Synonyms

No known synonym

Name of the disease in English

Ruminal dinker-Indigestion in calves fed milk replacers

The disease in brief

A poorly closing esophageal gutter causes milk to accumulate and ferment in the rumen, leading to indigestion. This problem occurs in calves that are bucket-fed, particularly with milk replacers. It is a major problem for so-called "label" veal breeders, i.e. those who raise beef calves or crossbreds with cow's milk distributed by bucket. These specialized breeders are generally very familiar with the problem, its detection, treatment and prevention.

Clinic & diagnosis

Initially, the problem may manifest itself by an irregular appetite (from one day to the next) and a bad coat, a long and dull, shaggy coat. When the problem sets in, it leads to poor growth, clayey faeces with a rancid odor, distension of the left flank and succussion of the flank causes liquid noises. A gastric tube allows the emptying of a putrid-smelling liquid. Initially, moderate bloat may dissipate, the calf may refuse the next meal and resume normal meals. It may show pain, grind its teeth, and exhibit colic. Recurrent rumen bloat may manifest itself later.

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

No description

Confirm a suspicion?

Passing a gastric tube allows the draining of a putrid smelling liquid.

Prognosis and treatment

Treatment of bloating should be followed by rehabilitation of the calf:

1Pass a gastric tube to empty the rumen of its putrefied contents, rinse with water 2 to 3 times until obtaining a rinse water almost without odor; then, add anti-infectives (antibiotics or sulfonamides used against common diarrhea) in the last rinse water which is
left in the stomach.
2- Retrain the calf to drink from the abomasum: The calf is deprived of milk and for 2 days it only receives water. Then resume drinking small quantities with a bucket with a teat fixed under the bottom of the bucket.

Prevention

To avoid this problem:
– Put a pacifier in the bottom of the usual buckets.
– Quickly identify calves that have difficulty digesting milk drunk from a bucket “with their heads down”.
– Raise the buckets and make the calves suck with their “heads in the air”.

References

Veterinary Medicine-Pocket companion -9th Edition BLOOD DC-page 97