1.
DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Leaning outcome
• Establish whether a sick animal has a
disease of the nervous system.

2.
Introduction to Diseases the Nervous
System
Definition
 The nervous system is the part of an animal’s body that
organizes its behavior, and transmits signals /signs between
different body areas.
 The nervous system in simple definition, is the system which
controls everything the animal do, including breathing,
walking, feeling and ect… How?
 Usually nerves carry the messages to and from the body.
Then the brain can understand them and take action. That
why the nervous system controls everything the animal do.

3.
Introduction to Diseases the
Nervous System cont…
Function of the nervous system:
 Maintain the body’s spatial relation with its environment/
balance animal’s body with its environment.
These functions are performed / done by several divisions of the
nervous system such as:
 The sensorimotor system responsible for the maintenance of
normal posture/ position and gait/ walk
 The automonic nervous system controlling the activity of
smooth muscle and endocrine glands (internal environment of
the body)
 The sensory system of special senses.
 The psychic system which controls the animals mental state.

4.
Introduction to Diseases the Nervous
System cont…
The sensorimotor system: is the system which controlling the
body movement and the joints.
The automonic nervous system : is a component of the peripheral
nervous system that controls involuntary physiologic processes
including heart rate, blood pressure, respiration & digestion.
The sensory system : those sensory system confined to the head,
and are responsible for the five special senses of sight, hearing,
equilibrium, taste and smell’
• The nervous system basically receives internal and external
stimuli and translates it into activity and consciousness. e.g……

5.
Introduction to Diseases the Nervous
System cont…
Important / why the study of nervous system diseases
To differentiate primary and secondary disease of the nervous system.
why? because both the prognosis/ diagnosis and the treatment will
differ with the cause.
Types of the nervous system diseases
 Primary
 Secondary
Differentiation of nervous system diseases
 In the primary nervous disease of the nervous system the lesion is
usually an anatomical or relating to anatomy / bodily structure with
serious long range consequences/ take time .
 While in the secondary nervous lesion , at least in its early stages is
more likely to be functional/ more practical or useful, and
therefore more responsive to treatment as long as the defect in the
primary organ can be corrected.

6.
Introduction to Diseases the Nervous
System cont…
Neurological / Nervous examination
in large animals has not been practiced as much as in humans and
small animals (pets), why?
 large size or nature of the animal which also react badly.
 Maybe difficult to examine an ataxic beef cow which is still able
to walk and attack the examiner.
 Aggressive, paretic bull in sunlight can be difficult to examine
because the light affect the eye & will make pain.
 The principle of large animal neurology ( is the study that deals
with the anatomy, function, and organic disorders of nerves and
the nervous system).
 Is to be able to know the common diseases of the nervous
system by correlating the clinical findings with the location and
nature of the lesion.

7.
Introduction to Diseases the
Nervous System cont…
Some considerations/ attention in the neurological examination
• Due to the limitations in the neurological examination of large
animals the important is placed on the history and
epidemiological findings why?
Many of the diseases have epidemiological characteristic which
gives the clinician a clue/ idea to the possible causes e.g
 Viral encephalitis of horses ( inflammation of the brain, often
due to infection) occurs with a peak incidence during the insect
season.
 Lead poisoning is most common in calves after they have been
turned out into pasture.
 Polioencephalomalacia ( is a common neurologic disease of
ruminants) occurs in grain-fed feedlot (the main animal housing
unit) cattle.

8.
Introduction to Diseases the Nervous
System cont…
Response of nervous tissue to injury
Nervous tissue responds to injury in two broad ways:
 Depressed activity
When there are certain aspects of the disease that may be slow
in animals.
 Exaggerated activity
Outside the normal behavior of the animal or loss of control.
• But the result is the same in both activity's, whether the
disturbance is conductive or discharge.
• These two ways, Subdivided into 4 modes of nervous
dysfunction.

9.
Introduction to Diseases the Nervous
System cont…
excessive or exaggerated activity
1. Excitation or irritation signs
Excitability of nerve cells can be increased by many factors e.g
stimulant drugs, ( are class of drugs that speed up messages
traveling between the brain and body), inflammation,
and mild degrees of those conditions which in severity result in
depression.
• However, mild or early anoxia may result in increased
excitability while continued or severe anoxia will cause
depression of function or even death of the nerve cell.

