Table 1.
Clinical findings in cows with small intestinal strangulation (means ± standard deviations, medians with 25th to 75th percentiles, frequency distributions)
| Variable | Finding | Number of cattle | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heart rate | Normal (60–80) | 34 | 56.7 | |
| (n = 60, | Decreased (48–59) | 4 | 6.7 | |
| 79 ± 15 bpm) | Mildly increased (81–100) | 17 | 28.3 | |
| Moderately increased (101–120) | 5 | 8.3 | ||
| Rectal temperature | Normal (38.5–39.0) | 26 | 43.3 | |
| (n = 60, | Decreased (37.5–38.4) | 19 | 31.7 | |
| 38.6 ± 0.6 °C) | Mildly increased (39.1–39.5) | 14 | 23.3 | |
| Moderately increased (39.6) | 1 | 1.7 | ||
| Respiratory rate | Normal (15–25) | 38 | 63.3 | |
| (n = 60, 24, 20–28 breaths per min) |
Decreased (12) Increased (26–60) |
1 21 |
1.7 35.0 | |
|
Rumen motility (n = 60) |
Normal (2 or 3 strong contractions per 2 min) Decreased Absent |
4 30 26 |
6.6 50.0 43.4 |
|
|
Foreign body tests (n = 59) |
All negative At least one test positive1 |
39 20 |
66.1 33.9 |
|
|
BSA and PSA on the left side (n = 60) |
Both negative (normal) Only BSA positive |
59 1 |
98.3 1.7 |
|
|
BSA and PSA on the right side (n = 60) |
Both negative (normal) Only BSA positive Only PA positive Both tests positive |
25 18 5 12 |
41.7 30.0 8.3 20.0 |
|
|
Intestinal motility (n = 60) |
Reduced Absent |
42 18 |
70.0 30.0 |
|
|
Rectal findings2 (n = 60) |
Normal findings Dilated small intestines Dilated small and large intestines Empty loops of small intestines Taut tissue strands Rumen dilated Miscellaneous abnormal findings |
11 34 4 10 6 9 10 |
18.3 56.6 6.7 16.7 10.0 15.0 16.7 |
|
|
Faeces, amount (n = 60) |
Normal Faecal output reduced Empty rectum |
1 23 36 |
1.7 38.3 60.0 |
|
|
Faeces, colour and abnormal contents (n = 60) |
Normal (olive) Dark to black Mucus Blood Fibrin More than one abnormality (mucus, blood, fibrin) |
21 6 13 10 4 6 |
35.0 10.0 21.6 16.7 6.7 10.0 |
|
| Faeces, degree of comminution (n = 60) |
Normal (well digestion) Moderately digested Empty rectum |
17 7 36 |
28.3 11.7 60.0 |
|
|
Faeces, consistency (n = 60) |
Normal Thick pulpy Thin pulpy Greasy to pasty Liquid Empty rectum |
12 7 2 2 1 36 |
20.0 11.7 3.3 3.3 1.7 60.0 |
|
1 Positive: at least 3 of 4 attempts elicited a grunt
2 The total number was 84 (140.0%), because 24 cows had more than one abnormal finding