B880
Using a Stethoscope

Lungs
A cow’s lungs lie below the rib cage and do not extend beyond the last rib. To listen to the lungs, choose a location that is between the ribs. It is best to listen in many different rib spaces. Also, listen to the trachea in the neck region.

 

Lungs
Both sides of the animal should be listened to. With practice, normal and abnormal lung sounds can be identified.

It is not uncommon to hear the normal passage of air in and out of the lungs. If fluid, crackles, or wheezes are heard, it is considered abnormal.

 

Heart
The heart is best heard on the left side, behind the point of the elbow. Because the heart is difficult to hear, place some pressure on the stethoscope and move it around to different locations.

 

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Rumen
The rumen can be listened to in the left flank area. A normal rumen should contract at least once a minute and an eructation or "burp" should occur every 2-3 minutes. A normal rumen contraction sounds like a dull rumble and often the flank area moves with each contraction.

 

Intestines
The right flank area can also be listened to with a stethoscope. Gas and intestinal sounds are sometimes identified.