 2 consecutive doses. Combined with intravenous fluids using the same western medicine prescription as above. Electroacupuncture at Jianwei point and Weishu point for 30 min, once/day. On the 3rd day, dark brown feces were passed with a foul odor, followed by drinking a large amount of warm water. Rumination began on the night of the 3rd day, a small amount of green hay was fed starting on the 4th day, and the cow was basically recovered by the 7th day.
6 Summary
6.1 Danggui Congrong Tang originates from "Diagnostic and Treatment Experience in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Volume 2," and is the prescription of Mr. Pei Yaoqing. This prescription was appropriately modified from the original by removing Quamoclit and Tongcao, and adding Akebia stem, hawthorn, tangerine peel, hemp seed, bush cherry seed, sparganium, zedoary, radish seed, and fresh ginger. Actions: moisten dryness and unblock the bowels, remove stagnation and guide out accumulation. Indications: constipation in old, weak, pregnant, postpartum, and debilitated animals. In the prescription, fried angelica moistens dryness and lubricates the intestines; cistanche warms the kidney and strengthens yang, moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels, and serves as the chief herb; senna leaf clears heat, drains fire, and unblocks the bowels, and serves as the deputy herb; costus root, cyperus rhizome, magnolia bark, tangerine peel, and bitter orange regulate qi and soothe the middle, and relieve distension; hawthorn, medicated leaven, radish seed, sparganium, and zedoary promote digestion and break up accumulation, and serve as assistant herbs to help the chief herbs remove stagnation and guide out accumulation; akebia stem regulates the water pathways, clears heat, and promotes urination, and serves as the messenger herb; fresh ginger serves as the guide. When all the herbs are combined, they moisten and soften dry bindings, expel the old and bring in the new, balance hardness and softness, and coordinate tonification and purgation, with profound subtlety.
6.2 In order to improve the regulatory effect of the central nervous system, enhance cardiac functional activity, improve gastrointestinal function, and prevent systemic dehydration and autointoxication, compound sodium chloride injection, glucose saline, nikethamide injection, antibiotics, vitamin C, etc. are injected intravenously to enhance the recovery of the body's own functions and prevent secondary infection.
6.3 In electroacupuncture therapy, low-frequency microwaves are used (gentle stimulation that does not produce a needling sensation), with each electrotherapy session lasting 20-30 min. This appropriate electrical stimulation can excite the vagus nerve trunk. The dorsal branch of the vagus nerve mainly governs the functional activity of the forestomach, while the ventral branch of the vagus nerve governs the forestomach and abomasum. Therefore, it can reflexively regulate the functional activity of the abomasum and the relaxation of the pyloric sphincter, enhance gastrointestinal peristalsis, push the impacted food backward, and promote the discharge of feces.