Case report: Acute type - 3 abomasum ulcer in a fresh dairy cow

Abstract

Purpose: Abomasal ulcers are significant, but often an overlooked condition in dairy cows. Due to inconclusive clinical symptoms and rare occurrences, abomasum ulcers are typically misdiagnosed and treated improperly. With early diagnostic methods and management there are better chances for the improvement of outcomes. Material-Method: The report focuses on a Holstein-Friesian cow which began her third lactation two weeks before she started showing signs of elevated fat-protein ratio in the milk and was diagnosed with an abomasum displacement. The patient was brought to the large animal clinic in Kaunas from a dairy farm and after a short while sudden death had occurred. The autopsy revealed a type 3 perforated ulcer in the abomasum. The farm is located in Lithuania, where they keep about 1200 milking cows with a free-stall setup and four Lely Astronaut milking robots (Lely, Maassluis,The Netherlands) which they use for robotic milking. A total mixed ration is provided every day, two times a day, to fulfill and balance the physiological and production requirements for a dairy cow. Results: The autopsy examination concluded that the type 3 perforated ulcer caused severe peritonitis and anemia, feed and fibrin were visible on the outside of organs in the abdomen. Blood clots mixed with feed formed in the abomasum and intestinal tract. Conclusion: Ulcers are very difficult to diagnose, because they require special diagnostic equipment such as ultrasound or surgical interventions. However, due to the similarity to other diseases this pathological condition of the abomasum is most frequently identified only in post-mortem examinations.