VPT 311: General and Systemic Veterinary Pharmacology (2+1)

RUMEN ACIDIFIERS

• Rumen acidifiers (e.g: vinegar, 4-5% acetic acid)
• Rumen acidifiers may be used to treat simple indigestion, in which a constant inflow of bicarbonate rich saliva raises the pH of the rumen.
• They are used in the treatment of acute urea poisoning, because they decrease ammonia absorption via formation of ammonium ion and inhibit urease activity of rumen microflora.
• Rumen acidifiers are mixed with several liters of cold water and administered via stomach tube every 6-8 hours.