10.
Introduction to Diseases the Nervous
System cont…
b. Irritation
 may result from many causes such as inflammation of
nervous tissue caused by bacteria, viruses, certain nerve
poisons, anoxia and edema.
The major signs of irritation of the nervous tissue are:
 Grass tetany: is a high fatal disease associated with low
levels of magnesium in the blood.
 whole body convulsions in the motor system and

11.
Introduction to Diseases the Nervous
System cont…
excessive or exaggerated activity cont..
2- Release signs
• This occurs when the lower nervous centers (LMN) are
released from inhibitory effects of the higher centers (HMN).
Depressed activity
1- Paralysis due to tissue destruction. This is seen when there
is depression of activity of the nervous tissue due to absence or
may result from failure to supply of oxygen and other essential
nutrients as seen in failure of local circulation or infection of
nerve cell leading to death or anoxia.

12.
Introduction to Diseases the Nervous
System cont…
Depressed activity cont…
2- Nervous shock
This results from temporal loss of function of the nervous
tissue , this lead to the damage of the nerve cell.
 Diagnosis of nervous conditions present difficulty but
analysis of the time in development of nervous disease can
give information.

13.
Manifestations of nervous disease
Diseases of the nervous tissue can manifest in six different ways:-
1. Abnormalities of mental state.
2. Involuntary movement.
Is the movement which the animal do it, without will, or conscious
control.
3. Abnormalities of posture and gait.
Abnormal gait or a walking abnormality is when the animal unable
to walk in the usual way.
Abnormal posture is chronic abnormal positions of the animal’s body.
4. Paralysis.
Is the loss of the ability to move/ fell anything, in the part or most of
the animal’s body.
5. Disturbance in sensation including visual dysfunction.
6. Abnormalities of autonomic system.
Is abnormalities of the peripheral nervous system that controls
involuntary physiologic processes including heart rate, blood
pressure, respiration & digestion.

14.
Manifestations of nervous disease cont…
1. Abnormalities of Mental state
• These are usually manifestations of change in behavior and
demeanor.
Abnormalities of Mental state is can be in general excitement or
depression.
A. General excitation states
Additionally, general excitation states is subdivided into
manifestations of mania, frenzy and aggressive behavior, which
are manifestations of general excitation of the cerebral cortex
which governs behavior.
cerebral cortex, this area of the brain is highly susceptible to
increased intracranial / brain pressure and anoxia.
 Intracranial pressure mean brain pressure.

15.
Manifestations of nervous disease cont…
A. General excitation states : is subdivided into manifestations
of 1. MANIA: is marked by periods of great excitement
& over activity.
• Is a condition seen with increased activity of the brain due to
increased stimuli characterized by exaggerated behavior in
activity.
 In mania the animal acts in a bizarre way and appears to be
unaware of its surroundings.
Mania behaviors / how the animal behavior with Mania?
Mania behaviors include:
 licking,
 chewing of foreign objects,
 constant bellowing with abnormal voice

16.
Manifestations of nervous disease
cont…
 Apparent blindness,
 walking into objects/surrounding without fear,
 drunken gait.
 A state of confusion can be seen.
Diseases characterized by mania.
 Encephalitis such as the furious form of rabies, Aujeszky’s
disease in cattle.
Encephalitis: is inflammation of the brain, often due to infection,
the infection may be bacterial or viral in some cases, encephalitis
may be the result of an immune system disorder.
Aujeszky’s disease: is a contagious viral disease that primarly
affects pigs.
 Degenerative disease of the brain e.g early
polioencephalomalacia: is a common neurologic disease of
ruminants.

17.
Manifestations of nervous disease
cont…
Diseases characterized by mania.
 Toxic and metabolic diseases of the brain such as nervous
acetonemia,
Acetonemia: also call ketosis, is a disease commonly seen either
in high production dairy cows, or in any cows on a poor diet & the
disease is caused by a deficiency of glucose in the blood & in body
tissues.
 pregnancy toxemia also known as fatty liver syndrome, occurs
when the breakdown product of fat, called ketones, build up in
the brain and become toxic & commonest in fat pregnant cows.
 acute lead poisoning
 severe hepatic insufficiency especially in horses. Is usually
places the animal in a difficult nutritional position& threatens
the function of all organ system as well as immune mechanisms.

