Aortic and iliac artery thrombosis in calves: nine cases (1974-1993).

OBJECTIVE

To identify common clinical and diagnostic features of calves with aortic or iliac artery thrombosis that might aid in antemortem diagnosis of this condition.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

ANIMALS

9 calves < or = 6 months old in which aortic or iliac artery thrombosis was confirmed at necropsy.

RESULTS

All calves had an acute onset of paresis or flaccid paralysis of 1 or both hind limbs. Affected limbs were hypothermic and had diminished spinal reflexes and diminished pulse pressures. Diagnosis was definitively established in 2 calves by use of angiography. All 9 calves died or were euthanatized.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

This condition is rare and could be mistaken for more common diseases of young cattle, such as traumatic injury of the axial or appendicular skeleton, vertebral osteomyelitis, nutritional muscular dystrophy associated with vitamin E or selenium deficiency, injury to the sciatic or femoral nerves, or clostridial myositis.