A retrospective study of 51 cases of abdominal problems in the calf: etiology, diagnosis and prognosis.

A retrospective study of 51 calves less than two months of age showing signs of abdominal pain or presented because of abdominal distension was carried out to evaluate the relationship between etiological, diagnostic, and prognostic characteristics. We found that the age of the calf differed with the type of lesion present. Calves under eight days of age had a 73% incidence of lesions which required surgical therapy. Atresia of part of the intestinal tract was the most frequently diagnosed problem, In eight-day to two-month-old calves, medical causes of colic were more common; only 26% of cases had lesions that required surgical correction. Gaseous distension of the abomasum and intestine was the most frequent cause of colic in older calves. Other abdominal problems observed in this study included abomasal ulceration and abomasal torsion.Mortality was more common in calves with surgical problems. Of the 21 calves with surgical problems, 76% died compared with a 20% mortality rate in the 30 calves with medical problems. Because of the high incidence of surgical problems in young calves, mortality was 69% in calves under eight days of age and only 33% in older calves. The chance of recovery decreased with the severity of hypothermia and dehydration. Most calves (75%) which were recumbent at presentation died, whereas only 29% of calves which were alert and able to stand at presentation died. Hematological findings indicative of severe inflammation were poor prognostic signs. Heart rate and the apparent severity of abdominal pain were not useful prognostic indicators.