Caecal dilatation and torsion
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CAECAL DILATATION AND TORSION
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Etiology
Excessive feeding of grains
- Results in production of increased concentration volatile fatty acids (VFA )
- Gas due to fermentation of undigested grains
- Volatile Fatty acids cause hypomotility or atony of the caecum resulting in accumulation of gas and ingesta with subsequent dilatation and possible torsion of the organ.
Clinical signs
- Simple dilatation takes gradual course
- Onset may be acute if torsion occurs
- Clinical signs – similar to bowel obstruction
- Abdominal pain – early course of disease
- Rapid loss of appetite
- Cessation of defecation
- Dehydration
- Temperature, pulse and respiration rate – normal
- Subnormal temperature, tachycardia – in advanced cases of caecal torsion
- Hypo motility or atony of rumen
- Distended right paralumbar fossa
- Tympanic resonance of right paralumbar fossa on auscultation and percussion
- On rectal palpation – a long cylindrical movable gas filled structure in pelvic inlet or just close to pelvic bone
- Rupture of distended caecum during transportation of animal is a possibility and if it occurs death is sudden
Diagnosis
- Based on
- History
- Clinical signs
- Auscultation and percussion
- Rectal palpation
- Right flank laparotomy
- biochemistry
- Hypochloremic, hypokalemic, metabolic alkolosis –
- Haemo concentration and azotaemia – similar in bowel obstruction
- Auscultation and percussion of right flank
- Smaller resonant area and more caudal in case of caecal dilatation (in case of right side displacement of the abomasum - more cranial)
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Last modified: Tuesday, 27 September 2011, 7:06 AM