Clinical Examination of Farm Animals - CYF MEDICAL DISTRIBUTION

Clinical Examination of the Gastrointestinal System
Liver
Aorta
Internal
iliac
arteries
Umbilical
arteries
Bladder
Urachus
Umbilical
veins
Figure 8.23 Congenital structures of
the umbilicus.
Palpation of a ventral umbilical mass may indicate
an umbilical hernia, the contents of which may be
reducible or non-reducible on palpation. A nonreducible
hernia may be strangulated with attendant
systemic signs, but more usually adhesions are responsible.
Normally it is the abomasum that is within
the hernia rather than the intestines. Strangulation
with ischaemic necrosis is accompanied by increasingly
severe systemic signs. The margins of the hernial
ring can usually be defined by careful palpation.
The swelling may be a simple umbilical abscess or
omphalitis which may be confirmed by needle aspirate.
However, there may be involvement of deeper
internal structures. With the calf in lateral recumbency
it is sometimes possible to palpate abnormal
congenital umbilical structures such as an omphaloarteritis.
The umbilical structures of the neonatal
calf are shown in Fig. 8.23. Infections of these internal
structures may result in a discharging sinus with purulent
material exuding.
Defining the abnormal structures can be attempted
using a dog catheter to establish the direction of
the tract internally, but the dangers of causing a peritonitis
were the probe to rupture the wall of the structure
should be considered. Ultrasonography can
be extremely useful if available. Infected congenital
umbilical remnants can be identified by the enlargement
of the structures due to the accumulations of intraluminal
hyperechogenic material. These include
the umbilical vein, the umbilical arteries and the urachus.
If there is a thrombophlebitis with extension to
the liver, this can be identified. An infected urachus
may be accompanied by cystitis, and cytology of the
urine may indicate the presence of infection. It can
also be used to investigate intestinal movement, distension
and fluid content.
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