Timpanism, Associated to Diaphragmatic Hernia (Hiatal Hernia), in a Bovine - Case Report

Abstract

The timpanism is a symptom of ruminants disease, also known as ruminal meteorism, it is characterized by accentuated distension of the rumen and reticulum due to the incapacity of turning out the gases, originated from normal physiologic mechanisms, which can lead to a situation of respiratory and circulatory failure, with asphyxia and death. The disease etiology is associated to factors that block the animal to eliminate the gases produced during the ruminal fermentation. Rarely, congenital disorders, as the diaphragmatic hernia, may lead to timpanism too. The diagnosis should be based on the clinical signs showed by the animal and on the history of using timpanism inductor diets. A one-year-old calf and weighting 250 kg was examined at the Veterinary Hospital of Uberaba showing signs of gaseous timpanism. The rumenocentesis and rumenotomy were done. Two days after the surgery, the bovine was founded dead with an intense ruminal dilatation, and the percussion indicated metallic sound, oral cavity full of green foamy and the tongue putted out. In the necropsy, it was observed the presence of a hernial ring in the right ventral region of the diaphragms; the hernial content was the ventral portion of the rumen with a cranial portion of the reticulum. The findings of the necropsy allowed concluding that the cause of the death was respiratory failure occasioned by an intense hyperacute ruminal timpanism secondary to a diaphragmatic hernia.