Traumatic reticulitis - Bush House Veterinary Group

NADIS Health Bulletin for Gemsite
Traumatic Reticulitis (wire, hardware disease)
Cause
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Ingestion of sharp metal objects (e.g. fence wire and nails)
Penetration of the wall of the reticulum.
Wire from disintegrating car tyres into the mixer wagon
Access to bonfire sites.
Economic implications
 Early detection - cost of surgery
 Delayed detection - cull cow – often condemned
 Late detection – pericarditis – death
 Often several cows affected
Clinical Signs
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Sudden and complete loss of appetite
Dramatic fall in daily milk production
40 litres to 2-3 litres.
Cow stands with an arched back
Moves reluctantly
Last to enter the milking parlour.
Evidence of anterior abdominal pain
Taut rigid abdomen, ears back, and a fixed glazed stare.
Refusal to turn sharp corners
The cow is constipated
Defaecation and urination are often accompanied by grunt.
Pain response when the cow’s back is dipped behind the withers.
1. Outbreaks of traumatic reticulitis have been reported after incorporation of wire
from disintegrating car tyres used on silage clamps into the mixer wagon.
2. Nail left after bonfire – cows find the bonfire ash surprisingly palatable and often
lick at such sites.
3. There is sudden and complete loss of appetite, and a dramatic fall in daily milk
production e.g. from 40 litres to 2-3 litres.
4. The animal stands with an arched back and moves reluctantly.
5. The diagnosis is confirmed during surgery.
6. Large piece of wire in the wall of the reticulum.
7. Neglected traumatic reticulitis case – this cow had extensive peritonitis when
presented for veterinary investigation (see necropsy next photo)
8. Extensive peritonitis following neglected case of traumatic reticulitis.
9. Large accumulation of pus in the sac surrounding the heart (pericardium) following
penetration by piece of wire from the reticulum.
Diagnosis
Differential diagnoses
Your veterinary surgeon will carefully consider:
 Peritonitis
 Liver abscessation
 Endocarditis
 Chronic suppurative pneumonia
 Pleural inflammation/abscess
Diagnosis
 Clinical findings.
 Ultrasonography identifies localised peritonitis
 Confirmed during surgery
 Metal detectors are a waste of time
Treatment
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Parenteral antibiotics rarely effective
Magnets administered orally will collect loose metallic objects in the reticulum
but will probably not draw out objects embedded in the reticular wall.
Surgical removal of the penetrating foreign body is usually successful if
performed early
Delays can prove fatal.
Prevention/control measures
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Magnets are reported to be highly effective in attracting ingested metal objects.
Keep farm tidy
Dispose of waste correctly
DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR
VETERINARY HEALTH PLAN – CONSULT YOUR VET
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