18.
Manifestations of nervous disease
cont…
1. Abnormalities of Mental state cont…
2. Frenzy: is a state or period of uncontrolled excitement or
wild behavior.
Is characterized by:
 Violent activity with little regard for surroundings.
 The animals movements are uncontrolled.
 Dangerous to others & often accompanied by aggressive
physical attacks.
Examples of frenzy in diseases of the nervous system / diseases
of the nervous system which characterized by frenzy include:
 Encephalomyetides such as Aujeszky’s diseases
Encephalomyetids: is inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
Aujeszky’s diaease: is a contagious viral disease that primarily
affects pigs.

19.
Manifestations of nervous disease
cont…
Examples of frenzy in diseases of the nervous system /
diseases of the nervous system which characterized by
frenzy include:
 Hypomagnesemic tetany of cattle and sheep
Hypomagnesemic tetany : is a complex metabolic disturbance
characterized by hypomagnesemic, and hypomagnesemic is an
electrolyte disturbance caused when there is a low level of
serum magnesium in animal ‘body.
 poisoning with ammoniated roughage in cattle.
Examples of frenzy in diseases of other body systems
 acute pain of colic in horses
 Extreme cutaneous irritation such as seen in
photosensitization in cattle.

20.
Manifestations of nervous disease
cont…
1. Abnormalities of Mental state cont…
3. Aggressive behavior
 Aggressiveness' and willingness to attack other animals and
objects is characteristic of the early signs of rabies and
aujeszky’s disease in cattle
 In cows during post parturient hysteria
 In later stages of chronic hypoxia in any spp
 In some mares and cows with case of -cell tumors in the
ovary.

21.
Manifestations of nervous disease
cont…
B. Depressive Mental States
Include: Samnolence, lassitude, sycope and coma
Samnolence: sleepiness, the state of feeling drowsy, ready to sleep.
Lassitude: is a state of physical or mental weariness ; lack of
energy.
Sycope: brief loss of consciousness caused by a fall in blood
pressure.
Coma: is state of prolonged unconsciousness that can caused by
several problems such as : traumatic head, injury, stork, drug,
coma is a medical emergency.
• They are all manifestations of depression of cerebral cortex
function in various degrees and occur as a result of those
influences which depress nervous function generally, as
well as those, which specifically affect behavior, probably
via the limbic system.

22.
Manifestations of nervous disease
cont…
2. Involuntary movement
Involuntary movements are due to involuntary muscle
contractions which develop from:
fasciculations shivering& tremor tetany
convulsions.
Fasciculations: are involuntary rapid muscle twitches ( occur
when there is low magnesium levels, or due to medication side
effects) that are too weak to move a limb, but are easily to seen
or to palpated.
Shivering : Abnormal behavior, shaking slightly and
uncontrolled as a result of being the animal cold, excited or a
symptom od serious problem.
Tremor: A tremor is a shaking movement in one or more parts
of animal’s body.

23.
Manifestations of nervous disease
cont…
2. Involuntary movement cont…
Tetany: is a symptom characterized by the involuntary
contraction of muscles that usually results from low
calcium levels in the animal’s blood.
Convolution: is a condition in which muscles contract and
relax quickly and cause uncontrolled shaking of the body.

24.
Manifestations of nervous disease
cont…
3. Abnormalities of posture and gait
1. Posture
Abnormal position , is evident in animals with pain- related
conditions including backache- stress- related illnesses. Often is a
result of hoof injury / damage which leads to increased pain.
• Posture is evaluated with the animal at rest. Abnormal postures
may be adopted / seen occasionally by animals in pain , but in
diseases of the nervous system the abnormality is usually
continuous and repeatable.
Abnormalities of posture include:
 Deviation of the head and neck from the normal position.
 Rotation of the head and neck from the normal position.
 drooping of the lips, eyelids, cheeks and ears.
 Head pressing and assumption of a dog-sitting posture are
further examples.

25.
Manifestations of nervous disease
cont…
3. Abnormalities of posture and gait cont…
2. Gait
Gait is assessed when the animal is moving. Neurological gait
abnormalities have two components:
A. Weakness
B. Ataxia.
Weakness (paresis): Is a condition of muscular weakness caused
by nerve damage or disease.
Is evident:
 when an animal drags its limbs
 has damaged hooves
 When an animal bears weight / or put weight on a weak limb,
the limb often trembles and the animal may even collapse on
that limb because of lack of support.

26.
Manifestations of nervous disease
cont…
B. Ataxia
 Ataxia is an unconscious, causing incoordination when the
animal moves.
 Ataxia is manifest as a swaying from side to side of the
pelvis.
 Ataxia may also appear as a weaving of the affected limb
during the swing (walk) phase of the stride ( long step).

