Clinical Case Study: Bovine Mastitis in High-Yielding Dairy Cows

Parenchymal inflammation of the mammary gland, commonly known as Mastitis, is the biggest economical threat to any dairy operation. Mastitis is triggered by a wide range of environmental and contagious pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungal, and mycoplasma, which severely impair tissue structure, decrease milk production, and alter milk composition. High-yielding Holstein-Friesians and Jerseys often … Read more

Clinical Case Study: Snake Envenomation & Shock Management in Livestock, Equines, and Companion Animals

Snakebites are a crucial veterinary emergency for valuable animals (cattle, buffaloes, horses) and dogs due to their unmonitored grazing in pastures / farms. Thus, snakebites are detected late which leads to severe neurogenic shock, necrosis or coagulopathy. The difference in venom pathophysiology is key to successful emergency triage. Many animals present with fatal neurogenic shock … Read more

Clinical Case Study: Traumatic Reticuloperitonitis (TRP / Hardware Disease) in Dairy Cattle

Traumatic reticulo-peritonitis also known as Hardware disease is a critical surgical and medical emergency in adult cattle and buffalo. Animals tend to swallow dense foreign bodies from their indiscriminate and rapid feeding behavior without prior mastication as they do not have tactile discrimination by the oral mucosa. While smooth blunt foreign bodies like stones and … Read more

Clinical Case Study: Acute Bovine Theileriosis (Theileria annulata) in High-Yielding Crossbred Cattle

Bovine Theileriosis (Theileria annulata protozoal infection transmitted by Hyalomma ticks) is an acute, life-threatening lymphoproliferative and hemolytic condition affecting high yielding crossbred cattle (Holstein Friesian and Jersey Breeds). In tropical and sub-tropical dairy setups, undetected tick infestation could lead to massive outbreaks of the condition. Theileria sporozoites invade host lymphocytes before attacking erythrocytes leading to … Read more

Clinical Case Study: Bovine Milk Fever (Acute Hypocalcemia)

Milk Fever (Parturient Paresis) is an acute to subacute metabolic emergency in high-yielding dairy cattle characterized by severe hypocalcemia, generalized muscle weakness, loss of consciousness, and sternal to lateral recumbency. While acute hypocalcemia occurring within 72 hours post-calving during heavy colostrum synthesis is strictly termed Milk Fever, serum calcium depletions occurring during mid-gestation or late … Read more

Pregnancy Toxemia In Goats

Pregnancy Toxemia, more commonly known as Ketosis, or Twin Lamb Disease (in small ruminants) is a metabolic disease affecting pregnant females during the last trimesters of pregnancy. Negative Energy Balance (NEB) is the underlying mechanism, which makes pregnancy toxemia prevalent mostly among high-yielding females carrying twins, triplets or quadruplets. Whereas in dairy cattle ketosis is … Read more

Clinical Case Study: Equine Colic (Spasmodic, Impaction & Parasitic Colic)

Equine colic is not a single entity of disease but a syndrome of abdominal pain that originates from the gastrointestinal tract, urinary system, or peritoneum. Equines have a hindgut fermentation system that is both complex, mobile, and delicate. Narrow anatomical junctures such as the pelvic flexure, and ileocecal junction make equines highly susceptible to acute … Read more

Why Feline is Obligate Carnivore ?

Cats (Felis catus) are strict, evolutionary obligate carnivores. Unlike omnivores (canines and humans) or herbivores (bovines and equines), cats’ metabolic, dental, and gastrointestinal systems are all specifically hardwired to process only meat. Force-feeding your cat an inappropriate high-carbohydrate or non-animal protein diet will force their bodies to do what it was designed to—break down a … Read more

