What is rumen tympany in cows? Causes and treatment

During the grazing period, due to the failure of shepherds to comply with the grazing regime and rules, cattle often develop rumen tympania.

Tympania is a non-contagious disease characterized by rapidly developing gas formation and swelling of the rumen. Most often, tympania is acute and, if emergency veterinary care is not provided to the animal, it ends fatally.

There are acute and chronic, primary and secondary tympania.

Causes and forms

There are many reasons why gases accumulate in the rumen:

Primary acute tympania of the scar occurs when eating large amounts of easily fermenting food.

For cows, succulent green fodder poses a great danger: young green grass, clover, alfalfa, vetch and other legumes, corn cobs of milky-wax ripeness, shoots of winter plants, cabbage and beet leaves.

These feeds are especially dangerous when they are given warmed in a pile or moistened by rain or dew, or when animals are given water to drink immediately after being given such feeds.

Slowly developing tympany can be caused by feeding spoiled grains, stillage, rotten root crops, frozen potatoes and other feeds.

Secondary tympany are caused by poisonous plants (aconite, colchicum, hemlock, water hemlock), causing paralysis of the rumen wall, blockage of the esophagus by foreign bodies, with disorders of the acts of belching and chewing, less often intestinal obstruction, blockage of the book and acute febrile diseases.

Chronic tympania develops with chronic catarrh of the gastrointestinal tract, traumatic reticulitis.

Pathogenesis

Fermentation of the feed mass entering the rumen is a physiological process. The gases formed in the rumen enter partly with the feed mass into the abomasum, the intestine, where they are absorbed, while the majority of the gases, collecting in the upper sac of the rumen, are released with belching.

The more easily fermentable feed there is in the rumen, the more gases are released. They accumulate in the upper sac of the rumen or gather into large bubbles, foaming the feed masses, making it difficult to remove them physiologically.

Swelling of the scar occurs when there are three unfavorable factors acting simultaneously:

• excessive gas formation;
• the occurrence of acute atony;
• abundance of liquid mass in the forestomachs (standing level is above the cardia).

When very wet feed is consumed in excess, the contents of the rumen are quickly evacuated into the omasum and abomasum, then into the intestines, where the baro- and chemoreceptors are irritated due to overflow.

As a result, reflex inhibition of the contractile activity of the forestomachs occurs and acute atony develops. Spasm of the cardiac sphincter and the bridge of the book occurs, as well as closure of the cardiac opening with liquid contents.

The accumulated gases do not leave the rumen and mix with the feed masses. The rumen turns into a closed container in which gases accumulate and the pressure increases.

With tympania, not only is mechanical stretching of the scar observed, but also a change in carbohydrate-fat metabolism occurs. The blood sugar content decreases to 55 mg%, pyruvic acid to 1,278 mg%, ketone bodies to 2,068 mg%, and reserve alkalinity to 42,2.

The indicators of oxidation-reduction processes and carbohydrate-fat metabolism in mixed tympanic diseases are characterized by hyperglycemia, pyruvism, hyperacetonemia, an increase in all forms of glutathione and hemoglobin.

Increased pressure of the scar on adjacent organs of the abdominal and thoracic cavity reduces the blood flow into the thoracic cavity, complicates diastolic relaxation of the ventricles of the heart and expansion of the lungs during inhalation.

Because of this, the systolic volume of the heart and the respiratory capacity of the lungs decrease, gas exchange decreases, and oxygen starvation rapidly increases.

Symptoms

The disease begins with signs of anxiety:

• the animal stops eating;
• fans its tail;
• looks back at the stomach;
• hunches his back;
• often moans;
• repeatedly lies down and gets up quickly;
• kicks the stomach with its hind legs.

Body temperature is within normal limits. The animal’s breathing is rapid (60-80 per minute), shallow, chest breathing type.

In severe cases of tympania:

• the animal breathes with its mouth wide open;
• coughs frequently;
• groans;
• Foamy saliva flows out of the mouth and the tongue hangs down.

The visible mucous membranes take on a bluish tint; the veins of the head, neck and udder become filled with blood. These phenomena are accompanied by a rapid pulse and a pounding heartbeat.

The most important clinical sign acute tympany is a significant protrusion of the left hunger fossa, reaching the level of the lumbar vertebrae, with a simultaneous sharp increase in the volume of the abdomen.

