Pharyngeal trauma in dairy cattle: 27 cases

Characterization of the clinical signs, response to treatment and prognosis can be useful information for decision-making when evaluating cattle with pharyngeal trauma.

To describe the signalment, history, clinicopathologic, endoscopic, ultrasonographic, radiographic, and postmortem findings as well as treatments and outcomes of cattle diagnosed with pharyngeal perforation/trauma.

Review of medical records of cattle >1 month of age admitted to a Veterinary Teaching Hospital from 1995 to 2017.

Retrospective study. Review of medical records of cattle with pharyngeal perforation/trauma identified by oral or endoscopic examination in hospital setting.

Twenty-seven out of 7550 (0.36%) cases met the inclusion criteria. Pharyngeal perforation/trauma was associated with the administration of a bolus in 24 (89%) cows and a magnet in 3 (11%) cases. The boluses contained monensin (n = 12), calcium salts (n = 5), iodine (n = 1), aspirin (n = 1), vitamins (n = 1), and an unknown product (n = 4). The primary clinical signs were dysphagia, swelling of the throatlatch, subcutaneous emphysema, swelling, and pain on palpation of the throatlatch. Seventeen (63%) cows were discharged whereas 10 (37%) were euthanized. Median time between the suspected traumatic event and hospital admission was 1 day (range: 0.5-3 days) and 2 days (range: 0.5-15) for surviving and nonsurviving cattle, respectively. All 5 cows that suffered pharyngeal trauma associated with administration of calcium salt bolus were euthanized.

Pharyngeal trauma is a rare condition in cattle. Case fatality rate increases if not diagnosed and treated promptly. The nature of the penetrating foreign body influences the outcome.