Signs of abdominal pain caused by disruption of the small intestinal mesentery in three postparturient cows.

Three Holstein cows were admitted on postpartum day 3 with signs of abdominal pain, inappetence, and decreased milk production. All 3 were depressed, tachycardic, and dehydrated. Right paralumbar fossa laparotomy was performed on each cow. At surgery, a rent in the proximal portion of the jejunal mesentery, with perforation of the jejunum adjacent to the mesenteric rent, was found in all 3 cows. All had evidence of severe peritonitis and gross contamination of the abdomen with digesta. Because of severe peritonitis and inability to exteriorize the affected segment of jejunum, all 3 cows were euthanatized. We postulate that the mesenteric rent occurred at the time of parturition, resulting in ischemia and jejunal perforation in the segment of jejunum adjacent to the rent.