Clinical Examination

You must have knowledge of the normal functions and anatomy of an animal before you can differentiate between the normal and abnormal. When clinical examinations are done you should do it systematically and all systems or organs should be examined. It is important to identify the animal and to get the history of that animal before you start with the clinical examination.

Clinical Examination

When you observe an animal from a distance, you should be able to notice abnormalities. You should look at:

• Condition of the animal
• Body conformation
• Movement of the animal

For systematic examination you should look at:

• Skin and the hair coat
• Skeleton and movement systems
• Respiration systems
• Circulatory systems
• Digestive systems
• Nervous systems
• Uri-genital systems
• Sensory organs

When observing these systems, you should be able to identify abnormalities. You cannot always make an accurate diagnosis, but the information will help you.

When you look at the hair coating and skin you could conclude that if there are no hair it means the animal is affected with ringworm. If the skin, when pulled away from the body (pinched), remains pinched, the animal is dehydrated. When you examine circulatory systems, you should look for anaemia (mucous membranes are white), signs of bleeding, etc.

Observe the animal while eating; Can the animal swallow, is eructation normal. Take a look at the teeth, tongue and jaw. When you look at the condition of the faeces, the animal will appear lacking energy.

You can also make use of diagnostic aids like:

• Blood samples (test for the presence of antibodies)
• Blood smears (examine for bacteria, anaemia, etc.)
• Faecal egg count (examine for parasites, consistency, content)
• Urine (examine for diseases, like pulpy kidney)
• Milk (examine for mastitis) This information can also be of great assistance when you are consulting a veterinarian by telephone.

Some Ailments that Need Treatment On The Farm Without Consulting A Veterinarian

• Wounds
• Bleeding
• Abscesses
• Diarrhoea
• Bloat

Wounds

Wounds can be caused by various objects and infected with bacteria. If wounds are older than eight hours, it should be regarded and treated as infected.

Treatment: Bleeding should be stopped. Remove all foreign material such as sand, grass, faeces, etc. Wash the wound with disinfectants such as salt water. Clip the hair around the wound, dry the surface and keep the wound dry.

Abscesses

It is an accumulation of pus in a cavity. It is hard and painful.

Treatment: Allow the abscess to ripen before it is opened by an incision. Treat the animal with antibiotic injections afterwards.

Bleeding

Slight bleeding is beneficial because it tends to clean the wound. Severe bleeding must be stopped.

Methods: Apply a pressure bandage.

Difficult Births

When an animal is on the point of giving birth, it must be left undisturbed. If there is a delay in normal birth the cause should be examine. If you cannot find the cause within five minute a veterinarian should be contacted. If the veterinarian cannot be found you should attempt to do it yourself to safe the cow and the calf. It however takes experience to identify if a cow is experiencing difficult birth. Do not assist too soon or too late.

Long rubber gloves that cover your arm must be worn to protect the cow from injury and you from infections. The vaginal and anal area must be washed and disinfected before an internal examination is attempted. The arm must be lubricated. You must work carefully. If traction is use it must be applied in the same direction as normal birth.

After assistance has been given, afterbirth suppositories must be inserted deep into the uterus to neutralise any infections.

Keeping Records

It is advised that records must be kept for animals on the farm. These records are essential for traceability of diseases; animals with poor performance, animals that has chronic disease disorders and to have a database as reference, should a certain animal be examined in the future. Most dairy farmers keep a file for each cow, recording all necessary information regarding. This record enables the farmer to make a practical assessment concerning the productivity of each animal in the heard. Such a file would include:

the pedigree of each cow,

• a record of all medical treatments and diseases and dates when it occurred and was administered,
• a record of the number of calves produced as well as the lactation periods.

Very important, the milk production performance of each animal is recorded daily!