Veterinary Clinical Medicine-I (General and Systemic)

RUMINAL TYMPANY

• Ruminal tympany is the excessive retention of gases of fermentation with abnormal distension of the rumen and reticulum. The gas may be in the free form or persistent foam mixed with the rumen contents.

Types

• Primary bloat/ Frothy bloat : Production of stable foam traps the normal gases of fermentation in the rumen. There is inhibition of coalescence of the small gas bubbles and increase in the intra ruminal pressure as eructation do not occur
• Secondary bloat/ Free gas bloat: due to physical obstruction of oesophagus or failure of eructation mechanism