27.
Manifestations of nervous disease
cont…
4. Paralysis.
Is the loss of the ability to move/ fell anything, in the part or most
of the body of animal.
• The type of paralysis is often indicative of the site of the
lesion.
Examples
 A lesion of the upper motor neuron causes:
 loss of voluntary movement
 Increased tone of limb muscles
 Increased spinal reflexes
 A lesion of the lower motor neuron causes:
 paralysis with loss of voluntary movement
 Decreased tone of the limb muscles
 Absence of spinal reflexes

28.
Manifestations of nervous disease
cont…
4. Disturbance in sensation including visual dysfunction
Lesions of the sensory system are rarely diagnosed in animals,
except for those affecting sight & because of the impossibility
of measuring subjective responses.
6. Abnormalities of autonomic system.
Is abnormalities of the peripheral nervous system that controls
involuntary physiologic processes including heart rate, blood
pressure, respiration & digestion.

29.
DISEASE CONDITIONS OF
THE CIRCULATORY
SYSTEM
By Dr. Cecilia Joseph Khor

30.
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
 Heart
 Blood vessels
 Blood

31.
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

32.
CIRCULATORY FAILURE
 Failure of the heart to eject blood from
venous return.
 Ventricular outflow is not equal to
inflow.
 Circulatory equilibrium is not
maintained.
 Blood accumulates in the venous
circulation

33.
Forms of circulatory failure
 Congestive heart failure
 Acute heart failure
 Peripheral circulatory failure

34.
CONGESTIVE HEART
FAILURE
 Heart is unable to
maintain circulatory
equilibrium due to
intrinsic defects.
Symptoms
I. Dilatation of the
vessels
II. Pulmonary or
subcutaneous
edema
III.Cardiac
enlargement
IV.increased heart rate

35.
Congestive heart failure
 Etiology
◦ Diseases which interfere with heart action
 Myocarditis, myocardial dystrophy, neoplasms of the heart
 Endocardial abnormalities
 Pericardial abnormalities – pericarditis, hydropericardium
◦ Diseases in which there is increased blood flow
load
 Congenital defects of the heart and blood vessels
 Pulmonary emphysema
 Pneumonia
 Pneumothorax
 Hypertension
 Anoxia and toxaemia

36.
Congestive heart failure
 Etiology
Myocarditis: is disease condition which affected
myocardium, myocardium is a heart muscles.
myocardial dystroph: abnormal growth of the heart or
myocardial.
neoplasms of the heart: abnormal growth of the cell in
heart.
Endocardial abnormalities: Endocardial means inside
the heart, endocardial abnormalities is an abnormal
heart condition.
Pericardial abnormalities: Pericardial or Pericardium is
a membrane, or sac that surrounds the heart, it holds
the heart and help it work properly, pericardial
abnormalities is abnormal growth of pericardial.

37.
Congestive heart failure. Etiology
cont….
Pericarditis: is a disease condition or
inflammation of pericardium, is can be
from a virus or other infection.
Hydropericardium: the medical definition
of the hydropericardium is a condition
where excessive fluid accumulates in the
pericardial cavity,
Congenital defects: A birth defects or a
conditions present at birth.
Pulmonary emphysema: the word
emphysems is a lung condition that
causes shortness of breath.

38.
Congestive heart failure. Etiology
cont….
Pneumonia: Pneumonia can be define as
inflammation of lung tissue.
Pneumothorax: Is a condition in which air
enter/ access space between the lung and
the chest wall or chest cavity.
Hypertension: High blood pressure.
Anoxia: Failure of tissues to receive
enough oxygen.
Toxaemia: Blood poisoning by toxins from
a local bacteria infection.

39.
Congestive Heart Failure
 Clinical signs
Left ventricular failure
 increased depth
and rate of
respiration at rest
 Cough
 severe dyspnea
and cyanosis
 heart rate is
increased
Right ventricular
failure
 Heart rate is
increased
 Sub-cutaneous
edema limited to
the ventral surface
of the body
 Ascitis
 hydrothorax
 Hydropericardium

40.
Congestive Heart Failure cont…
Clinical signs
Dyspnea: Is a medical term for shortness of
breath/ difficult breathing.
Cyanosis: A bluish discoloration of skin
resulting from poor circulation or inadequate
oxygenation of the blood.
Ascitis: the accumulation of fluid in the
peritoneal cavity, causing abdominal
swelling.
Hydrothorax:
Hydropericardium: An excess of watery fiuid
in the pericarial cavity.