The animal stops chewing and belching. Contractions of the rumen are intensified at the beginning of the disease, then quickly weaken, become more frequent, and with the development of rumen paresis, disappear.

Palpation reveals increased tension in the wall of the left hunger fossa, no contractions of the scar, and gas accumulation in the scar. Percussion of the scar produces a tympanic sound with a metallic tint.

During auscultation, book sounds, peristalsis of the abomasum and intestines are not detected. The animal often assumes a position for defecation, urination, small portions of liquid feces and a small amount of urine are released.

Animals have difficulty standing on their feet, fall, and if emergency assistance is not provided, they die very quickly from convulsive contractions of the body muscles.

Diagnosis

Characteristic symptoms and acute course of the disease allow to correctly diagnose the disease. It is necessary to exclude obstruction of the esophagus, in which rumen tympania acts as a secondary disease (passage of a thick probe into the rumen and release of gases and rumen contents through it excludes obstruction of the esophagus), diseases accompanied by fever.

It is important to always remember that tympania is one of the symptoms of such a particularly dangerous infectious disease as anthrax.

Forecast

The death of an animal can occur within a few hours after the appearance of the first clinical signs of the disease, and sometimes even faster.

It is especially difficult to predict the outcome of the disease if acute tympania occurs simultaneously in a large number of animals in a herd, when it becomes difficult to provide emergency medical care to everyone at the same time.

If tympania in an animal develops due to organic changes in the esophagus, forestomachs or intestines, it will systematically recur, eventually causing exhaustion and death of the animal.

In such cases, animals that do not have breeding value are recommended to be used for meat.

Development of the disease in young animals

Bloating is also common молодcalves and adult cattle. In calves, the problem may be caused by improper artificial feeding.

Newborn calves are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases during the first 7-10 days.

Adults are even more likely to suffer from bloating. But the probability of infection in this case is much lower. In cows, this problem can be caused by a blockage of the esophagus.

Very often this happens when feeding the animal fresh plant fruits (potatoes, cabbage and other vegetables), various kinds of roots.

Also, the cause of an enlarged abdomen may be bloating of the rumen (one of the parts of the stomach) or tympania (gas formation).

The cow is at risk, especially in the summer, when the diet contains a lot of different herbs. The situation can be aggravated by wet plants or greens, abundantly washed with water, as well as stale products.

In addition to bloating, calves may also experience loose stools and elevated temperature.

In adult cows, if it was an esophageal blockage, there is a pronounced restlessness. They stretch their heads forward. Profuse salivation begins.

With tympania, the animal’s left side swells up greatly. Chewing immediately stops. There is strong excitement, the cow behaves restlessly. This condition is abruptly replaced by weakness, and in the absence of special assistance, death occurs.

Treatment

Treatment for tympania must be provided on an emergency basis:

1. First of all, it is necessary to take measures to free the scar from gases, as well as stop their further formation.
2. Treatment of tympania usually begins with the use of simple techniques, such as slowly lifting the animal up a hill, pouring cold water over the left iliac region, or taking the animal into a river.
3. When the front part of the body is raised to an elevated position, the forestomachs move away from the diaphragm, reducing the pressure on it, thereby improving gas exchange in the lungs, possibly releasing the food opening of the rumen from the food masses and causing belching.
4. To remove gases, a probe or strong hose is inserted into the rumen, and for greater efficiency, the animal is positioned so that the front part of the body is higher than the back.
5. For a better gas removal effect, the probe must be pulled towards you so that its end is at the level of the cardiac part of the esophagus, where gases collect.
6. During the process of providing assistance, the probe must be moved back and forth to eliminate the obstacle in case of blockage of the probe lumen.
7. To induce burping in an animal, its tongue is rhythmically pulled out or “bridled” with a thick rope, a straw cord, a stick, wrapped in a bandage or a rag previously soaked in tar or kerosene.

For the treatment of acute tympania The use of many medications is recommended, but there is not one among them that could be considered absolutely useful in all cases.

The purpose of using medications is to activate the motor function of the forestomachs and intestines, increase the belching of gases and chewing gum, as well as reduce fermentation processes and induce defecation.

To adsorb gases, the cow is given 2-3 liters of fresh milk, powdered vegetable or animal charcoal, and 20 grams of burnt magnesia.