Clinical Case Study: Surgical Enucleation of the Eyeball in Cattle

Severe eye injuries in large farm animals present a formidable challenge to veterinary practitioners. Left untreated or exposed to dust, flies, and secondary bacterial infections, an injured eye can quickly turn into a foul-smelling, sight-robbing abscess (endophthalmitis or panophthalmitis) that completely destroys vision.Surgical enucleation can be the best option to remove the source of constant pain, halt the spread of devastating tissue infection, and restore your pet’s health if the injured eye is blind, irreversibly necrotic, and causing an immeasurable amount of suffering.1. Case History & Clinical FindingsAn adult male cow presented with a serious history of ocular trauma occurring over a month before presentation. The owner reported that the animal had been consistently showing signs of severe distress:Persistent Pain & Distress: Constant head-rubbing, depression, and frequent rubbing of the affected eye against walls or posts.Purulent & Foul-Smelling Discharge: The eye socket was discharging a combination of blood, pus, and foul-smelling necrotic matter.Photophobia & Anorexia: Extreme sensitivity to light, keeping the eyelids pinched shut, and dullness and reduced feeding.Complete Loss of Vision: Clinical exam found total blindness in the affected eye, with severe pericorneal swelling, cloudiness, and tissue damage.2. Field Diagnostic Assessment & TriageOn physical examination, the eyeball was found to be irreversibly infected by deep, chronic infection throughout the ocular cavity. Due to total vision loss and persistent pain, conventional medical interventions such as topical or systemic antibiotic use would provide no benefit.A decision was made to remove the damaged globe surgically to prevent the infection from spreading up into the deepest bones of the orbital or central nervous system.3. Dr.’s Clinical Viewpoint on Large animal Ocular Surgery🩺 Clinical View on Large Animal Ocular Surgery:”In large animal practice, trying to salvage an eye that has been blind, necrotic, and infected for more than a month is counterproductive. The focus should switch from sight preservation to pain relief and infection control. A well-placed retrobulbar nerve block with 2% Lignocaine Hydrochloride will provide complete regional anesthesia, allowing us to safely separate the globe, securely tie the optic vessels to prevent bleeding, flush the orbit, and close the wound for quick healing.”4. Surgical Protocol & Local Anesthesia1. Restraint & Aseptic Preparation: The animal was safely restrained laterally. The area around the eye was clipped, shaved, and thoroughly disinfected with povidone-iodine and surgical spirit.2. Regional Anesthesia (Retrobulbar Nerve Block): A retrobulbar nerve block was carried out using 2% Lignocaine Hydrochloride to desensitize the eyeball, eyelids, extraocular muscles, and optic region.3. Surgical Removal (Enucleation):A circumferential skin incision was made along the eyelid margins, leaving as much healthy skin as possible.The conjunctiva and extraocular muscles were disfigured from the sclera.The optic nerve and associated blood vessels were identified, clamped, firmly ligated with heavy absorbable suture material to achieve complete hemostasis, and severed.The diseased eyeball was completely exteriorized and removed.4. Cavity Flushing & Wound Closure: The orbital socket was thoroughly flushed with warm antiseptic solution. The eyelid margins came together and were closed using routine interrupted sutures.5. Post-Operative Care & Follow-Up ProtocolSystemic Antibiotic Cover: Broad-spectrum parenteral antibiotics were administered for 5 to 7 days to resolve any remaining tissue infection.Pain & Anti-Inflammatory Management: Injectable NSAIDs (e.g., Meloxicam or Flunixin Meglumine) were given to manage post-operative swelling and surgical discomfort.Wound Dressing & Hygiene: Daily local antiseptic wound dressing was performed to keep the surgical line dry and free of flies.Suture Removal: Skin sutures remained intact and clean and were safely removed 10 to 14 days post-surgery following complete surgical union and clinical recovery.

Clinical Case Study: Surgical Reconstruction of Severe Rostral Mandibular Soft Tissue Avulsion in a Cow Following a Crocodile Attack

Traumatic facial injuries sustained by livestock due to predator or wildlife attacks present as acute surgical emergencies in field veterinary practice. Bites from large aquatic predators like crocodiles often induce severe crushing, tearing and avulsion forces on soft tissues, often resulting in large open wounds, profuse hemorrhage, heavy bacterial contamination and anatomical distortion. Preservation of … Read more