41.
Congestive Heart Failure
 Differential
Diagnosis
- Brisket disease
- Hypoproteinemia in
parasitic diseases
- Peritonitis
- Jaundice and
photosensitization
may be present)
- Rupture of the urinary
bladder (acute pain no
cardiac involvement
Holstein with brisket
disease

42.
Congestive Heart Failure cont…
Differential Diagnosis: A list of possible
condition that could be causing the
symptoms.
Brisket disease: is the right heart failure
Hypoproteinemia: Is the lack of protein in
the body
Peritonitis: disease condition or
inflammation of the peritoum.
Photosensitization:

43.
ACUTE HEART FAILURE
Animal
suddenly
falls and
loses
conscious
ness with
or without
convulsion
s.
 Etiology
◦ Cardiac tamponade.
◦ Excessive tachycardia
◦ Falling disease of cattle due to
copper deficiency
◦ Enzootic muscular dystrophy
due to vit E and Se deficiency
◦ When IV injections are given
too quickly
◦ Lightening stroke
◦ Electrocution
◦ Excessive bradycardia caused
by heart block due to
myocardium diseases or iv
injection of Ca in RX of milk

44.
ACUTE HEART FAILURE
Etiology
Cardiac tamponade: when the fluid builds in
the space around the heart/ cardiac, these
fluids prevents it from performing well, this
condition called....
Excessive tachycardia: Repaid heart beats / is
the medical term for a heart rate over 100 per
minute.
Enzootic muscular dystrophy: is disease which
common in young calves& usually known as
white muscle disease, its happed due…
Excessive bradycardia: low heart beats or
when the heart is too slow

45.
Acute heart failure
Clinical manifestation
 Dyspnea
 Staggering and Falling
 Death within sec or mins of first
appearance of the signs
 Great paleness of the mucous
membranes
 DEATH is followed by deep
asphyxia gasps
 In enzootic muscular dystrophy it
is not regular and examinea by
 Difficult respiration
 Dyspnea
 Pulmonary Oedema
 Paleness of the mucous
Diagnosis
 May be confused with
primary diseases of the
nervous system but on
examination there may
be
1. Excessive tachycardia
or excessive bradycardia
2. Membranes will be pale
3. There is no pulse
4. Mild convulsions if
present

46.
Acute Heart failure
Treatment
 Not possible in animals
because it has a short
course
 In excessive
anaesthesia stop
giving the anaesthetic
 Stop excessive fluid
therapy

47.
PERIPHERAL CIRCULATORY
FAILURE
 Occurs when
cardiac output is
reduced because of
failure of venous
return
◦ Decrease in blood
flow results in Anoxia
and decreased tissue
function.
 etiology
◦ Vasogenic
◦ Hematogenous

48.
PERIPHERAL CIRCULATORY
FAILURE
 Vasogenic
◦ Dilation of blood
vessels
◦ Blood pools in blood
vessels
Occurs in shock
And milk fever
 Hematogenic
◦ There is decrease in
circulatory blood
volume
Occurs in
hemorrhage,
dehydration and fatal
stages of shock

49.
Peripheral circulatory failure
Clinical manifestation
 Animal is generally
depressed
 Weakness and
listlessness
 Body temperature will be
subnormal
 Heart rate is increased
 Pulse abnormalities and
weak pressure
 Coldness
 Mucous membranes may
be pale
 Respirations are fast but
shallow
Treatment
 For vasogenic failure
give e.g adrenalin
 In haematogenous
failure replace fluid
 Shock- give plasma
 Haemorrhage – blood
transfusion
 Dehydration- give
isotonic electrolytes
 Oxygen therapy
where possible

50.
Peripheral circulatory failure
 Diagnosis
◦ Detection Of signs of
circulatory failure
without detection of
abnormalities in the
heart

51.
Special examination of the CVS
techniques of examination of the heart and
pulse.
1. Physical examination
Physical examination of animals with suspect
heart disease should pay special attention to:
heart rate,
 Intensity of heart sounds;
 pulse,
venous pulsation at the jugular inlet
occurrence and timing of sounds

52.
Special examination of the CVS
cont…
2. Heart sounds / stethoscope
The sequence of heart beat can be
described as du-LUBB DUP boo.
The sequence of heart sound can be
understood thus: because the third and
fourth heart sounds intensity is less than
the first and second.
In many animal species, only two heart
sounds are heard.