In order to limit fermentation, 1000 ml of a 2% aqueous solution of ichthyol or 50-100 ml of kerosene mixed with water is given internally.

These substances reduce gas formation and increase rumen contraction (kerosene should not be given in large quantities, since when an animal is forced to be slaughtered, the meat will acquire the smell of kerosene).

With mixed tympany Foam destroyers such as sikaden, antiformol, timpanol, FAMS, 0,1% solution of potassium permanganate in the amount of 2-3 liters, creolin, salicylic acid, benzanaphthol, refined naphthalene oil, autol and others give a good effect.

For tympania, the following are prescribed: vodka (250-500 ml per 0,5-1 l of water), hellebore tincture (10-20 ml), turpentine (50-200 ml with vodka), infusions of caraway, dill, chamomile, and valerian.

It is also recommended to give the sick animal a mixture consisting of 0,5 cups of kerosene, 1 cup of vodka and 2 cups of water.

If treatment measures are ineffective and the symptoms of asphyxia increase, the scar is punctured with a trocar.

Large caliber trocars are used to puncture the scar.

Instructions:

1. The puncture is performed on a standing animal, firmly fixing it in order to protect yourself from a blow from the left pelvic limb.
2. The puncture site is the left hunger fossa (the middle of the horizontal line connecting the hip bone with the last rib).
3. We prepare the surgical field and insert the trocar towards the right elbow with a sharp and strong push.
4. After inserting the trocar, remove the stylet from it, gradually release the gases, occasionally covering the opening of the sleeve with a cotton swab.
5. Rapid removal of gases during severe tympania can cause the animal to faint due to exsanguination of the brain.
6. If the sleeve becomes clogged with food particles, it is cleaned with a stiletto.
7. Then, anti-fermentation and disinfectant solutions are poured into the scar through the trocar sleeve, after which the trocar is removed.
8. Removing the empty sleeve leads to the entry of food masses into the abdominal cavity. In order to prevent infection, the abdominal wall is pushed back with the palm of the hand when pulling out the trocar.
9. The trocar sleeve can be left in place for 2-5 hours, but no more than 12, since leaving the sleeve in place for a long time leads to the appearance of adhesive inflammation of the peritoneum in the puncture area.
10. The puncture site is lubricated with iodine tincture and sealed with cotton wool soaked in collodion.

After eliminating tympania, measures are taken to eliminate residual effects by prescribing a fasting diet for 12-24 hours, followed by a transfer to a gentle feeding regimen.

Feed (silage, hay, sugar beet) in small portions up to 5-6 times a day, gradually introduce concentrates into the diet. To suppress putrefactive processes, 2 tablespoons of hydrochloric acid in 500 ml of water are prescribed internally.

To restore the motor function of the scar, massage and thermal procedures on the scar area are prescribed, and bitters are given internally.

Preventive measures

Considering that tympania occurs as a result of violation of animal feeding rules, in each agricultural enterprise, veterinary specialists must familiarize milkmaids, shepherds, shepherds and cattlemen with the basic rules of feeding and keeping animals, and with methods of providing emergency assistance.

During pasture keeping of animals, shepherds and animal owners should avoid prolonged grazing of cattle on rich meadows and clover fields covered with abundant vegetation.

Based on the fact that grazing in the morning hours is especially dangerous, shepherds should graze animals for 2-3 hours on a poor vegetation pasture. On a dry or mown meadow, wasteland, and only then drive the animals to clover.

Cattle should not be driven out to green fodder after rain or during dew. Giving them water before and soon after abundant feeding with juicy grass is a great danger to animals.

When grazing, shepherds should force the animals to move constantly. The grazing time on abundant pastures should not exceed one hour. A good preventive measure is feeding coarse feed (hay, straw) before driving them out to pasture.

Particular care should be taken during the transition from winter stall keeping of animals to summer pasture keeping.

Veterinary specialists and shepherds should gradually accustom animals to eating green fodder, starting grazing at 4 o’clock and gradually increasing the duration of grazing over the course of 2 weeks.

When kept in stalls, the amount of succulent and watery feed in the diet should not be excessively increased.

They are introduced into the diet gradually, starting with small portions, which are then increased. In order to prevent tympania, it is useful to feed hay or straw before giving succulent feed.