Alimentary tract diseaseClinical signs, differential diagnosis, treatment and prevention in cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep and horses.

• Partial or complete anorexia, a sharp drop in milk yield in lactating animals, mild depression, dullness, suspended rumination, dry muzzle.
• Physical examination shows the rumen is full and reticulorumen contractions are weak, decreased, or entirely absent.
• Changes in rumen pH occur (acidic with excess CHO, alkaline with excess protein), which leads to putrefaction/decomposition of feed, liberation of histamine, and ruminal atony.
• Clinical signs in horses include colic (abdominal pain) and reduced fecal output.
• In diarrheic forms, feces are watery, soft, voluminous, and soft, with minimal systemic effects.
• Dehydration can develop.

• Dietary causes: Overfeeding of grains, legumes, protein-rich diets, or silage; sudden changes in feed quantity and quality; ingestion of large amounts of indigestible coarse roughages
• Animal factors: Greedy feeding, depraved appetite (pica), improper/incomplete mastication, old age, debility, weakness, transportation, heavy work, and exertion.

• Mild cases often recover spontaneously in 12–24 hours.
• Specific treatment: Correct primary causes using appropriate antibiotics (e.g., Gentamicin @ 2mg/kg IM/IV, Enrofloxacin @ 2.5-5 mg/kg IM) or anthelmintics (e.g., Fenbendazole @ 10 mg/kg orally, Ivermectin @ 0.2 mg/kg SC).
• Withhold food for 12–24 hours.
• When feed is resumed, tempt the animal with good, stalky meadow or cereal hay.
• For ruminal atony or acidosis/alkalosis, administer appropriate rumenatorics, magnesium oxide, or sodium bicarbonate 597-601 text images.

Drugs mentioned: Sodium Bicarbonate Fenbendazole Enrofloxacin Ivermectin Gentamicin, Systemic

Clinical Veterinary Medicine Book by AU Bhikane (Pages 769–771, 774–775); A Textbook of the Diseases of Cattle, Horses, Sheep, Pigs and Goat by ELSEVIER (Pages 416-417, 510).

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