Prognostic indicators of outcome in nonambulatory beef cattle presented to 2 referral hospitals: A retrospective study of 63 cases

Abstract

Background: Down cow syndrome is commonly described in dairy cattle. The diagnosis and treatment of nonambulatory cattle is challenging and prognostic indicators of this condition in beef cattle have not been determined. Objectives: Evaluate records of beef cattle (≥2 years of age) presented to 2 referral hospitals for inability to stand and identify prognostic indicators for survival to discharge. Animals: Sixty-three adult beef cattle treated for inability to stand at 2 referral hospitals. Methods: Medical records of 63 beef cattle presented for inability to stand between January 2010 and December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Continuous and categorical variables were included in univariate and multivariate regression models to evaluate their association with outcome. Results: Of 63 animals included in the study, 19% (12/63) were discharged, and the remaining 81% (n = 51) either died (11.1%) or were euthanized (69.8%). The odds of being discharged increased with each additional day of hospitalization (odds ratio [OR], 2.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-6.89) and with each additional flotation therapy session (OR, 2.108; 95% CI, 1.209-4.219). Down beef cattle with a diagnosis of calving peripheral nerve paralysis and capable of walking out the tank after the first flotation session were 6.66 (95% CI, 1.58-35.51) and 30 (95% CI, 4.4-614.98) times more likely to be discharged compared with cattle that had other diagnoses and those that were unable to walk out the tank, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Treatment of nonambulatory beef cattle carries a poor prognosis. Practitioners can use information from our study as a guide for treatment or euthanasia decisions of nonambulatory beef cattle.