53.
Special examination of the CVS
cont…
Variation in heart sound intensity
A decrease in intensity of heart sound
generation occurs in disease where there
is poor venous return, fatal heart failure in
cattle or peripheral vascular failure in all
species.
The intensity of heart sounds may
increase with metabolic diseases.
 Intensity of the first heart sound is
increased by exercise, fear.

54.
Special examination of the CVS
Muffling
Muffling of heart sounds due to displacement
of the heart by increased fluids in the
pericardium increased subcutaneous fat.
Heart or pulse rate (per minute)
Species Normal range
Horse 30 - 40
Cattle 60 - 80
Calf < 3 months 100 - 120
Sheep and Goat 70 - 90
Pig 60 - 100

55.
Manifestations of Heart failure
 Abnormalities of
cardiac rate and rhythm
◦ Tachycardia
 Pain, excitement,
hyperthermia, administration of
adrenargic drugs
◦ Bradycardia
 Space occupying lesions,
vagus indigestion,
diaphragmatic hernia,
Clostridium perfringens type D
◦ Arythmia
 Irregularities of heart rhythms
◦ Gallop rhythms
 Duplication of the heart sounds
to give tripple sounds instead
of a double sound.
 Cardiac enlargement
◦ Severe exercise
◦ Valvular lesions
◦ Chronic anaemia
◦ Inefficient myocardial
contractions
This is detected by
 Careful auscultation and palpation of
apex beats . audible apex beat
 Percussion if enlargement is
extreme in small animals and
boundaries of the heart can be
determined.
 Use of x-rays, fluoroscope or ultra
sound
 If animal is dead post mortem is
done and the heart will be large,
rounded and flabby

56.
DISEASES OF THE HEART
1) Myocardial asthenia
2)Cardiac rupture
3)Valvular diseases
4)Cor Pulmonale
5)Endocarditis
6)Pericarditis

57.
1. MYOCARDIAL ASTHENIA
 Weakness of the
heart muscles
◦ Results from
myocarditis and
conditions which cause
it.
a)Infections
 FMD, Black Quarter and
infectious equine anemia,
Naval ill and strangles
Above, mottles necrotic lesions and
Below, sudden death in calves . FMD

58.
1. MYOCARDIAL ASTHENIA
CONT...
FMD, Food & Mouth Disease: A contagious viral
disease of cattle & sheep, causing ulceration of the
hoofs & around the mouth.
Black Quarter or Black leg: Is abacterial disease
which usually observed in young cattle, & fatal
caused by clostridium chauvoei.
infectious equine anemia: Is a bloodborne viral
disease transmitted primarily through insects
particularly horse flies.
Naval ill: Is a disease condition which are common
in young lambs born& is more common during poor
weather.
strangles: Is a highly contagious bacterial disease,
its characterized by swelling of lymph nodes&
formation of abscesses in the in the head & neck

59.
1. MYOCARDIAL ASTHENIA
b) Parasites
 by migrating larvae of
Strongylus vulgaris
c) Degenerative lesions
◦ Myocardial dystrophy
due to Vitamin E
deficiency in calves
◦ Severe Copper deficiency
in cattle
◦ Piglet anemia due to
Iron deficiency
◦ Cases of Selenium,
 Myocardial lesions due to
Stronglylus vulgaris

60.
1. MYOCARDIAL ASTHENIA
d) Other
conditions
◦ Oesinophilic myositis in
dogs.
◦ Myocardial infarction due
to occlusion of coronary
arteries in horses
◦ Tumours of the heart
reported in dogs. May be
primary or metastatic
◦ Ossification of the right
atrium. Occurs in horses as
a result of T.B infection in
horses.
◦ Lymphomatosis.
Clinical
manifestation
 In primary stages
there is decreased
exercise tolerance
 Increased heart rate.
 In later stages there
may be sudden death
due to cardiac syncope
 Signs of congestive
heart failure e.g.
Generalized oedema.
 Cardiac enlargement.

