F70
Bloat

1. Distended abdomen, mostly on the left side, high in the flank area. (If the animal is pregnant and seems to be distended on both sides of the abdomen, special consideration should be given to a possible hydrops cow, or late pregnancy. If these are a concern, consult a veterinarian.)
2. The animal may have difficulty breathing, extend its neck and even make grunting sounds.
3. Signs of colic may also be present (kicking at abdomen, getting up and down, etc.).

Causative Agents: There are two major categories of bloat:

1. Free-gas/ Frothy bloat - This type of bloat can be brought on by diets that cause excessive gas production in the rumen and decrease the rumen pH. Diets high in grains, lush legumes, or winter wheat are causes of this problem. This type of bloat can also be caused by poorly digestible feed material and problems with indigestion (see page F350).
2. Problems that are outside of the rumen - These include choke and position of the animal.

Diagnosis: Most of the time this problem is not difficult to diagnose. Many animals suffering from bloat can be identified just by appearance. The difficulty arises when the exact cause for the bloat must be determined. To help determine the exact cause of the bloat, the following procedures should be performed on each animal:

1. Pass a stomach tube into the rumen. See B885 for suggestions on passing a tube.  This will relieve any gas and potentially any fluid. If gas and/or fluid feed material come out of the tube, assume the animal has some type of gas or frothy bloat problem. At this point, any fluid from the stomach can be tested for pH level. If the pH level is lower than approximately 5.5, the bloat may be caused by grain overload. For additional information on pH testing, refer to page D620.

1. If the tube does not pass easily, the animal could be choked and extreme care should be used in passing the tube. If after a few gentle attempts of passing the tube, the tube does not pass easily, consult a veterinarian.

1. For simple gas and frothy bloat problems, passing a tube into the rumen to relieve gas and fluid is essential. Then, liquid dishwashing detergent, Therabloat, or another gas-reducing product should be given. If signs of breathing problems and severe distress are present, or routine treatment does not relieve the problem, it may be necessary to insert a large gauge needle or trocar into the rumen in the left flank area. Additional instruction may be required to perform this properly (see figures 1-5). If grain overload is suspected, see treatment instructions on page F285.
2. Probios or another source of gut flora should also be given.
3. For problems causing bloat outside of the rumen, the underlying cause must be determined and proper treatment begun. Diagnosing these problems may require the help of a veterinarian.
4. A cow that continues to bloat repeatedly may actually have a hardware problem. Placing a magnet in these animals may be beneficial.

* Before initiating any treatment, CONSULT A VETERINARIAN!