Downer Cow Syndrome, creeper cows

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prof. Ali sadiekprof. Ali sadiek 11

جامعة أسيوط

كلية الطب البيطري

Metabolic Diseases: Downer Cow Syndrome

“Creepers”

byDr. Ali H. Sadiek

Prof. of Internal Veterinary Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut UniversityE-mail: [email protected]


Downer Cow SyndromeDowner Cow SyndromeIt is commonly fatal condition of dairy cows

closely associated with the unsuccessful treatment of cases of Milk fever.

It is ch. By :1- Longevity of recumbency even after repeated Ca

therapy.2- Traumatic lesion of limbs, muscle ending in its

necrosis.3- Myopathy & necrosis of skeletal and even

cardiac muscle.4- Fatty infiltration of the liver.

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CausesCausesI- Metabolic causes: 1. Complication of M. fever 2. Hypomagnesemia.3. Ketosis.4. Fatty liver5. Imbalance on electrolytes e.g K after parturition.6. Acute ruminal impactionII- Muscloskeletal causes1. Fracture2. Dislocation of hip joint.3. Nerve injury4. Traumatic lesions of the thigh muscles,


CausesCausesIII- Toxic causes1. Severe mastitis. 2. Severe metritis3. Chronic pneumonia IV- Other causes of Downer cow syndrome:1. Dystokia as a result of oversized fetus2. Johne's disease, 3. Traumatic reticuoloperitonitis.4. Long standing starvation and inannition

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PathogenesisPathogenesis• Prolonged recumbency + Pressure of

swelled muscle + ischemia of Muscles leed to ulceration, necrosis of major muscles of limbs, pelvis and injury of its nerve supply resulting in many complications e.g:

1- Ulceration and necrosis of msucles.2- Cardiomyopathy (due to repeated Ca injection).

• Mastitis.• Pneumonia.


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Clinical signs.Clinical signs.1. Prolonged recumbency, don’t raise within 24

hrs after two successive Ca injection.2. Cows still conscious, eat little.3. At first, normal temperature, increasing

pulse.4. Attempt to raise, make it creepy cows. 5. Extended hind limbs to right and left.6. May fade to lateral recumbency.7. In severe cases cows loose their appetite

completely.


PrognosisPrognosis• 50 % of cases may respond to

therapy.• Others came to complications of: 1. Mastitis, 2. Ulceration and necrosis of muscle

and joints.3. Drenching pneumonia, 4. Death.

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Downer cowDowner cowCows still conscious

Ulceration and necrosis of muscle and joints

Acute Coliform Mastitis


Downer cowDowner cow-- extended hind limbs (creepers)extended hind limbs (creepers)

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Downer cowDowner cow-- lateral lateral recumbencyrecumbency


Laboratory findingsLaboratory findings1. Levels of blood Ca, P, Mg, glucose,

blood picture may be normal or decreased

2. Albuminuria as a result of muscle necrosis.

3. Increased muscle enzymes (AST, CPK)4. Ketonuria.5. Increased Urea, creatinine that referes to

poor prognosis.

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TreatmentTreatmentI- Medicinal:• 500 ml Ca - IV twice daily.• NSAID Acetyl-salycilate, phenyle-butazone• CortizoneII- Supportive• Injection of Vit. E, Se. • Injection of electrolytes (K, Ca, Mg, P).III- Hygienic Nursing• Nursing of downer cows e.g turning over,

change beds (sandy or straw beds) and hanging the downer cow


••Hanging of cows affected with nerve injuryHanging of cows affected with nerve injury

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•Hanging the downer cow


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Downer Cow Syndrome, creeper cows