61.
1. MYOCARDIAL ASTHENIA
CONT..
Other Conditions which cause it….
Oessiophilic myositis in dog: Is a disease condition which
affected immune system of the dogs,& attack the special
muscle protein. That is present in these muscles.
Myocardial infarction: myocardial infarction(MI)
Commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood
flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart
causing damage to the heart.
Occlusion of coronary arteries: Is a condition when one or
more of the coronary arteries suddenly completely
blocked, a heart attack ( injury to the heart muscle).
Lymphomatosis: is the presence of multiple lymphomas
in the body of animal specifically lymphoid nods.
cardiac syncope: Is a brief loss of consciousness ( from
few seconds to few minutes. Its caused by decreased
blood flow to the brain.

62.
1. MYOCARDIAL ASTHENIA
Differential Diagnosis
 Endocardial lesions or
congenital cardiac defects.
 Pericarditis
 Myocardial lesions
 Hydro pericardium
Its go with by muffling of heart
sounds.
 Certain lesions of the thoracic
cavity may cause congestive
heart failure and displacement
of the heart e.g. lesions like
abscesses, tumors and
diaphragmatic hernia.
Treatment
 Treat primary cause if
identified
 Try supportive and
symptomatic treatment to
reduce congestive heart failure.

63.
2. CARDIAC RUPTURE
May be due to
 Sharp objects enter the reticulum,
diaphragm pericardium in to the
heart
 In horses due to verminous
arteritis due to Strongylus
vulgaris
 In pigs rupture of the aorta has
been recorded in copper deficiency
 In foals where there is difficult
parturition, pericardium may rupture
causing cardiac tamponade leading to
acute heart failure
 In Cardiac rupture the pericardial
sac fills with blood and animal dies of
acute heart failure.

64.
CARDIAC RUPTURE CONT…
Reticulum: is the second stomach of a
ruminants.
Diaphragm: located below the lungs, is the
major muscle of respiration.
Difficult parturition: difficult birth.
cardiac tamponade:

65.
3. VALVULAR DISEASES
 Interfere with
blood flow through
cardiac orifices
Etiology
 Acute or chronic
endocarditis
 Laceration or
detachment of valves
during severe exercise in
calves
 Fenestration of aortic
and pulmonary in young
and new borne foals
 Excessive cardiac
dilatation results in to
dilatation of valvular
orifices.

66.
3. VALVULAR DISEASES
CONT…
Endocarditis: is a condition in which the
tissues lining the inside of the heart& the
heart valves become inflamed ( red&
swollen).
Pleuritic rubs; is a breath sound heard in
dianosis of the lung.
Pericardial rubs: audible medical sigh used
in the diagnosis of pericarditis.
Pericarditis: is inflammation of the
pericardium.

67.
3. VALVULAR DISEASE
Clinical signs
- include moderate
cardiac dilatation,
valvular insufficiency,
and stenosis and
blocked blood flow.
Diagnosis
 Clinical diagnosis
depends on detection of
a cardiac murmur of
endocardial origin
 Valvular murmurs.

68.
3. VALVULAR DISEASE
Differential
Diagnosis
◦ Pleuritic rubs
◦ Pericardial rubs
◦ Murmurs caused by
congenital defects are
usually very loud and
do not replace the
normal heart sounds
and can be heard in
specific sites.
Treatment
◦ No specific treatment
◦ Treat for myocarditis
and endocarditis
◦ Reduce congestive
heart failure

69.
4. COR PULMONALE
 Heart disease
associated with the
lungs
 Results from increase
in workload secondary
to increased vascular
resistance and
pulmonary
hypertension
Etiology
 Alveolar hypoxia
reported in cattle and
it is suspected to be
genetic.
 Pulmonary
hypertension .

70.
4. COR PULMONALE
Cor pulmonale: is defined as alteration in the structure
& function of the right ventricle (RV)
Of the heart caused by a primary disorder of the
respiratory system. That why the disease...
vascular resistance: is the resistance that must be
overcome to push blood through the circulatory
system and create flow.
Hypoxia: hypoxia is deficiency in amount of oxygen
reaching the tissues.
Pulmonary vascular bed: describes the blood vessels
of the lungs.
A thrombi and emboli of pulmonary vessels: A thrombi
is a blood clot that forms in a vein. Emboli is a
blockage in one of the pulmonary arteries in the lung.
Emphysema: A condition in which the air sacs of the
lungs are damaged and enlarged causing
breathlessness,

71.
4. COR PULMONALE
Etiology
cont’d
 With persistent hypoxia ,
This mechanism may
produce a right heart
failure in cattle living in
high altitude resulting in
a syndrome known as
Brisket disease
 Pulmonary hypertension
can also result from
partial destruction of the
pulmonary vascular bed
 A thrombi and emboli of
 Chronic
pneumonia and
emphysema
Treatment
 Move to where
there is oxygen

