ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN 5 COWS BEFORE AND AFTER TREATMENT OF RETICULAR ABSCESSES

Five cows with reticular abscesses were examined clinically, haematolo gically, radiographically and ultrasonographically. They all had clini cal signs typical of traumatic reticuloperitonitis, Including chronic indigestion, pyrexia, an absence of or reduced ruminal motility, weigh t loss and a positive reaction to Foreign body tests, A haematological examination revealed anaemia, increased concentrations of plasma prot ein and fibrinogen and a decreased clotting time in the glutaraldehyde test, On the basis of the radiographic examination, a tentative diagn osis of reticular abscess was made in four of the cows, because the re ticulum was displaced from the peritoncum or because there was an exte nsive gas-fluid interface in the reticular region. BS ultrasonography, a large reticular abscess with a well developed capsule was visible i n each of the cows. The abscess was located between the reticulum and, ventral peritoneum in two of them, between the reticulum and right th oracic wall in two and between the reticulum and spleen in the other c ow. A foreign body penetrating the abscess could be visualised ultraso nographically in one cow, In two cords, the abscesses were drained thr ough an ultrasound-guided transcutaneous incision, In the other thr ti e tons, the abscess was incised and drained from within the reticulum during a rumenotomy. Ultrasonographic examination revealed that the ab scess had been completely evacuated in four cows, but only bg about tw o-thirds in the remaining cow. All the cows were clinically healthy wh en they were discharged.