Acute Abdominal Disorders in Dairy Cattle: What Can Clinicians Do under Field Conditions?

Abstract

Acute abdomen (AA) is the term used to define a pathological condition that affects the abdominal cavity and frequently manifests itself with acute clinical symptoms capable of compromising a cow’s life. Therefore, it should be considered as an emergency that should be evaluated as quickly as possible to adopt the appropriate therapeutic measure (medical or surgical). In an AA situation, the clinician must consider the appropriate diagnostic approach as well as the therapeutic choice. Given the emergency, the veterinarian’s experience will be decisive for the appropriate resolution. In this article, we briefly review the causes that may lead to this condition, as well as the different diagnostic tests available in field conditions to establish the correct diagnosis and treatment.