1) Cecal dilatation occurs primarily in dairy cattle in the first few months of lactation due to a rise in volatile fatty acids in the cecum inhibiting motility and leading to gas and ingesta accumulation. 2) Clinical signs include inappetence, reduced milk production and feces, and a distended right flank. Rectal examination reveals a distended cecum that can be palpated. 3) Treatment involves medical therapy with parasympathomimetic drugs to stimulate motility for uncomplicated cases or surgery such as partial resection or total typhlectomy for more severe cases involving volvulus.

1. CECAL DILATATION IN
CATTLE
Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine Ethics and Jurisprudence
College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

2. • Occurs primarily in dairy cattle in first few months of lactation
• Cecum dilated with gas or distended with ingesta, and volvulus
• Clinically characterized:
Inappetence
Drop in milk production
Decreased amount of feces
Right upper flank distended
Viscus on rectal palpation

3. ETIOLOGY
• Uncertain
• Rise in the concentration VFA in cecum result in cecal atony
• Butyric acid greatest depressant effect on cecal motility acetic acid least
• Inhibition of cecal motility lead to accumulation of ingesta and gas
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4. EPIDEMIOLOGY
• well-fed, high -producing dairy cows 3-5 yrs
• First 12 weeks after parturition
• feeding of grain increases concentration of volatile fatty acids in cecum
• lowering pH of cecal contents & inhibiting cecal motility
• Atony or hypotonicity affecting cecum
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5. PATHOGENESIS
• Combination of intestinal gas decreased cecal motility results accumulation
of fluid and gas
• Dilatation and displacement of cecum into pelvic inlet
• Associated with volvulus, torsion, impaction
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6. CLINICAL FINDINGS
• Cecal dilatation without volvulus
Anorexia
Mild abdominal discomfort
Decline of milk production
Decreased amount of feces
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7. • Distinct ping is detectable on percussion and simultaneous auscultation in
the right paralumbar fossa, extending forward to the 10th Intercostal space
• Simultaneous ballottementand auscultation of right flank elicit fluid-
splashing sounds
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8. • cecal volvulus
Anorexia
Ruminal stasis
Absence of feces
Distension of right flank
Dehydration and tachycardia
Ischemic necrosis
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9. • Mild abdominal pain kicking at
• The abdomen
• Ping is centered over right paralumbar fossa
• Fluid-splashing sounds audible on ballottement and auscultation of right
flank
• Myoelectric activity of cecum and proximal loop ascending colon indicates
recovery
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10. • Rectal examination
 Distended cecum can usually be palpated as a long, cylindrical, movable
organ
 measuring up to 20 cm in diameter and 90 cm in length
 Palpation and identification of the blind end of cecum directed towards
pelvic cavity
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11. • Ultrasonographic examination of cecum
• visualized from middle region of abdominal wall
• Extends caudocranially
• diameter 5.2-18.0 cm situated immediately adjacent to abdominal
wall
• lateral wall of cecum appears as thick, echogenic, crescent-shaped
line
• visualized as far cranially as 12th intercostal space
• Dilatation and caudal displacement of the cecum
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12. CLINICAL PATHOLOGY
• Dehydration
• Hypochloremia
• Hypokalemia
• Hematological values are normal
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13. TREATMENT
• severity of the case
• Medical therapy
 Uncomplicated gaseous dilatation - conservatively feeding good quality hay (recovery
2-4 days)
 parasympathomimetic drugs –
Neostigmine subcutaneously every hour for 2-3 days
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14.  Cisapride at 0.08 mg/kg BW
 Bethanechol at 0.07 mg/kg BW
 neostigmine at 0.02 mg/kg BW
 increased the frequency of cecocolic spike activity
• Surgical correction
 partial resection or total typhlectomy
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