72.
5. ENDOCARDITIS
May interfere with
blood flow from the
heart by causing
STENOSIS or
insufficiency of the
heart valves
Etiology
Bacterial infection e.g.
 α- hemolytic streptococci
 Corynebacterium
pyogenes
 Infection usually results
from suppurative lesions
in form of an embolus
from other parts of the
body .
 Seen also in metritis and
mastitis.
 In horses-Actinobacillus
equi, Streptococci equi
 In lambs –Streptococci
spp ,E.coli

73.
5. ENDOCARDITIS Cont…
Endocarditis: is a condition in which the tissues
lining the inside of the heart& the heart valves
become inflamed ( red& swollen).
Stenosis: mean narrowing.
Embolus: objects/ anything moves through the
blood vessels until it reaches a vessel that is too
small to let it pass.
Metritis: is defined as inflammation of the
uterus.
Mastitis: is defined as inflammation of the udder.
Lymphomatosis: the presence of multiple
lymphomals in the body specifically: lymphoid
leukosis.

74.
5. ENDOCARDITIS
Pathogenesis
 Endocarditis may be mural
or valvular , ulcerative or
vegetative.
 It may develop and
interfere with normal
passage of blood through
the cardiac orifices
resulting in congestive
heart failure.
 Vegetative lesions may
become detached and cause
embolic endocarditis with
production of abscesses in
organs
 At this stage interference
with blood flow is severe
Clinical
findings
 Moderate fever due
to bacterial
infection.
 Secondary
involvement with,
embolic pneumonia,
myocarditis .
 There is usually loss
of condition
 Increase in heart
rate

75.
5. ENDOCARDITIS
Clinical signs cont’d
 Cardiac murmur
 In acute cases ,
hematological examination
shows a marked
leukocytosis .This is
indicative of severe
anaemia.
 In chronic cases no
abnormality will be shown
 Culture organisms from
blood particularly at peak
fevers
 At necropsy direct valvular
smears can be made.
Differential
Diagnosis
 Lymphomatosis
 Tumour growth in the
endocardium. Animal
does not respond to
Treatment like in
bacterial endocarditis.
Treatment
 Broad spectrum
antibiotics e.g. penstrep
 If lesion are so extensive
they may not treatment
because drug does not
reach them.


76.
6. PERICARDITIS
 Inflammatory fluid
accumulates in the
heart sac or the
exudates organizes to
form restrictive
adhesions and is
followed by
congestive heart
failure.

77.
6. PERICARDITIS
Etiology
 In cattle common cause is
-Penetration of the
pericardium by an infected
foreign body from the
reticulum
-Infections like Pasteurellosis
and tuberculosis
 In horses it follows by a
blood born infection e.g
in strangles or
tuberculosis
 In sheep pasteurella
 In pigs pasteurella,
salmonella, streptococci
and glassers disease
Pathogenesis
In early stages
• There is hyperhemia,
• Formation of
adhensions
Treatment consists of anti-
inflammatories. Most
cases are mild and usually
improve on their own.
Treatment for more severe
cases may include
medication & rarely
surgery.

78.
6. PERICARDITIS
Pericarditis: is inflammation of the
pericardium.
Pasteurellosis: is a zoonotic disease its
caused by infection with bacteria of the
Pasteurella genu.
Glasser disease in pig: an infectious disease
of pig, often acute caused by bacteria.
Hyperemia: is an increased amount of blood
in the vessels of an organ or tissue in the
body. It can affect many different organs,
including…

79.
7. CONGENITAL
ABNORMALITIES
a) Ectopia cordis,
heart outside the
thoracic cavity
b) Ventricular
sceptal defect
c) Teratology of
fallot
d)Patent foramen
ovale
e) Patent ductus
arteriosus
f) Coarctation of
the aorta
Persistent right
aortic arch
Seen in dogs.
 Characterized by vomiting after
taking food.
 Aorta passes to the right of the
oesophagus and pulmonary artery
and yet ligamentum arteriosus
remains. The ligamentum arteriosus
will press on the oesophagus which
is caught in a ring and therefore food
cant go far thus vomiting.
Diagnosis
 -vomiting of un digested food
 -palpate the dilated oesophagus
 -radiography with barium
Treatment
 -correct surgically by cutting the
ligamentum arteriosus