3. What is fistula
• An intentional hole
made in cow’s
rumen to perform
research on the
digestive process.
4. Why this is done
• Evaluate feed digestibility
• Assess microbes population in the rumen
• Serve as rumen fluid donors to sick animals
• Evaluate digestive system
• Evaluate digestion of different feed stuffs
5. Why use in cows
• Cattle are ruminants, meaning their digestive
system is highly specialized to allow the use of
poorly digestible plants as food.
• Cattle one stomach with four compartments,
the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and
abomasum.
9. Cont…
• Fast for 18 hours prior to surgery
• Allow access to water
• Administer an antibiotic 24 hours prior to
surgery
• Place cannula in hot water bath for softening
• Restrain animal, shave and disinfect surgical
site
• Paravertebral anesthesia
11. Post operative care
Treatment;
• Antibiotic
• Anti inflammatory
Advice;
• Animal must monitored daily for appetite
body temperature and condition of the
incision.
• Allow access to hay
• Remove cannula 2 weeks after surgery
• Once healed cannula must replace once every
16. Impacts
• Increase life span
• Access to optimal nutrition
• Doesn’t affect progression of life
• Still have the ability to reproduce and lactate
• Improve overall health
17. Complications
• Loosening of cannula
• Increase size of fistula by necrosis
• Leakage can cause dehydration and
malnutrition
• Ruminal fluid cause extravasation injuries to
the skin
